Tour of Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Isola Bella and Castelmola

The charm of Sicilian cities is infinite. Visit Taormina, a medieval city symbol of the nobility. Discover Isola Bella, a wonderful place (very busy in summer), an ideal place for swimming. Visit Naxos, with Mediterranean vegetation. Visit Castelmola and taste its almond wine. Our tourist guide will accompany you for the visit of Sicily and the discovery of the cities. The tour can be done in a full day or in a half day. Don't forget your bathing suit, towel and a change.

The path of the Saracens, excursion between Castelmola and Isola Bella

Excursion itinerary between Castelmola and Isola Bella (Naxos), passing through Taormina. We organize the excursion from Castelmola to Isola Bella, via Taormina. The landscape and the colors of the Mediterranean are the real protagonists of this excursion. The route offers magnificent views of the surrounding region. The Sentiero dei Saraceni is the ancient path connecting Castelmola and Naxos. The story tells that the Arabs (Saracens) in August 902 passed through here to reach Taormina and Castelmola, from Naxos. The old road between Castelmola and Taormina is located on the southern slope of Monte Tauro, the mountain above Taormina. This excursion will offer you a magnificent view of Etna, Naxos and the coast of the Gulf of Catania. It will be a unique opportunity to photograph this unforgettable historical and natural landscape. The excursion begins at the castle of Castelmola and then towards Taormina. In Taormina we will visit the historical center and the greek-roman theater. After visiting Taormina, the route continues towards the beach of Naxos, to reach Isola Bella. here you can swim. This area was once rich in almond trees, it was also called Piano delle Ficarre, due to the massive presence of figs and prickly pears. These were introduced by the Arabs themselves.

Visit to Castelmola

Castelmola is part of the circuit of the most beautiful villages in Italy. It is a small town located on top of a hill overlooking the Ionian Sea, near Taormina. Founded by the Sicilians in the eighth century BC. it was destroyed, together with Taormina, by Dionysius in 392 BC. and again by the Arabs in 902. The castle, or what remains of it, occupies a good strategic position, to protect the small town and the surrounding countryside. Built in the Middle Ages and significantly modified in the 16th century, Castelmola's specialty is almond wine. A flavored dry white wine infused with bitter almonds, aromatic herbs, citrus essences, zibibbo, caramel. Taste this wine in the Bar Turrisi, from the terrace you can admire the panorama of Etna and the Ionian Sea.

Visit to the Greek Theater of Taormina

When nearby Naxos was destroyed by Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, in 358 BC, a group of survivors founded the Greek city called Tauromenio. The acropolis was at the top of Monte Tauro and the agora where Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is today. The city grew considerably in Roman times, but in the last decades of the 1st century BC. Octavian punished its inhabitants for having helped Sesto Pompeo, deporting them and reducing the city to the status of a colony. Taormina then began to decline, until the Byzantines increased the fortunes of the city when they chose it as the capital of Sicily. The Arabs destroyed it twice, in 902 and 962, after which they partially rebuilt it. Under Norman rule, the city expanded into the area known as the Borgo, and developed further in the 13th-15th century. Today Taormina is a beautiful town perched 200 m above sea level, which has always been a symbol of noble tourism. It is rich in historical, cultural and archaeological heritage. The visit focuses on the Odeon, the Greco-Roman theater and on the main street Corso Umberto, from Porte Messina to Porte Catania, the theater is near Porte Messina. Also worth seeing is the cathedral which has a 13th century facade. Near Porta Catania is the "Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano" described as one of the masterpieces of Arab-Norman Gothic art of the 13th century.

Visit to Giardini Naxos

Seaside resort near Taormina on the east coast, overlooking the Ionian Sea. In the current location of Giardini-Naxos, near Capo Schisò (ancient lava formation) in 734 BC. Greek colonists founded what was long considered the first Greek colony in Sicily. The new settlement was given the name of Naxos, as it is an island of the same name in the Aegean Sea. The Syracusans occupied it and destroyed it three centuries later. The best parts of the ruins are long stretches of wall made of huge hewn blocks, an enclosure surrounding a large sanctuary, a temple probably dedicated to Aphrodite, and two kilns: a rectangular tile kiln and a round pottery kiln.

Beds in Taormina.

San Domenico Palace Hotel, Piazza S. Domenico de Guzman 5 Taormina ME. Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Via Teatro Greco, 59 Taormina ME. Naxos Beach, Via Recanati 26 Giardini Naxos ME.

Beds between Catania and Taormina.

Zash, SP2/I-II 70 Riposto CT. Donna Carmela, Contrada Grotte 7 Carruba CT. Ramo d'Aria, Viale delle Provincie 261 Giarre CT. The Land of Dreams Hotel Agriturismo 95013 Fiumefreddo di Sicilia CT.

Restaurants in Taormina.

Prince Cerami. St. George by Heinz Beck. The Blackcap. Otto Geleng.