Taormina, Italy

Taormina is beautiful and picturesque! We caught a cab to Taormina from the port of Messina with an Australian couple who spoke a bit of Italian, a big bonus for us. Taormina is about 35 miles away from the port. It was founded in 358 B.C., and is a town perched on the high cliffs of Sicily. The town has a medieval atmosphere despite its Greek and Roman past. The buildings, dating mostly from the Middle Ages, have great charm and spectacular position overlooking the bay and rugged coastline.

Upon arrival, we headed toward the Greco-Roman Theater. Located at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the Mediterranean we found it to be stunning. Built by the Greeks in the 3rd century B.C. and redesigned by the Romans in the 2nd century A.D. It is considered one of the most dramatic settings for a theatre in the World, and who could argue with that? The Theatre stands on a perfect site, facing the sea on a hill 702 feet high, with the bay far below and the dominant peak of Mount Etna in the distance. Still used today for modern productions of Greek tragedy as well as summer festivals.

After touring the Theatre and embracing the beauty of this place, we headed out to stroll the narrow cobblestone streets of Taormina, listen to the Italians play music in the piazza, and enjoy local wine. The Italians have things figured out. Laid back and lively, they enjoy life!

Ciao!

Russell