I think I'm going to be spending a couple of nights in Taormina next summer. What do you suggest for a day trip (half day? full day?) from here, other than Mt. Etna? I will have a car. Thanks.

Any chance you could stay in Siracusa instead of Taormina - it's much more interesting and much less touristy? There have been several recent threads here on travel in Sicily - try doing a search.

For what it's worth, if I had a car, I would stay outside Taormina and daytrip into Taormina, not the other way around.

What interests you? Do you want a destination with interesting artifacts or crafts, or do you want see something of Sicily away from the tourists?

You might find this interactive map useful.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~lo...sicily_map.htm

I'd probably go here:

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~lo...ily/savoca.htm

I am also spending a couple of nights in Siracusa. So I'll do some sightseeing from there as well.
From Taormina, I would like to see some small towns (non-touristy, if possible), see some unique architecture, countryside and/or seaside. Just to get a "flavor" of the area.

I loved spending time in Taormina, at night it is so pleasant to sit in the outdoor cafes and people watch or watch the sun setting, that is why I liked staying right in town.

If I were you I would go to the village above Taormina, Castelelmola.
http://www.castelmola.com/

You will also see little seaside villages where you can stop easily since you have a car.

Yes, Taormina can be full of tourists in season, which is also true of Bellagio, Positano, Portofino,and Santorini. They all have one thing in common---the most beautiful locations in that part of the world. We have stayed there twice in the spring and love Taormina.

We, too, loved Taormina. It's a lovely little town, pleasant to walk in, with nice restaurants. You can spend a day or at least an afternoon, taking a funicular down to the sea below the hilltop. It's not a day trip, but it feels like another town. Enjoy.

Sue, I agree with Sea Urchin and Bob the Navigator (thanks for your fabulous pics of Taormina, Bob), Taormina is breathtaking day or night! Siracusa is beautiful and interesting too – especially the cathedral built on the remains of a Greek temple.

The cathedral built on the ruins of a greek temple is in Ortygia, which is an important distinction to make.

suesny,

If you would like to see a fascinating part of Sicily with unique architecture, take the road that goes up through Linguaglossa, toward Bronte (famous for those pistachios!) and Adrano. I realize you're not interested in climbing Etna, but this road skirts the base of Etna, so not only will you see places where the worst recent eruptions overran roads and towns, but buildings everywhere in that part of Sicily are made of volcanic rock.

I also hope that you are planning to visit at length the so-called "baroque" towns of Sicily.

Again, here is where I would suggest that you spend minimum of time in Taormina and look at places less geared toward mass tourism.

You might find this website helpful:

http://www.bestofsicily.com/country.htm

As a more general response to this thread regarding Taormina, I'm not denying its beauty, views or attractions. I don't like staying in such tourist-colonized places myself, it's true, and the views don't make up for that. But my main reason for bringing up the issue with sueswny is that for daytripping with a car, I think Taormina makes a lousy base.

And please, folks -- if you had a meal in a place as touristy as Taormina, where so many of the restaurants are bad -- truly bad -- please name where you ate in Taormina, especially if you are encouraging others to eat dinner there every night.

Well, she asked about Taormina, no one encouraged her to chose it. I suggested she sit in outdoor cafes for the ambiance and pleasant food, I found it enjoyable. I was also there in a shoulder season, not in the height of tourism. It wasn't very crowded, just with locals enjoying their passigiata and Sunday afternoons along with some tourists.

At the time we found some good restaurants and we stayed at the San Dominico with the beautiful grounds. It was so nice to be able to walk up to the town in the evenings, what else is there to say, I enjoyed Taormina. We drove around exploring during the day and spent the evenings back in Taormina or did I say that already.

Since thrusdaysd and I suggested sueswny not stay in Taormina, and I suggested she daytrip there, perhaps I over-read into what appeared to be defenses of Taormina as a base.

But my main point was the real request:

If people had good food in Taormina, please post directions.

Well, I'm not a Taormina fan - I'm glad I saw it (but one day was enough). The Greek temple is a fine sight, the views from Castelmola are exceptional, and I liked the gardens - but I liked the gardens as an escape from the incredibly touristy main street (and I was there in April). However, I didn't have any particular complaint about the food - I enjoyed both the food and the views at the Granduca (www.granduca-taormina.com/Indice.htm) - swordfish carpaccio and pasta con le sarde.

I don't like to dissuade posters who ask about a certain town or area, I figure they have reasons for asking what they do. If someone asks if they should stay somewhere then I put in my two cents, if I have an opinion.

I have no reason to defend Taormina, I am not on their chamber of commerce board.

I had good food there but without going through my notes I don't know them offhand and sueswny didn't ask about restaurants, although you did, but what would be the point if you are not returning there to eat.

>>I don't like to dissuade posters who ask about a certain town or area, I figure they have reasons for asking what they do.<<

Oh, I do.



I never would have found the place I'm now living in Italy if people hadn't dissuaded me from staying in le Cinque Terre. At that point, I had no intention of living in Italy, but I'm still glad people piped up about Cinque Terre not being a good base.

And besides, I encourage people to go places -- and even encourage them to go to Taormina, just not base there with a car. I highly recommend to everybody they go to Taormina to see the Greek theater. If they could care less about history and just want they views, I encourage them to go to Castelmola.

As for restaurant recommendations, I tend to view these threads as potentially one-stop shopping for people who later search the archives for "Taormina." I think it is really hard to know where to eat in Taormina.

Whatever.

> If people had good food in Taormina, please post directions

Osteria Nero D’Avola (Vico Spuches, 8) — I have nothing but praise for this restaurant — great food, great service, and great wine in a delightfully casual setting. My English-speaking server and the host, chef, and other staff of this small establishment seemed genuinely interested in ensuring that their patrons enjoy their meals. Dishes were prepared from extremely fresh ingredients combined with attention to taste, texture, and color; the results were truly delicious. I was very pleased with the wine my server recommended from their extensive wine list, and I appreciated that the bread was served with several different olive oils to allow comparison. Gratis treats were also a delight: Before dinner, a sample of tiny, absolutely fresh strawberries; after dinner, some kind of wonderful local citrus fruit.

We also enjoyed the food and views at Granduca. Had a nice antipasto plate and sardines with pasta and veal involtini. Best food, however, was at Licchio's, a place with indoor gardens recommended by our hotel on the end of town nearest the Greek theatre. Food was more trendy and modern there than at Granduca. I especially recall an entree of tuna balls on lemon leaves with arugula shreds and tomato coulis.

While I wouldn't call the food in Taormina as envelope pushing and we did have a very mediocre lunch at a place on the far end of town, we were certainly able to find acceptable to very good dining there for our other meals.