The Public gardens of Taormina constitute one of the most panoramic places in the town. The villa is a real green lung, populated by lush vegetation of palm trees, cacti and a large quantity of flowers, that, in summer, make this place a delight for the eyes.
The villa was originally inhabited by Lady Florence Trevelyan, a Scottish noblewoman who left her country after having a relationship with the heir to the English throne, Edward VII. Arriving in Taormina in 1884, Lady Trevelyan married Mayor Prof. Salvatore Cacciola.
The garden became the property of the municipality starting from 1922, and inside, even today, you can admire particular constructions commissioned by Lady Trevelyan for ornamental purposes, called Victorian follies.
The gardens are a worthwhile alternative to the crowded central streets. Their pathways are immersed among magnolias, meticulously maintained bougainvillea shrubs.
Greek Theatre
The Greek Theatre of Taormina is the most fascinating historical monument in the pearl of the Ionian Sea, a world-famous tourist attraction, so much so that Johann Wolfgang Goethe wrote in his famous Italian Journey he wrote: “Never has the audience of a theatre seen a similar spectacle”. The Greek-Roman theatre, part of the Archaeological Park of Naxos and Taormina, comprises three areas: the stage, the orchestra, and the cavea. The stage in front of the cavea is where the actors acted and, according to reconstruction by specialists, this area was adorned with two orders of columns, one superimposed on the other. The stage area also had three large arched openings symmetrically spaced and six niches, three on the right and three on the left of the central open arcade.
Six column bases and four Corinthian columns, erected after 1860, are still preserved on the stage area. The cavea is formed by a flight of steps that, starting from the bottom to the top, widens upwards, where the spectators are seated. Finally, the orchestra is the lowest flat part of the whole theatre. This is where the musicians who accompanied the drama or comedy were positioned.
Dug out of the hard rock of Mount Taurus in the 3rd century B.C., it could already then accommodate thousands of seated spectators. It is well known that the Greeks erected their most important buildings as if Nature could be a part of them. In the same way, the light and air, creeping in between the columns, emphasised the natural scenery perfectly integrated with the architecture of the theatre. The shape allowed for perfect acoustics in all areas. In the late imperial period it was decided to adapt it to the gladiator games. Later, with the fall of the Western Empire, it fell into disuse. The marble was removed from the structure, as were the monumental columns. Only in the post-war period, some parts of the original structure were enhanced by a major restoration work.
Isola Bella
In a bay of the Ionian Sea, there’s a small oasis that shines with green amidst the crystal-clear waters. Separated by a strip of beach that appears depending on tides, Isola Bella in Taormina has been described by many as the Pearl of the Mediterranean. The dense Mediterranean vegetation makes it both mysterious and captivating at the same time.
The beauty of this islet at the foot of Taormina can be appreciated from above, from every point in the bay, but also from below, from the pebble beach that keeps it company and watches over it. Today, Isola Bella belongs to the Department of Cultural Heritage, but over the years, it has had many owners.
Given to Pancrazio Ciprioti by the King of the Two Sicilies, Ferdinand I of Bourbon, Lady Florence Trevelyan purchased the islet in the midst of the sea and transformed it into a one-of-a-kind oasis. In the late 19th century, the philanthropic husband Salvatore Cacciola, to please his wife, had a small house built on the island and planted rare and valuable tropical plants. In 1954, the Bosurgi brothers from Messina became the owners and constructed a magnificent residence with 12 separate rooms.
These rooms, interconnected by stairs and terraces, were cleverly camouflaged among the island’s plants and rocks. It was only in 1984 that the Sicilian Regional Government finally declared Isola Bella a site of artistic, naturalistic, historical, and cultural interest. In 1998, the Natural Reserve was established, initially managed by the WWF and later by the Province of Messina.
