Taormina, Coastal commune in Sicily, Italy
Taormina is a commune on the eastern coast of Sicily, spread across the slopes of Monte Tauro above the Ionian Sea. The settlement includes several levels with residential areas, public gardens, and narrow winding streets that offer views toward the water and surrounding mountains.
Greek settlers from Naxos founded a new colony on this hill in the fourth century before Christ and named it Tauromenion. Later, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab rulers controlled the area before it passed to Norman rule during the Middle Ages.
The corso Umberto runs through the center and serves as a meeting place where locals gather in the evening outside cafés and small shops. Buildings along this street display balconies with wrought iron railings and doorways carved from volcanic stone, showing how families have lived here over the centuries.
Visitors reach the center on foot through stairs and steep paths, so comfortable shoes are advisable. The streets fill with people during summer days, while early mornings and late evenings provide quieter conditions.
The Odeon, a small theater next to the larger Greek structure, was originally roofed and served Roman citizens for musical performances. Today, you can see the seating rows and foundations squeezed between residential buildings, showing how the settlement grew around ancient structures.
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