Taormina

Taormina, Sicily. (Photo by Gr0uch0)

A classic Grand Tour resort town on the coast of Sicily

Sicily's most famous resort town remains an enchanting corner of the island despite the tourist hordes.

It's a jasmine-scented ridgetop escape that marries the drama of a Greek colony established here in 403 BC, a medieval air of Sicilian palazzi and tiny churches, and the modestly hedonistic atmosphere of a latter-day resort village that draws famed names and package tours alike.

Taromina glues it all together with liberal amounts of bougainvillea, seascape vistas, and a laid-back take on life.

Vacationers pour in all summer long, clogging the streets and booking the hotels and restaurants. Fair warning: You are far more likely to hear English, German, or Japanese on the streets than Italian.

While the tourist crush can get to be too much July to September, it's less bothersome the rest of the year—and you can always escape on the cable car down to the beach.

Taormina is almost entirely pedestrianized, a stroller's dream.

(Photo courtesy of Comune di Taormina)
A webcam on Piazza IX Aprile, Taromina's public living room.

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