This article is about the town in Sicily. For people with the surname, seeTaormina (surname).
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Taormina as seen from theNorman castle overlooking the town.
Taormina's history dates to beforeAncient Greece established its first colony on Sicily in 734 BCE inMagna Graecia. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Taormina remained one of the island's more important towns. Taormina followed thehistory of Sicily in being ruled by successive foreign monarchs. AfterItalian unification, Taormina began to attract well-off tourists from northern Europe, and it became known as a welcoming haven for gay men and artists. The municipality of fishermen, farmers, and wealthy bourgeoisie transformed into a town of merchants, hoteliers, and builders. During World War II, it was the headquarters of the German Wehrmacht command, and on July 9, 1943, the feast day of its patron saint, Bishop Pancras, Taormina suffered two devastating bombing raids by Allied aircraft, destroying part of its southern section and a wing of the San Domenico Hotel, where a meeting of the German High Command was taking place.
The present town of Taormina occupies the ancient site, on a hill that forms the last projecting point of the mountain ridge that extends along the coast fromCape Pelorus to this point. The site of the old town is about 250 metres (820 ft) above the sea, while a very steep and almost isolated rock, crowned by a Norman castle, rises about 150 metres (490 ft) higher. This is the likely site of the ancientArx or citadel, an inaccessible position mentioned by ancient writers. Portions of the ancient walls may be traced at intervals all round the brow of the hill, the whole of the summit of which was occupied by the ancient city. Numerous fragments of ancient buildings are scattered over its surface, including extensive reservoirs of water, sepulchres, tessellated pavements, and the remains of a spacious edifice, commonly called aNaumachia, the real purpose of which is difficult to determine.
Saracen Castle:[6] Built by the Arabs about 400 meters high on the rock of Monte Tauro, the Castello Saraceno dominated Taormina and its bay, and controlled the valley of the river Alcantara.[7]
Arab Necropolis:[8] The necropolis was probably built between the ninth and eleventh century with symmetrical cells positioned one on the other. Located outside the city walls that defended the town of Taormina, the necropolis extended northeastward between the existing ruins and the Church of St. Pietro.[9]
Theancient theatre of Taormina is built for the most part of brick, and is therefore probably from Roman times, though its plan and arrangement are in accordance with those of Greek theatres; it is speculated that the present structure was rebuilt upon the foundations of an older theatre of the Greek period. With a diameter of 109 metres (358 ft) (after an expansion in the 2nd century), this theatre is the second largest of its kind in Sicily (after that of Syracuse); it is frequently used for operatic and theatrical performances and concerts. Most of the original seats have disappeared, but the wall that surrounded the wholecavea is preserved, and the proscenium with the back wall of the scena and its appendages, of which only traces remain in most ancient theatres, are preserved in an uncommon state of integrity. From the fragments of architectural decorations still extant it has been determined that these were of theCorinthian order, and richly ornamented. Some portions of a temple are also visible, converted into the church of San Pancrazio, but the edifice is small.
Other sights include the 12th-14th centuryPalazzo Corvaja, the 13th-century cathedral (Duomo di Taormina), a 1635Baroque fountain, thePalazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano in 14th-centuryGothic style, the Church ofSan Domenico, the Anglican Church ofSaint George, and the municipal gardens (Giardini della Villa Comunale).
Just south of Taormina is theIsola Bella, anature reserve; and further south, beside a bay, is the popular seaside resortGiardini Naxos. Tours of the Capo Sant'Andreagrottos are available.
Taormina is on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. Besides the ancient Greek theatre, it has many old churches, lively bars, fine restaurants and antique shops. The Santuario Madonna della Rocca is one such church. Located on the slope above the town, it commands an impressive view of the coast and Mount Etna to the south, and is accessible on foot via the staired path, Salita Castello. Taormina is approximately a 45-minute drive from Europe's largest active volcano,Mount Etna.
A part of the filmThe Big Blue (1988) was set and filmed in Taormina, where the main characters take part in theno limits freediving World Championships.[12]
The second season of the U.S. showThe White Lotus primarily takes place in Taormina, and was filmed in various locations throughout the city.[13]
Many exhibitions and events are organized during the summer in Taormina. The exceptional stage for pop and classical concerts, opera and important performances often recorded by television (for example, the ceremony of the Silver Ribbon Award, the Festivalbar, the Kore) is the Ancient Theatre. Since 1983, the most important performances are realized by Taormina Arte, the cultural institution which organizes music, theatre and dance festivals.
Within the programme of Taormina Arte there is theTaormina Film Fest, the heir of the Cinema Festival of Messina and Taormina, dating from 1960, which for about twenty years has hosted the David of Donatello Awards. During the Taormina Film Fest the Silver Ribbons are awarded, a prize created by Italian Film Journalists.
Since 2005, in October, Taormina Arte has organized theGiuseppe Sinopoli Festival, a festival dedicated to its late artistic director.
Wilhelm von Gloeden (1856 in Wismar – 1931 in Taormina), German photographer who worked mainly in Italy, best known for his pastoral nude studies of Sicilian boys. Resident from 1880
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