White Almond Sicily

Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina As Sicily's first resort and an obligatory stop on the Grand Tour, Taormina has welcomed guests for centuries. The town draped with bougainvillea, offers breathtaking views , an ancient theatre and cafes and terraces overlooking the sea. It is called an island within an island and the pearl of the Ionian Sea.  There are many wonderful things to experience and the following 50 are my favourites. Taormina 1)       The Greek Theatre,  Carved out of the hillside, the theatre seen today was refurbished by the Romans in 1 st Century AD. They sacrificed some of the seats and part of the stage to make a circular arena for gladiator games. 2)       Opera and Concerts,  Every summer the Greek Theatre is the venue for many performances of concerts and opera, keep posted for dates. 3)       Corso Umberto,  The People of Taormina make the passeggiata here ...

This year in Taormina we have had the pleasure of the company of MUSCA, the Museum of Sicilian Carts. The exhibition in the former Church of Carmine close to Porta Catania is a collection of Sicilian carts and started on 14 th June and last until 12 th July and we took time out of our busy schedule to pay a visit. The event has been hosted by the Sicilian Carts Association of Tregastagni. The former Church of Carmine is of a traditional baroque style and now used as an important venue for exhibitions and concerts in Taormina. The Sicilian cart is one of the best known symbols of Sicilian folklore history and was created as a means of transport. The carts became popular at the beginning of the nineteenth century and were used to transport wood and agricultural products such as grains, fruit, almonds and wine. Its popularity declined in the second half of the twentieth century with the introduction of motor vehicles on the island. One way of describing the ca...

High above Taormina you will see Castelmola, a delightful village with magnificent views. The name Castelmola derives from the Norman castle that dominates the village and the word Mola means Millstone, which some say resembles the rock on which Castelmola was built.The houses and buildings look like they are precariously hanging on the rock. The village has breath taking 360° panoramic views down towards Taormina, Mount Etna and over the sparkling Ionian Sea, the mainland coastline and the Sicilian countryside. Photographs taken here are sure to create Insta-envy with your Instagram followers. The village was recently nominated and featured in I Borghi piu belli d’Italia (Italy’s most beautiful Villages) losing out to Montalbano Elicona which is located in the Nebrodi Mountains, North East Sicily. There are three ways you can reach Castelmola, by car, bus and for the brave by foot for a serious uphill climb. However you also have to be brave to go up by car, the...