A Long Weekend in Sicily
Taormina is one of those places that need to be seen to be believed. I stepped foot off of the one-hour bus from the airport and had to pinch myself to check that I wasn't dreaming. It's like walking into an Italian movie set from a 1950s Audrey Hepburn black and white film. Everything you could desire from a long weekend is at your fingertips here (or at the steps of your feet, given the amount of stairs!) but any short climbs you have to endure is totally worth it.
This medieval hill town, idyllically perched between mountains and the eternally alluring Mediterranean Sea, has played holiday home to Gustav Klimt, D.H. Lawrence, Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote, John Steinbeck, Ingmar Bergmann, Francis Ford Coppola, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Federico Fellini, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor, Woody Allen and more than I can type... if it's good enough for them then why not for you?
Aside from the endless celebrity endorsements though, the iconic emblem of Taormina is the fascinating Isola Bella. This tiny island off the beach of Taormina has been described as "a treasure chest of Baroque art suspended over the water" and is accessible by paddling across the water at low tide. It's enchanting, and acts as the perfect sunbathing (and instagram) spot, and it was here I sat, and remembered that I want to spend my life travelling the World.
Where to Stay:
Luxe: Grand Hotel Timeo http://www.booking.com/Share-S0LlLP
Mid-Range: I stayed at the Hotel Natalina, it was central, simple but friendly and had a GREAT view from the Balcony! https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/natalina.en-gb.html?auth_success=1
Budget: Hostel Taormina: https://www.hostelworld.com/findabed.php/ChosenCity.Taormina/ChosenCountry.Italy
(excellent reviews on HostelWorld!)
What I Did:
The Greek Theatre (2 B.C)
Macaroni in Ragu from Osteria Nero D'Avolo
Christian Dior Vespa outside Grand Hotel Timeo
Aglio e Olio at La Botte
Granite at Bam Bar
Cute Dog at a Cafe
Piazza IX Aprile
Corso Umberto
View from the Cable Car
Artist in the Main Square
Cars to Rent
Bruschetta from Re di Bastoni Pub
Taormina Beach
I spent four nights here (cause I needed some R&R) but at a push you could make do with 2 or 3 nights... in short, it's spectacular, and possibly a place I'd come back to for my honeymoon.
Happy Travels.
