Why choose Taormina as your Dream Destination?

January 12, 2016

Sicily is Italy’s largest region and also it is its most varied. There are beautiful beaches, endless coastlines, offshore islands, rugged landscapes and volcanos. Sicily is also an island of rich history and stunning architecture.

Sicily began its history as part of Magna Grecia, the town of Giardini Naxos was the first Greek Colony in 734BC. The island soon became part of the Roman Empire and was thereafter invaded by the Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French, Spanish and Bourbons before unifying with Italy. Each conquest left its mark on the island.

Taormina and Eastern Sicily is a beautiful part of the island with lots of places to discover and explore which makes Taormina the perfect destination for a Sicilian adventure.

Here are my Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Visit Taormina and Eastern Sicily:

1: Taormina … Taormina was Sicily’s first holiday resort which has been drawing visitors for centuries all of whom fall in love with this beautiful town. It is known as the Ancient Pearl of the Ionian Sea. Taormina offers its visitors the opportunity to visit churches and historic buildings including the Greek Theatre, shopping in boutiques offering the best Italian designers and breath taking views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. There are many restaurants tempting you to taste fine Sicilian Cuisine. Taormina has it all. It is also the perfect base to explore the rest of Eastern Sicily. Tours and Excursions depart from Taormina on a daily basis.

2: The Beaches … We have the most stunning beaches. My favourites are Mazzaro and Giardini Naxos, the two resorts below Taormina where the sea is calm and brilliant blue. The cable car from Taormina descends to Mazzaro where you can find two pebbled beaches and the stunning island of Isola Bella. Giardini Naxos is a tourist town with a port and long stretches of sandy beach with a promenade lined with restaurants and cafes. Further South towards Catania you will discover The Coast of the Cyclops and at Aci Castello clear blue waters lap onto black lava rocks below a Norman Castle. Here you can find wooden decks to sunbathe on. Just past Syracuse you can find Vendicari which is a beautiful nature reserve with peaceful sandy beaches set around a 15^th century Aragonese tower with pristine clear waters.

3: Mount Etna … Europe’s largest active volcano dominates Sicily and is rarely out of sight on the Eastern side of the island. An excursion to Mount Etna is a MUST and the volcano can be discovered in many different ways.

4: Catania … Catania is Sicily’s second largest city with its own airport. The city was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1693 in mostly a baroque style using lava stone. Catania is well worth visiting for its architecture and food markets, the fish market Pescheria is one of the most colourful in Europe. I would highly recommend doing a Street Food Tour where you can taste some of the street foods that Sicily is well known for and maybe join a cookery class to learn how to make Arancini and Cannoli.

5: Aeolian Islands … The stunning Aeolian Islands just off the North East coast of Sicily are a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site and are easily accessible in a day trip. Each island has its own character including Stromboli with its constant eruptions and Panarea a favourite of VIPs and the international jet set.

6: UNESCO World Heritage Sites … Sicily has the largest number of UNESCO sites than any other Italian region and ten of them are in Eastern Sicily, including Siracusa, Noto, Ragusa, Caltagirone, Modica, The Necropolis of Pantalica, The Villa Romana del Casale, Catania, Mount Etna and Scicli. All are well worth a visit with tours and excursions departing from Taormina.

7: Food and Drink … Sicily is known as a foodies paradise from pizza, pasta, risotto, fish and seafood, meat, desserts and sweets, street food and local produce to delicious wine from many grape varieties. Your taste buds will explode.

8: Amazing Accommodation … Taormina and its surrounding area has a range of places to stay, from 5 star hotels to boutique hotels, agriturismos which are farmhouses where you can stay and eat fresh produce from the land, luxury resorts on the slopes of Mount Etna and villas or private apartments for rent.

9: The Weather … With temperature in mind, the best months to visit are in May, June, September and October. Every season is beautiful, even winter when you can ski on Mount Etna. Summer is lovely but it can get very hot in July and August.

10: The People … Sicilians are very passionate about their island and they love to share their passion with you. Sicilians will go over and above to help you enjoy your visit. On our first trip many years ago on arrival the manager of our hotel called his friend to drive us straight up to Taormina to admire its beauty.

So you see Taormina is the perfect destination, from romantic weekend breaks to beach holidays below in the Bay of Naxos, adventure holidays to food and wine holidays, it is a dream wedding destination and the ideal town for a hen or stag weekend.

Taormina is the perfect base to explore Eastern Sicily and Mount Etna.

I can guarantee 100% that you will fall in love with this beautiful town on first sight just like I did.

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(all photos are our own)