Thanks to its beauty and its heritage, Taormina was mentioned by Goethe in his Italian Journey<\/em> (1787-88) and in the 19th century, during the era of the “grand tour of Italy”, it attracted many artists, writers, wealthy entrepreneurs, nobles and scholars.<\/p>\n
![\"Panorama](\"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/panorama-costiera-da-taormina_4406-200x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Panorama from Taormina<\/p><\/div>\n
Very busy in summer, and not very affordable (high prices), it is somewhat the Sicilian Saint-Tropez, attracting the jet set and tourists. The peak of crowds occurs between May and September.
This town therefore does not resemble a typical village of the Sicilian inland, but it is nonetheless one of the most beautiful destinations in Italy with the charm of its medieval monuments, its Greek remains, its colours, its vegetation and its scents typical of the Mediterranean. International cultural events are also held there.<\/p>\n
Heritage of Taormina<\/h2>\n
The historic centre of the town has several characterful narrow streets, where many old buildings house hotels and shops. Jewellery made from lava stone and typical Sicilian products such as Etna wines are traded there. Luxury shops are not to be outdone, with the most prestigious brands.<\/p>\n
Its very beautiful Greek theatre<\/strong> (3rd century BC) has become the symbol of the town. It is the second largest in Sicily after Syracuse. Nestled among cypresses and prickly pears, it was carved into the rock by the Greeks and then remodelled by the Romans with a stage wall. Its setting is splendid, in a magnificent backdrop between the sea and Etna, where the view extends as far as Calabria.<\/p>\n Roman theatre of Taormina<\/p><\/div>\n The town has kept its beautiful narrow streets and its Middle Ages<\/strong> palaces, an era when it was for a time the capital of Byzantine Sicily. Along with the ancient theatre, its most famous buildings include the cathedral<\/strong>, the Church of Saint Joseph, the odeon<\/strong>, the Palazzo Corvaja<\/strong> or the islet of Isola Bella<\/strong> with its beach. \u2192 See the page dedicated to the visit and monuments of Taormina<\/a> including the tourist map of Taormina<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n![\"Roman](\"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/teatro-romano-taormina-sicilia_4003-300x200.jpg\")
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In summer, beach tourism is found at Giardini-Naxos or on the beaches of Mazzar\u00f2 (reachable from Taormina by cable car), Mazzeo or Lido Spisone. The latter turns into a nightclub in the evening. A magnificent small island in the bay of Taormina, Isola Bella is a protected natural area where there is also a beach. A strip of land, visible at low tide, connects it to the coast.
From June to August, shows are held in the Greek Theatre with Taormina Arte, whose programme offers music, theatre and dance. In June, the Taormina FilmFest is held, an important Italian film festival dating back to 1955.<\/p>\n