Tourist information - Taormina
The moment you arrive in Taormina, you will see the marvellous, mythical atmosphere spread throughout which has captivated visitors from all around the world for many years. Settled on a hill of the Monte Tauro, Taormina dominates two grand, sweeping bays below and also on the southern side, the top of Mount Etna, the European highest active volcano, often capped with snow, providing to the visitors a spectacular, dramatic and impressive view more than almost one hundred miles of Mediterranean Sea. Taormina really seems to be born as a touristic resort since past times, when ancient people such as Sicels, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards chose it as their residential site thanks to its great position, mild climate and magic atmosphere. These days visitors may as well find excellent examples of Taormina’s golden times: the splendid Greek Thetre, the Roman "Naumachiae", the 13th century Cathedral of Saint Nicolò, the 14th century Palazzo Corvaja, the 16th century Palace of the Dukes of Saint.Stefano, the public gardens, the "Badia Vecchia" (Ancient Abbey) and many more.
The resort was first publicised by a trio of german artists: in 1787 J.W.Goethe discovered the beauties of Sicily and, especially, of Taormina. He wrote the world known novel "Italian Journey", by which he describes the beauties of this land along with its people and pronounced Taormina a "patch of paradise". The German painter Otto Geleng rose interest in parisan art galleries exhibiting his paintings within these magical landscapes. His contemporary, the young prussian photographer Wilhelm von Gloeden settled down in 1880 and made Taormina well-known to everyone conservative European cultural clubs along with his artistic portraits of nude shepherd boys along with the volcano Etna on the backstage.
Since then many important celebrities visited Taormina, electing it as their "escapade place” from chaotic city life. Patrik Brydone D.H. Lawrence, Truman Capote, Alexander Dumas, Anatole France, Andrè Gide, Paul Klee, Guy de Maupassant, Luigi Pirandello, John Steinbeck, Gustav Klimt, Elio Vittorini, Oscar Wilde, Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms spent happy moments here. In more recent times movie, theatre and music celebrities such as Ingmar Bergmann, Francis Ford Coppola, Leonard Bergman, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Federico Fellini, Cary Grant, Tyrone Power, Gregory Peck, Marcello Mastroianni, Elisabeth Taylor, Woody Allen have spent fulfilling and splendid holidays in the Mediterranean pearl. Ever since the opening of the first hotel in 1874, Taormina has become among the many world top touristic destinations where visitors can experience a perfect mix of old times charming ambiance, preservation of culture and history, a beautiful and lively way of living to be enjoyed in relaxing walks through the old town pedestrian areas.
The tourist has a lot to do and see : top level art shows at the Greek theatre, a number of painting exhibitions held in local palazzo and churches, fine elegant shopping across the renowned "Corso Umberto" with its classical music cafès and pastry shops. Or visiting local art museums, taking naturalistic walks in the surrounding countryside, golfing on the nearby 18-holes green, experiencing and enjoying the fantastic beaches at easy reach, where the mild Mediterranean climate allows to practise all aquatic events as swimming, scuba diving, sailing, windsurfing, or even sunbathing for nearly eight months a year and many more.
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