Hotel Bel Soggiorno

More on Taormina, Sicily

It’s difficult to find anything wrong with Taormina, except perhaps the fact that its perfection means popularity. Spectacularly set on Mount Tauro, overlooking two sweeping bays and with the towering form of smouldering Mount Etna in attendance, this is Sicily chocolate-box style. But scenic beauty is just one of Taormina’s attractions. Founded in 358BC, the town has some of the island’s best preserved historical buildings and landmarks, not least the sensational Greco-Roman amphitheatre. The only problem with attending one of the summer performances there is keeping your eyes on the stage, rather than on the awe-inspiring backdrop of the brilliant blue Ionian Sea, the rugged coastline and the massive volcano. One of the penalties for Taormina’s spectacular setting is a steep walk or a cable car ride down to Mazzaro Beach, the resort’s main seafront area. There, you can stretch out on a sunbed or try your hand at some watersports, and there’s also a selection of bars, cafés and restaurants. Back in town, the Corso Umberto is the perfect spot for some retail therapy. Souvenir shops rub shoulders with designer boutiques, and in the middle of the street there’s the bustling Piazza Nove Aprile, where you can review your purchases over a cup of cappuccino or a lemon granita. As for activities after dark, they mainly revolve around the myriad bars and restaurants, but there are also a few nightclubs for dance devotees. If you can bear to tear yourself away from Taormina’s magnetic charms, take a walk or the bus to Castelmola, about three miles up the mountain. You can visit the medieval castle and have a taste of the local almond wine, readily available in the village’s bars.