Hello everyone, my stepson has just announced that he and his Sicilian lady will be getting married in Taormina in September and would we like to attend?!

So, I am after a crash course on Taormina please! (I have only just discovered where it is!!) Being self confessed France addicts we have not ventured across to Italy apart from a very short sojourn in Rome a few years ago and one night in Venice.

What does one do in Taormina if we have only a week or so (not sure yet but we have already booked 5 weeks in France & Germany leaving in 2 weeks so this unexpected surprise will be a budget trip I think!)

Presumably we will fly into Rome, my future daughter-in-law mentions Catania as nearest airport...

Any advice/tips would be great!
Thanks in advance.

Consider day trips to Siracusa, Agrigento and Piazza Armerina.

I also recommend a day trip to Mt. Etna.

Catania is the nearest airport.

Is there is any chance you can do an overnight in Siracusa?

Yes, Catania is the nearest airport.
Your appreciation of Taormina will be anywhere between a cute little hill town with some nice views and a tourist trap.
It has a beautiful greek theatre, later modified by the romans.

It may be a possibility to stay in Giardino Naxos, which is right down the hill along the sea.

In my opinion, daytrips to Syracuse and Agrigento are quintessential to support one week in Taormina.

However, let it be understood that Sicily is a very beautiful place to spend a holiday, and that the people are extremely charming.

>>What does one do in Taormina if we have only a week or so<<

As everyone else has, I would also suggest that you get out of Taormina on day trips.

All the day-trip suggestions are fine.

September is a lovely month in Sicily.

Thanks for comments so far.
Some of the apartment accommodation I have glanced at so far (no in depth searching done yet..) mentions the cable car?
Is Giardina Naxos beachside then and does one go from there to Taormina on the cable car?
Any thoughts of pros and cons about which to stay in?
The wedding is in Taormina but obviously that is only one event.

We could probably get hold of an Interval property but I think about 4 hours away in San Vito lo Capo? Obviously not so good for the wedding but putting that aside would this location be better/worse for the overall week holiday?

Can anyone recommend particular apartments/houses in Taormina please?
Lastly, (for now) is a car essential?

Thanks again.

Sicily has moved up the scale to become of our favorite places we have visited. The landscape, the antiquities, and food are spectacular. The amphitheatre in Taoromina is perfectly situated.

ozgirl,
Four hours away from san vito lo capo... something's wrong here. Four hours away from SVLC means you could be in Taormina city center. You can approximately be everywhere in Sicily.
SVLC is a wonderful beach place in the upper north west side of Italy. And September is the couscous fest period!!! However, it is far away from everything.

In fact, you have one week in Sicily, with 2 fixed days in or close to Taormina (NE of Sicily)
You will not be able to see it all, certainly not if you would like beachtime also.

You could do the NW part of Sicily and go to a nice beach in the Golfo di Castellamare, between SVLC and Palermo. Have a look at www.labattigia.it in Alcamo Marina, a hotel on the beach.
You are very close to the Segesta temple. There you would also visit Erice and the Salt route in the West, down to Marsala if you want to. Palermo,(some 45 km to the east by highway) and Monreale are close too. This would be a beach-combined version of your week in Sicily.

In the SE, you could do Siracuse, Noto and Ragusa, with a daytrip to Pzza Armeria. Agrigento should be on the list too. That would be less beach-combined.

Anyhow, the more I write, the more I think you will have a very difficult choice to make. And I am sure that Sicily can cure you from your addiction to France. So don't try to see everything during that week and come back another time!!!

Ozgirl,

First congratulations on the family wedding - Taormina is such a romantic place for the event. Around Taormina you have Mt Etna - that is well worth a visit and there are also plenty of wineries on Etna that are open for public visits. Syrcusa is a World Heritage site with many greek ruins. Catania is the nearest airport and there are direct flights for Milan, Rome and UK with ryanair.

If you get a chance check out Cefalu about 45 minutes for Palermo. Hope this helps..

D