Taormina is one of Sicily’s most famous and popular cities. It has been attracting tourists for years, as far back as the 19th century when it would have been part of the ‘Grand Tour’ however its origins go back far further than that to the Iron Age when the Sicels were an Italic tribe who inhabited Eastern Italy. The Siculi were followed by the Ancient Greeks who arrived on the Sicilian coast in 734 BC. More recently, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries it attracted a number of prominent artists and writers, including Roald Dahl, Bertrand Russell, Tennessee Williams, Evelyn Waugh, Truman Capote and DH Lawrence. These days, it is a popular tourist destination that attracts thousands of holidaymakers each year.
For anyone planning to visit Taormina, here’s our guide to spending 72 hours in the city.
Day 1: Morning
Wherever you are visiting, I think it’s always good to find your bearings when you arrive. So, a great option to get a feel for the city straight away is to spend the first afternoon exploring its streets. The main street in Taormina is the Corso Umberto. You’ll find it lined with an array of cafes, restaurants, souvenir, clothing and perfume shops and in peak season, will be thronged with shoppers and tourists.
After you’ve enjoyed some window shopping, make your way down the hill (you’ll find a series of steps allow you to criss-cross the main road network that leads you down to the coast) and head towards the beach. You’ll be rewarded with wonderful views of Isola Bella as you make your way down.
Day 1: Afternoon
Spend some time relaxing on the beach and exploring Isola Bella before heading back up to the centre of Taormina using the cable car. The island was gifted to Taormina in 1806 by Ferdinand I of Bourbon who was the King of Sicily at the time. Just over 80 years later, it was sold to Florence Trevelyan, a rich English lady who had been exiled to Sicily by Queen Victoria after an affair with the future King Edward VII. She planted a host of tropical plants on the island along with a house. After her death, the island passed to their nephew who in turn sold it to the Lo Turco family for 30,000 lire. It changed hands a few times in the 20th century before finally being bought by the Department of Cultural Heritage for a staggering 10 billion lire. Since 2011 the site has been transformed into the Museo Naturalistico regionale di Isola Bella, and is open to the public with entry costing just a few euros.
When you’re ready to head back to the historic centre of Taormina, make your way to the cable car station which is just a few minutes walk away. It only costs a few euros for a one-way ticket. Cable cars leave every 15 minutes on the hour and the journey takes less than a couple of minutes but it’s certainly much more relaxing than braving the streets back up on foot!
Day 1: Evening
Taormina has a wealth of restaurants to choose from. It’s worth getting a recommendation to avoid some of poorer quality tourist traps. One great option we can recommend is Rosmarino. Offering great quality food (including some wonderful freshly caught fish and seafood options) and with wonderful staff to look after you, you’re sure to enjoy an excellent meal here. Ring ahead and ask for a table on the terrace.
Day 2: Morning
One of Taormina’s most famous attractions is the Teatro Antico, an ancient Greek and Roman theatre that dates back to the 2nd century BC. It’s possible to book personal guided tours of the theatre, explore on your own or pay a little extra for one of the pre-recorded tours in your native language using their headphone system. It really is an incredible spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. Its clifftop position also means that it can boast the most wonderful 180-degree views along the Sicilian coast. Definitely have your cameras at the ready!
Day 2: Afternoon
As lovely as Taormina is, it is somewhere that is extremely popular with tourists. You’ll usually find that you are spoken to you not in Italian but in English and, whilst this suits some people, it’s not necessarily the authentic Italian experience that I love. However, you don’t need to venture far from Taormina to find a ‘hidden’ and undiscovered Italy.
If you fancy exploring a little further afield, then why not head 40 minutes North to Savoca. Sicily is famous for the series of Godfather films and fans of Francis Ford Coppola head here to enjoy drinks at the Bar Vitelli where scenes for the Godfather movie were set. The village also boasts a small museum where visitors can enjoy photographs and exhibits related to the film as well as information about the history of the village and the life of its past residents. Whilst Savoca is arguably beginning to lose some of its authenticity to guided Godfather tours, it’s well worth seeing. The village is made up of clusters of dwellings (some still abandoned despite a recent restoration project) and churches but it is easily explored on foot and throughout the village you are treated to wonderful views over the valleys below. Don’t miss seeing the catacombs at the Convento dei Cappuccini (Capuchin monastery) which is a short stroll from the town square.
Join a Godfather private tour with optional wine tasting and lunch
Day 2: Evening
One of the things you must do is enjoy Taormina at ‘apertivo’ time. Whilst we think Milan is the best place to enjoy an aperitivo in Italy, you’ll find that most places in Italy will offer it. Order your drinks at this time and they’ll be accompanied with snacks, ranging from basic nuts and crisps to small local homemade snacks and sandwiches. One great option is to sample the cheese, meats and antipasti boards on offer at La Bottega del Formaggio. They come in 3 sizes… the owner is fantastic and will advise that a small board is sufficient for an aperitivo but I’d challenge anyone to argue that this isn’t sufficient as a main meal! It’s very easy to ‘graze’ your way around the bars, cafes and restaurants!
Finish off the night with a visit to La Pignolata Guinness Cannoli which offers some of the best cannoli in the area. I can definitely recommend the pistachio cream or chocolate cannoli!
Day 3: Morning
If you enjoyed your time outside Taormina on day 2, then you may want to consider a longer excursion on day 3 of your stay. There are two villages within easy reach of Taormina that are included in the list of ‘borghi piu belli d’Italia’. The first is Castelmola, a tiny village that sits above Taormina. The journey from Taormina to the village will take you around 10 minutes, along very twisty roads with views opening up over the landscape below towards the sea the higher you ascend. Park at the car park as you reach the village and take the series of steps and paths that will take you from here to the historic centre.
I have to admit that I was quite taken aback the first time I visited this village…. It was a hot, cloudy day and Castelmola was literally within the clouds as we approached giving it an almost eerie quality. But one of the first things I came across on arrival were souvenir shops displaying aprons with penises on and with rubber penises hanging on the doors…. Until I remembered that Castelmola is home to what must be one of the quirkiest themed cafes in the world! The Bar Turrisi is a café that also displays penis shaped memorabilia that the owners have been collecting for years! Whether you decide that café is your cup of tea or not, you may want to sample the almond wine before leaving the village. The wine is a speciality of the village. Enjoy it with cantucci dipped in to absorb the liquid!
Day 3: Afternoon
Head back down the hill and make your way towards Castiglione di Sicilia, another of the ‘borghi piu belli d’Italia’ to be situated within easy reach of Taormina. En route, stop at the Gole Alcantara, to stretch your legs. A 10 euro entry fee will give you access to all the pathways and viewpoints as well as providing access to the base of the gorge where you can swim or walk in the icy cold waters. Depending on the time of year, or who you’re travelling with, you could easily spend the whole day here. As well as offering walking routes, it is possible to enjoy body rafting, canyoning and river trekking here as well amongst other things.
Assuming you’re just staying for a brief pit stop, continue on to Castiglione di Sicilia and enjoy a late lunch at the President Ristorante. It’s a fantastic traditional restaurant, offering delicious plates of homemade pasta. If it’s on the menu, I can thoroughly recommend the maccheroni alla norma, a traditional Sicilian pasta dish with a sauce made of tomatoes and aubergines and topped with shavings of ricotta cheese.
It’s probably now time to head back towards Taormina and relax before heading out for another evening on the town!
Day 3: Evening
For your last evening in Taormina, we recommend you enjoy dinner at the Ristorante Malvasia. It’s a great family run restaurant, offering exceptional value for money. It’s worth calling ahead and requesting a table on the terrace if you’re traveller in the warmer Spring and Summer months.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our taste of how to spend 3 days in and around Taormina. If we have tempted you to a holiday in Sicily, then take a look at the villas in Sicily available from Bookings For You.