Taromina, Italy

Quite possibly the heart of Sicily, the beautiful town of Taormina is known for its stunning views, and captivating culture. You may recognize some of the views in Taormina, as pictured in the famous gangster film, The Godfather, but there is so much more to this quaint little touristy town.

We had heard a lot of people talk about how they have experienced racism in Italy, but our visit to Taormina was very comfortable, and without any incident. We felt welcomed in every area we visited, and because the town was so popular as a tourist attraction, I think we were viewed more as ” American money” than we were as “Black.”

We strolled the beautiful busy streets on foot, window shopping and trying various street foods and pastries, on our way to the infamous Greek Theater. We happily stumbled upon the Villa Comunale, a gorgeous public garden with trails encapsulated in various flowering trees and plant life, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was so beautiful, I could have spent the entire day there. The trees created a canopy that provided a beautiful and cool break from the beaming sun. There were so many lovely photo stops and the trail led us to the other side of town, putting us closer to our final destination.

After about a 15 minute walk (UP HILL) from the gardens we arrived at the Greek Theater. It was extremely crowded, and the queue line to purchase tickets was reminiscent of an amusement park attraction. Rather than wait, we quickly purchased tickets online and moved to the prepaid line without any wait, at all. Surprisingly, once we were past the admission gate, the crowds seemed to vanish and we were able to walk about the Greek Theater and get great photos without any other people in the way.

The theater is vast and remarkable with some of the structure having been standing since the 3rd Century BC! Perhaps even more notable, is that it is still used today! Seeing the contrast of the old stone seats, and the modern acoustic sound system was awe inspiring. We spent about an hour exploring the area, before the heat got the best of us, as our visit was in July. We decided to find some granita to cool us off.

Just outside the theater are many shops and stalls with treats and souvenirs, along the main road back toward the Piazza. We got granita (think Italian shaved ice, but actually from Italy) and it deliciously helped us overcome the heat exhaustion we were experiencing. We ducked into a small pizzeria called Ristorante Del Corso, close to the Piazza IX (the main square) at the end of Corso Umberto (the main street) and people watched, over the beautiful courtyard, as we enjoyed what I feel was the most delicious pizza I have ever eaten. While there were more scenic eateries in the area, (such as those with seating on the flower lined staircases), this was an excellent location, because we were able to see the bustle of the courtyard, and take in Taormina’s glory.

We enjoyed Taormina as a day trip during our stay in Sicily, and would recommend you check it out. There are tour buses from nearly all of the surrounding areas in Sicily.