Discover Taormina and soak up the lively atmosphere of this magnificent town, which is one of Sicily’s top destinations. Situated on a rock and surrounded by ancient stone walls, old Taormina offers a fascinating archeological heritage. Stroll through the charming streets with medieval buildings like the famous Palazzo Santo Stefano. Enjoy a visit in the Greek-Roman amphitheater, one of Sicily’s most popular and largest sites, offering a stunning view over the Etna and the sea. Various luxury stores are based on the “Corso”, the town’s main street. Take a ride in the cable car that takes you down to the picturesque bay of Taormina. On your way back to Calabria, we stop to take pictures at the cathedral of Messina.
We drive along the coastal road from Tropea to Villa San Giovanni, where we take the ferry to Sicily.
Optional: Visit of Savoca (The Godfather).
Taormina:
If you want to look at Sicily’s beauty and history from many angles in one single place, Taormina is a good choice. Taormina’s beauty is uncontested. Some cities are known for their art treasures, others for their natural beauties, only a few, like Taormina, own both.
Visitors come for a breathtaking view over the Etna and over the Strait of Messina. It is spectacular when the vulcano erupts and lava flows along the snow-covered slopes of Europea’s highest natural wonder, leaving a stream of steam and light behind. Within its ancient stone walls, the historic town Taormina has fascinating archeological buildings and medieval homes like Palazzo Santo Stefano. Stunning views over the sea complete the picture. The most famous is the view from Taormina’s Greek-Roman amphitheater over the sea and the Etna.
Messina:
Messina is known as the door of Sicily. With its port, shaped like a sickle, it has always been a trading city. Situated close to the mainland, there has been busy thoroughfare between Messina and the rest of Italy for centuries. In recent years, there has been much talk of constructing a bridge to facilitate and improve communication. Though a great idea in theory, it is almost impossible to implement in reality, due to the fragile nature of the coastline and the problems of erosion. Therefore, the main means of transport between Sicily and the mainland remain the ferries, that have a century-long tradition.