Corso Umberto & Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina
Corso Umberto / Piazza IX Aprile
A pedestrian main street linking Porta Messina and Porta Catania, lined with palaces, churches, and granita shops; the central square overlooks the sea and Mount Etna.
Corso Umberto is the main axis of Taormina's old town, running about 1 kilometre from Porta Messina in the north to Porta Catania in the south. The whole street is pedestrianised, with medieval and Renaissance palaces and shops selling ceramics and coral jewellery along both sides. The middle section, Piazza IX Aprile, is a viewing terrace: on one side are the clock-tower gate and the Church of San Giuseppe, and on the other you can look out over the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. At the southern end are the cathedral and a Baroque fountain, and nearby Palazzo Corvaja houses the visitor centre. Outside vehicles are banned from the old town. A recommended treat is almond granita with brioche.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Villa Comunale di Taormina
- Ancient Theatre of Taormina
- Castelmola
- Isola Bella
- Giardini Naxos
- Naxos Archaeological Park
- Forza d'Agrò
- Alcantara Gorge