If you want to have a wonderful stay in Italy, discover the stunning Taormina and Syracuse: rent the most charming Villas in Sicily.
Are you looking for dreamy destinations? Discover Taormina and Syracuse, choose one of the numerous, charming Villas in Sicily near these two gems and start your amazing stay diving in beauty, art and blissful climate.
Taormina is a beautiful hillside town on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. As soon as you arrive, the mythical atmosphere spread all around will embrace and enchant you. Settled on Monte Tauro hill, this fashionable tourist destination has stunning views and a world-famous picturesque Graeco-Roman theatre, above the sea and facing Etna, the European highest active volcano.
Its beautiful position, the mild climate and the unique atmosphere attracts thousands of visitors. The fascinating theatre above mentioned is a must see: most of the original seats have disappeared, but the wall which surrounded the whole caveais preserved, together with the proscenium, the back wall of the scene and its appendages.
Don’t miss also the 10th century Palazzo Corvaja, the 13th century Cathedral of Saint Nicolò, the 16th century Palace of the Dukes of Saint Stefano, the public gardens, and the “Badia Vecchia” (Ancient Abbey).
Any time of the year is a good time to visit Taormina, but this delightful place is wonderful especially from March to June: these are the perfect months to enjoy the sunshine, to walk down the nice streets and have a delicious meal in one of the many restaurants. July and August are more crowded and definitely hotter, but at the same time the nightlife is very intense. In September, it gets less busy but still extremely charming.
Do you want to know who was one of the greatest fans of Taormina? A “certain” German poet, writer and playwright fell in love with Taormina and in his work Italian Journey, he named it a “patch of paradise”. Yes, it was Goethe!
And now let’s talk about another Sicilian beauty: the 2,700-year-old city Syracuse. Here, echoes of ancient civilizations still resound in the streets, and just one glance will be enough for you to realize that the Baroque architecture, the precious testimonials of Magna Graecia and the incredible blue of the sky create a unique combination.
Since Syracuse is located part on the Ortygia island and partly on land, it is often appealed as "island in the island”.
Syracuse played a key role in ancient times, when it was one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world. Romans and Byzantines, Arabs and Normans, Swabians and Aragonese...the past here is more present than ever! And let’s not forget that Syracuse is the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes.
And what about today? Syracuse is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the Necropolis of Pantalica. You will be spoiled for choice of things to see: don’t miss the piazzas, streets and buildings of Ortygia, especially the majestic Maniace Castle, and the enchanting Aretusa Fountain, outlined by green papyrus.
Beyond the seafront you will admire the Duomo, where the Doric Temple of Athenais is at the center of the Christian church. Built in the Byzantine Era, it is an incredible example of the stratification of different architectural styles. Also the Temple of Apollo, on the dockside, was first transformed into a church, then into a mosque by the Arabs, and then again into a church by the Normans!
On the mainland, don’t miss the Neapolis Archeological Park. Here you will be able to see the Greek Theatre (partly dug into the rocks) and the impressive Latomia del Paradiso with its numerous stone caves, including the Grotta dei Cordari, the Grotta del Salnitro, and the “Ear of Dionysius,” that is so called for its acoustic effect.
