Taormina & Etna

A clifftop resort town whose ancient Greek theater looks out on Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, with the chance to climb Europe's highest active volcano.

Taormina & Etna lies on Sicily's east coast. Taormina is a resort town built on the cliffs of Monte Tauro at about 200 m above sea level; its ancient Greek theater is set against the smoking Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, and since the Grand Tour era of the 18th century it has been a holiday haunt of Europe's elite. About 50 km to the south are Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano (about 3,350 m, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site), and Catania, Sicily's second-largest city. Things to do fall into four areas: ① Taormina's old town, the ancient theater, Isola Bella and Castelmola on the hilltop; ② Savoca, where The Godfather was filmed, Forza d'Agrò and the Alcantara Gorges; ③ Mount Etna, the wineries of the north slope and Randazzo, and the Circumetnea railway; ④ Catania's Baroque old town and fish market, and the Cyclops Riviera to the north, with an extension to Messina to see its astronomical clock. April–June and September–October have the best weather; July–August is hot and Taormina is extremely crowded; the summit of Etna is snowy in winter, and you should bring a jacket all year round. Getting there: Catania Airport is the gateway, about 1–1.5 hours by Interbus coach to Taormina; outside vehicles are banned from the old town, so if driving, park at the Lumbi or Porta Catania car parks. Suggested stay: 3–4 days. Etna is very active, and summit routes and cable cars can close at short notice, so confirm before you set out.

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Where to eat

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