Named Taurominum in ancient Greek, Taormina is called the true gem of Sicily and the land of Dolce far niente (“the sweet of doing nothing”). Its elevated position creates infinite loveliness by combining the marvelous blues of the sea and sky, the miles of curving coastline, and the picturesque mountains. On one side, the majestic pyramid of Mt. Etna offers a scene of indescribable beauty. After our arrival, we will visit the Greco-Roman Theatre, Taormina’s most impressive monument. With its unique and beautiful location, it is surely one of the most striking monuments of antiquity. Next we will walk to the Villa Comunale, the public gardens with a huge variety of flowering plants and shrubs. We will view and learn about all of the garden’s botanical wonders, ranging from the most common to the most exotic.
After lunch, we will explore Castelmola. This village, occupying a strategic position high up behind Taormina, is centered around the small but quite picturesque Piazzetta del Duomo. In one of the bars in the main square, we will have the chance to taste Castelmola’s famous vino di mandorla (“almond wine”).