A hilltop Sicilian town with an ancient Greek theatre facing Europe's great active volcano
Perched on a terrace of Monte Tauro high above the Ionian Sea, Taormina has drawn travellers for centuries with its views, gardens and lively main street. Its ancient theatre, carved into the hillside by the Greeks and rebuilt by the Romans, is the highlight: through the ruined stage walls you see the coastline curving south and, on a clear day, the snow-capped or smoking summit of Mount Etna.
Etna itself is an adventure of a different kind. One of the world's most active volcanoes, it rises to around 3,400 metres, its lower slopes covered with vineyards, orchards and woods and its upper reaches a landscape of black lava fields and craters. Pairing elegant Taormina with a day on the volcano is one of Sicily's great combinations.
Taormina's theatre was built in the 3rd century BC during the Hellenistic period, and it is one of the earliest theatres in the Greek world with a curved seating area. Under Roman rule it was rebuilt and enlarged, probably around the time of Trajan or Hadrian, reaching a diameter of about 107 metres and room for some 10,000 spectators; in the 3rd century AD the orchestra was even adapted for arena shows. It remains in use today for concerts and the Taormina Film Festival.
Mount Etna has been erupting for about 500,000 years, and human records of its activity stretch back at least 2,700 years, among the longest of any volcano. The Etna Regional Park was established in 1987 to protect the mountain, and in 2013 UNESCO inscribed Mount Etna on the World Heritage List for its outstanding ongoing geological processes.
Taormina has been a cosmopolitan resort since the days of the Grand Tour, but it remains a Sicilian town at heart, with church festivals, family-run pastry shops selling granita and cannoli, and evening strolls along the Corso. Around Etna, communities have learned to live with the volcano: farmers cultivate pistachios, citrus and grapes in its fertile soils, and eruptions, ash falls and airport closures are part of local life.
In Taormina, visit the theatre early in the day, stroll Corso Umberto and the panoramic Piazza IX Aprile, then take the cable car or a bus down to the beaches at Mazzaro and Isola Bella. Evenings are for watching the sunset over the bay and, in summer, catching a performance in the ancient theatre.
For Etna, join a guided excursion from Taormina or Catania, or drive to Rifugio Sapienza on the south side. From there you can walk around the Silvestri craters, ride the cable car higher and, with an authorised guide, continue towards the summit area when conditions allow. Wineries on the volcano's slopes offer tastings of wines grown in volcanic soil.
April to June and September to October bring warm, clear days ideal for both Taormina and Etna. July and August are hot and crowded in Taormina, though higher Etna excursions are cooler. Winter is mild on the coast, while Etna's upper slopes are snow-covered and can be visited in winter conditions. Volcanic activity can close high areas at short notice, so stay flexible.
Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Taormina's Corso Umberto and side streets are full of cafes, pastry shops and boutiques, and the beaches of Mazzaro and Isola Bella lie below the town. Giardini Naxos, on the bay to the south, has a seafront and the archaeological park of the first Greek colony in Sicily. Catania, with its airport and rail links, is the main gateway to Etna's southern slopes.
Italy · 2 nights4★ HotelItaly · 7 nights4★ HotelItaly · 7 nights4★ HotelThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
