Taormina's Piazza IX Aprile

The main sqaure of Taormina. (Photo by Alain Bachellier)

Piazza 9 Aprile is the main square and public living room of Taormina lined by cafes, views, and churches

About halfway along Taormina's main drag of Corso Umberto is the town center, Piazza IX Aprile, a communal living room built as a terrace with a view over the Ionian sea from the railing bounding one side.

Lined with pricey cafés and brimming with visitors and caricature artists, it's the best place to sit back with a cappuccino and enjoy the relaxed resorty ambience of Taormina.

The square was named after the 9th of April, 1860, when mass in the Taormina cathedral down the street was interrupted to announce that Garibaldi had landed at Marsala (on the far side of the island) to begin his conquest of Sicily that made it part of Italy.

The ex-church of Sant-Agostino on Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina. (Photo by Pablo Canateam) (The name is actually a bit of a statement of nationalist pride, since the excited local rumor mill that fed the anouncement was actually a full month ahead of events. Garibaldi did not land in Marsala until May 9, 1860, but the Taorminese are proud that they called it ahead of time.)

The square used to be called Piazza Sant'Agostino, after the 1448 church on the northeast side (now deconsecrated and serving as the public library).

Also on the piazza: the 17th-century Siclian baroque church of San Giuseppe atop a balustraded staircase at the sounthwest corner, and the 12th century Torre dell'Orolorgio balustraded clock tower, destroyed many times but always exactlingly rebuilt.

Pass through gate at the bottom of the Torre dell'Orolorgio and you'll be in the medieval section of town, where Corso Umberto eventually spills into Piazza del Duomo.

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