TAORMINAHOLIDAYS,
Your self-catering
in Taormina
| Taormina, the history... | Excurasions | Italian Train itinerary | The weather in Taormina | Ferry boats to/from sicily | General Conditions |
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Via Nazionale
98039 Taormina (ME) ITALY |
Taormina, a visit of the
town... and usefull informations...
| The Greek Theatre: |
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It
is fifty metres wide, one hundred and twenty metres long and twenty
metres high, which means that about 100,000 cubic metres of stone had to
be removed. Further evidence that the Theatre is of Greek origin is in
the well-cut biocks of Taormina stone (similar to marble) below the
scene of the Theatre; these are a typical example of the ancient Greek
building technique. The theatre is divided into three main sections: the scene, the orchestra and the cavea.The scene is opposite the cavea and is obviously where the actors used to perform. Seen from Santuario "Madonna della Rocca" there is now a large ten-metre long portion missing in the centre of the scene, supposedly caused by attacks during the wars. This serious damage to the theatre makes it nevertheless even more evocative due to the magnificent panorama (the bay of Naxos and Mount Etna) which can now be seen. ..
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The Palazzo S. Stefano: |
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was an integral part of the second city walls. Built between the end of
the fourteenth century and the first years of the fifteenth century, it
is a masterpiece of the Gothic Sicilian art, which persisted being
anchored to the Arab-Norman style. The arab-norman permanences are
remembered by the decoration on the Palace's top ( a wide frieze in lava
stone, alternate with rhombus-shaped wedges in white stone from
Syracuse, which runs, forming a magnificent lace of inlays, along the
eastern and northern fronts) and by the square tower crowned with
swallow-tailed merlons. It has three storeys with an area of 100 square metres apiece and it's adorned with four very precious elaborated mullions (windows with two lights): pierced roses and three-lobed little arcs with a triplex cordon in the acute arcs' jambs. Two drawbridges allowed to go on the upper floors . The staircase which from the groundfloor leads to the first floor was built in 1700. In the garden there is still the well used for the rain water's harvest. |
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La Torre Dell’Orologio: |
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It
acts as gate of enter to the part of the town which is definite
fifteenth-century suburb. |
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Il Palazzo Corvaja: |
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It
takes the name from the Corvaja family, one of the most ancient and
noble families of Taormina, which possessed it from 1538 to 1945. It
rises in Abbey square and is the most important medieval palace of which
the town boasts. It has an Arabic style and at the same time Gothic and
Norman, turned out from transformations brought by various dominations.
The battlements of the tower, composed from a double series of square
holes, surmounted from little merlons, were made by Arabian craftsmen,
while Gothic the mullions (windows with two lights) in the
fourteenth-century saloon, Norman the fifteenth-century room (lit up by
four mullions and by one window with three lights) where the reunions of
the Sicilian Parliament took place. |
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The Public Garden (La Villa): |
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Known by various names including the Villa Comunale, the Giardino Trevelyan and the Parco Duchi di Cesarò, the public park on Via Bagnoli Croce is a pretty and peaceful spot. An English-style garden, it was designed by Florence Trevelyan, who lived in Taormina at the end of the nineteenth century. A panoramic walkway lined with benches faces the view over the sea and Etna, while flower-beds, lawns, hedges, trees and bushes spread over the large terrace. There are several fascinating follies to admire, including cottages and towers, as well as a collection of caged birds, some old artillery, a children's play area and a bar (the latter two are not always open). |
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| The Cathedral: |
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The
fortitude Cathedral, as it was defined, was built around 1400 onto the
ruins of a little medieval church dedicated to St. Nicola from Bari. |
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usefull informations...
Best
restaurants in Taormina:
1.
Restaurant Vicolo Stretto (very charming – need reservation)
Located
in the main street, just a few meters before the main square with the sea view. As soon as you enter the main street, walk for abt 500
meters. You will see the main
square of the town with a nice sea view. Just
20 meters before the square on the right you will notice the insigna of the
restaurant (tel: 0039 0942 2 49 95). Please
tell the owners (Anna Maria or Francesco) that you are Claudio’s guests
2.
Restaurant Il Barcaiolo:
Located in the bay of Mazzaro’, seaside.
Just walk down to the sea, cross all the bay on your left.
You will see some boats and left of them is the Restaurant.
3.
Restaurant Arco Dei Cappuccini:
From Porta Messina Arch (the entrance to the main street)
just walk up left. You will see
another arch on your right. Enter
the arch and the restaurant is on your right.
4.
Restaurant La Giara:
Located in the main street just 100 meters before the main square with sea view.
Walking the main sttreet you will easily see the restaurant.
5.
Restaurant Pizzeria Granduca:
Located in the main street just 300 meters before the Porta Catania arch (the
end of the main street) is easily visible while you walk.
It is a nice place to have also a good Pizza.
The
Tourist office:
It
is located in Piazza Badia square, the first square you will see entering the
main street from Porta messina Arch.
The
Post Office:
There
are 2. One is located at the end of
the main street. Just cross the Porta Catania arch and you will see it on your
left. The other one is located in
the cable car square.
Taxi
Service in town and/or pick up at Catania airport:
Our
friend Mr. Alfio Magari (tel: 0039 339 240 62 81 – magaritransfert@tao.it)
)will be very pleased to help you. Should you not be able to get in touch with him while in town
you can call the city taxy service at 0039 0942 2 30 00.
Taormina
Arte – Film Festival, Opera, Music (from June till September)
It
is located at on the way to the Greek Theatre.
Just enter the main street and after the first square with taxi drivers
walk up on your left. It is a big
palace and easily visible from the square.
You can buy there tickets for every event.
We
wish you a very nice and relaxing holiday in our lovely town!
The
Staff of Taorminaholidays