Taormina

Taormina is Sicily's most spectacular resort — a medieval hill town perched at 200 metres on Monte Tauro above the Ionian Sea, with direct views of Mount Etna (Europe's largest active volcano) smoking on the horizon and the ancient Greek Theatre commanding a position that frames the volcano perfectly through its arched stage. The setting is extraordinary. The Teatro Antico di Taormina, a Greco-Roman theatre built in the 3rd century BC and modified by the Romans, is the second-largest theatre in Sicily and still used for concerts and films under the stars. Its backdrop — Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea — is among the finest of any ancient monument anywhere. The medieval Corso Umberto, the town's main pedestrian street, runs the length of the promontory past cafés, boutiques and churches to the Piazza IX Aprile, whose terrace view over the coast is spectacular. Isola Bella, a tiny island connected to the beach by a narrow sandbar, is the most photogenic beach on the coast. Mazzarò beach below the town (accessible by cable car) is the main swimming area. Day trips to Mount Etna — by jeep to the crater rim or on foot with a guide — are essential for anyone in the area. The Gole dell'Alcantara, a dramatic volcanic gorge with cold river water flowing between basalt columns, is excellent in summer. Taormina is expensive and crowded in high summer; April, May and October are far more pleasant.