An Introduction to Taormina.

Taormina holidays are spent in and around the town of Taormina which is located 204 metres above sea level giving panoramic views of Mount Etna, Giardini Naxos and the sea. 

There is a cable car service between the town and the nearby beach of Mazzaro.  The town itself has an intriguing network of small streets and alleyways which host a marvellous selection of hotels, pavement cafes, elegant shops, restaurants and bars.

The best Taormina hotels are the 4 stars Hotel Villa Sonia, Grand Hotel Miramare, Hotel Villa Paradiso, Grand Hotel Timeo, Hotel Excelsior Palace, Hotel Ipanema, and the splendid 5 stars Hotel Villa Sant’Andrea.  Our Taormina holiday flights operate from London Gatwick and Manchester to Catania airport. The transfer time from airport to your hotel is around 60 minutes.

So book your Taormina package holiday, Taormina hotel or Taormina flight with Holiday Options and don’t forget our Taormina late deals and holiday offers at very special prices.

The fascinating town of Taormina rests on the slopes of Mount Tauro, some 204 metres above sea level and is a magnificent vantage point for panoramic views of Mount Etna, Giardini Naxos and the sea.

There is a cable car service between the town and the nearby beach area of Mazzaro. The town itself is composed of an intriguing network of small streets and alleyways which host a marvellous selection of hotels, pavement cafés, elegant shops, restaurants and bars.

Taormina is one of the most celebrated resorts in the Mediterranean with a distinctly late medieval character. The town centre is home to a large number of buildings and relics of historical interest from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Perhaps the most important monument, the Greco-Roman amphitheatre is the venue for the International Arts Festival during the summer months of July and August. In the evening one can watch the citizens of Taormina as they stroll along the Corso Umberto.

A luxuriant macchia covers the heights above the town, interspersed with dark cypresses, olive trees, pines, palm trees and cacti.  Orange and lemon trees fill the air with their unforgettable Mediterranean scent.
The famous English author, D.H Lawrence fell in love with and lived in Taormina for three years in the 1920’s. His passion for Taormina and its unique qualities are commemorated to this day.

This beautiful town reveals the sophisticated face of Sicily with its stylish boutiques, exquisite restaurants and the spectacular Greco-Roman amphitheatre, all a stone’s throw from the stunning coastline.

Diversity is all apparent on this big and beautiful island. Pick any nation from the ancient and medieval worlds and the odds are that its army landed here – Greeks and Romans, Byzantines and Bourbons, Arabs, Angevins and Aragonese. All left their mark on Sicily’s landscape and culture, providing a window on centuries past that will enthrall the history buffs. Temples and amphitheatres are set amid beautiful hillsides. Picturesque Taormina, perched on its cliff top, places equal focus on its castle, cathedral and cluster of chic shops and cafés. Cefalu is an atmospheric Moorish port. This is the magic of holidays in Sicily – that while its archaeological relics are gloriously preserved, the contemporary life of the island goes on around them, incorporates the past with the present, and creates a place where you delve into history almost by accident.

The island’s variety doesn’t stop at its architecture, for the scenery is just as splendid. Menacing it may be, but Mt. Etna’s past eruptions have delivered fantastically fertile soil for the citrus groves and arable farms, providing the fresh ingredients for a medley of Mediterranean menus. The island’s economy is firmly based on its home-grown produce and well-stocked fishing grounds. A drive in the country will bring you to citrus orchards, olive and almond groves, and field upon field of wheat, beans and salad vegetables, while a meal at the water’s edge could include the day’s catch of anything from sardines to swordfish.

A popular place for today’s Romans to visit in high summer, Sicily holidays have not been spoiled by tourism in great numbers, and there’s plenty of room here to find a hidden cove or tranquil village. Eat where the local people eat and really experience the atmosphere.

The island is renowned for its fabulous fresh food and for the variety of traditional dishes – which blend an Italian menu with more than a hint of Sicily’s Greek, Spanish and north African former inhabitants. Try pesce spada (swordfish) stuffed with a mix of mozzarella, herbs and brandy, pasta con le sarde (fresh sardines), caponata (a speciality of anchovies, olives and aubergines), or triglie alla Siciliana  - red mullet in an orange peel and white wine sauce. Candied fruits, bitter chocolate and a feast of ice creams will finish the meal superbly for those with a sweet tooth, and locally grown strawberries, grapes and apricots are seasonally on the menu. Wines to look out for include Settesoli, Donnafugata, Zucco, Etna, Montavagno and the aromatic whites and reds of Corvo di Salaparuta.

Sunbeds and parasols are available on all this island’s major shores. There’s a gorgeous beach of fine golden sand at Cefalu. From the heights of Taormina, a cable car takes you effortlessly to Mazzaro beach below, while the long and gently-shelving beach of Giardini Naxos is perfect for water’s edge walks.

The crystal clear waters around the Aeolian Islands are excellent for scuba diving and there are also dive centres at Cefalu and Taormina. Diving, windsurfing and pedaloes are available from Taormina’s Villa Sant’Andrea beach, and there’s a wide range of watersports from the beach at Giardini Naxos.

Many of the larger hotels offer entertainment in the evenings, and there are lively bars and nightspots in the Giardini Naxos and Taormina areas. However, the island’s general evening ambience is in typical Mediterranean style, promenading in the streets and squares, choosing a water’s edge table or atmospheric old-world restaurant for a meal that lasts most of the evening, and perhaps going on to a café / bar for a spot of people-watching from a pavement table.

A good road completely circles the island and there are several more criss-crossing its interior. To find the timeless villages untouched by tourism, take off at a tangent here and there on the minor roads through the mountains. Boat trips are excellent for exploring the coastline from a marine vantage point. Local bus services are generally reliable and well frequented by tourists. Taxis are readily available and inexpensive.