Taormina owes its modern fame largely to a German artist, the painter Von Geleng, who in 1800 brings Taormina to the fore in Europe, disconcerted the Parisian regular customers of an exhibition with paintings depicting unreal landscapes of snow-capped volcanoes with Greek ruins and stretches of almond trees in bloom. The story continues with the challenge by Otto Von Geleng to three critics to go to see personally these landscapes in Taormina.
The result was, of course, that after a month of “challenge” from one end of Europe to the other they praised the beauty of this little piece of Sicily.
What a visitor feels the first time he goes to Taormina is as if he find himself in a rich and elegant terrace. The town rises 200 meters above sea level and from the alleys that intersect the main street is often possible to admire the incredible and picturesque views that as a background almost always have the deep blue sea.
The varied architecture of the historical buildings in Taormina also gives an unmatched charm and elegance. The alternation of rulers in Sicily has left its mark, and here coexist in an exceptional way the Byzantine, Greek-Roman, Arabic and Catalan styles. Every ruler left Taormina always more and more rich and beautiful, increasing the architectural heritage with new buildings or monuments.
One of the most popular tourist attractions, and often predominant subject in the paintings of important artists, is the Greek Theatre. A perfectly preserved structure, built in a strategic position that takes advantage of the scenic charm of the Sicilian sea as a background to the scenes. Nowadays, the Greek Theatre in Taormina is used for important national and international events.
Taormina is full of noble palaces, evident traces of a past glories and wealth; the town plays perfectly its role as a tourist attraction with services that you rarely find in other places on the island.
During your stay in Taormina don’t miss to visit the delicious and near Giardini Naxos, with the picturesque Isola Bella, a pearl set in one of the most beautiful stretches of Sicilian coast.
[Photos by: luigistrano on flickr.com]
Tag: Holidays in Italy, Holidays in Sicily, Last Minute Sicily, Sicily, Taormina