Italy > Sicily > Taormina
Taormina
N 37°51.138', E 15°17.523'
2015-11-26
http://www.traveltaormina.com/en/
Our rating: 8.00
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Taormina is the best town in Sicily, be sure to include it to your route. It is also the best place to observe the Etna.
Taormina Map ©@
We stayed here for two nights in the hotel Villa Diodoro (booking.com ), which offers best views of the volcano (on the map it is below the lower point 2). It has a huge roof terrace with great views.
View of Mount Etna from Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
View of Mount Etna from Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
View of Mount Etna from Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Viewpoint Belvedere is in 5-minute walk from the hotel. It offers a good view of the islands and the beaches, which can be reached by cable car, though in the end of November it was not working.
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
It is also a good idea to come here and watch the sunrise.
Sunrise in Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
On the other side of the hotel is the city park with various military exhibits, cats and birds. And of course with a great view of the city.
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Trees in a memory of the soldiers.
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
And over the hotel is a well-preserved ancient theatre (third century BC, opening times and prices ).
Ancient Theatre in Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Ancient Theatre in Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
It's hard to get lost in Taormina, as there is only one main street (1). All the houses are very well maintained.
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
But that's not all. High above Taormina is Castelmola, a small, picturesque village. It can be reached by the bus from the bus station, though we took a taxi for 10 euros.
The observation deck in Castelmola ©Yuriy Buriak
Castelmola ©Yuriy Buriak
Castelmola ©Yuriy Buriak
Castelmola ©Yuriy Buriak
Castelmola ©Yuriy Buriak
At the top of the village there is a ruined castle.
Castelmola ©Yuriy Buriak
Down we went on foot along the path 3 to the Saracens castle (22) and the rock church of Madonna della Rocca (23). Along the way found a ripe persimmon.
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Passed third of the way. Castelmola has remained at the top.
Castelmola ©Yuriy Buriak
Saracens castle (22)
Saracens castle ©Yuriy Buriak
View of Castelmola from the church
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Rock church of Madonna della Rocca (23)
The rock church of Madonna della Rocca in Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
The rock church of Madonna della Rocca in Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
View of Taormina
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
From the church to Taormina we went down by stairs (5). At night they are illuminated with lanterns.
Taormina ©Yuriy Buriak
Tip: From the center of Taormina you can quickly get down to the train station along the path 6. Though do not walk there after the rain. Getting there: Taormina has a railway station and you can come here from Messina or Catania. However, the station is near the sea and Taormina is on the mountain, so you also have to take a taxi for 15 EUR. Therefore, the best choice would be a bus (http://interbus.it ).
Tags, Italy: amphitheater , antique city , beach , city , height , observation deck , park Tags, all countries: amphitheater , antique city , beach , city , height , observation deck , park
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 8.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help