Taormina is a small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily. Taormina has been a very popular tourist destination since the 19th century. Goethe, in Italian Journey, described it as ‘the greatest work of art and nature’, and writers and artists still settle here today.
Taormina's genesis and early history began with the Greeks who founded and named the town in 358 B.C. Desired for its strategic position overlooking the sea and valley, it was seized by the Romans, and later fell into Byzantine hands.
The site of the old town is about 250 m above the sea, while a very steep and almost isolated rock, crowned by a Saracen castle, rises about 150 m higher. Numerous fragments of ancient buildings are scattered over its whole surface, including extensive reservoirs of water, tesselated pavements, etc., and the remains of a spacious edifice, commonly called a Naumachia.
But by far the most remarkable monument remaining at Taormina is the Ancient theatre, which is one of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily, on account both of its remarkable preservation and its beautiful location. Besides the ancient Greek theatre, Taormina has many old churches, lively bars, fine restaurants, and antique shops. Taormina is approximately a forty-five minute drive away from Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna.
Whilst Taormina can be hot and busy during July and August, crowded with Italian tourists, it is far more pleasant and (slightly) less busy during the rest of the year.
Sursa foto: 1,2
Mai 2013
I. C.
editor artline.ro
