Published by | 03 February 2025 | 4 minutes to read
Read our guide so you don't miss Taormina's must-visits.
The must-visits of Taormina
The beautiful Taormina has never been more fashionable than this year. After the huge success of the HBO series 'The White Lotus' (filmed in the splendid setting of the San Domenico Palace) broadcast in Italy by Sky, tourists from all over the world literally invaded the island.
And how could we not give you some tips on what to do/see during your stay? If you are in Taormina passing through (perhaps for the Andrea Bocelli concert) or if you want to spend a whole day exploring the streets of the city, here are five places you must visit:
Taormina's Villa Comunale in the centre of the city is now a wonderful public garden, although its historicity takes us back to royal origins. The noblewoman Lady Florence Trevelyan Cacciola, an Irishwoman married to the mayor of Taormina in the late 19th century, wanted a private garden to cultivate her beloved plants. An expert in ornithology, she used this area surrounded by greenery not only to admire birds, but also to collect plants and flowers from all over the world. The typical English garden, houses a building known as 'The Beehives' a pavilion that resembles a beehive. As well as providing a cool respite from the Sicilian heat, the gardens offer a breathtaking view of the coast and Mount Etna.
The villa is open to the public from 9 a.m. to midnight in summer and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in winter and is located on Via Bagnoli Croce, a short walk from the historic centre.
Impossible not to include the fabulous Taormina cathedral and its square. The cathedral, dedicated to St Nicholas, was built in 1400 and has undergone several reconstructions over time.
Also in the centre of Taormina we find this splendid palace characterised by different architectural styles due to the many dominations that have occurred in Sicilian history. In fact, we find the Arab style that can be recognised in the tower, the Catalan-Gothic style in the windows and the Norman style in the main entrance door. From 1538 to 1945 it was the residence of the noble Corvaja family but was then abandoned for a long period. Today, however, after a renovation carried out by the municipality, it is the seat of the Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo (Tourist Board) and inside you can visit the Ethnoanthropological Museum, which contains Sicilian art, culture and traditions.
The museum is open every day except Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is located in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. (the cost of the ticket is €2.60)
For those in a more shopping mood, we recommend a visit to Via Umberto I, Taormina's main street where you can find shops, bars, restaurants and delicatessens. Nothing better than a lunch break after a morning of shopping!
Of course, unless you have come to Taormina to attend concerts/performances, you cannot miss a visit to the Greek theatre. It was built in the 3rd century B.C. by the Greek population to be used as a proper theatre for musical and dramatic performances. After them, the Romans too, with some modifications, used it as an arena, to watch hunting shows and gladiator fights. The star from the top of the theatre is certainly the view that includes the Calabrian and Ionian coast of Mount Etna. To visit, the theatre is open daily from 9am to 7pm in summer and until 4pm in winter.
Built in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, it is located in Piazza IX Aprile next to the Clock Tower. Baroque in style, it can be visited every day from 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
