Giardini Naxos, Coastal resort town in northeastern Sicily, Italy
Giardini Naxos is a coastal town on the Ionian shore of Sicily between Capo Taormina and Capo Schisò. Sandy beaches stretch along the bay while narrow lanes with restaurants and shops wind through the old center behind the promenade.
Greek settlers from Chalcis founded the first colony in Sicily here in 734 BC and built a temple for Apollo Archegetes. The settlement later became an important trading post between Greece and the island before being abandoned in the 5th century BC.
The name comes from the ancient gardens that Greek settlers once cultivated between their fields. Today, locals stroll along the waterfront promenade while fishermen mend their nets in the morning and small boats rest beside modern yachts at anchor.
Buses run regularly between the town and Catania Airport as well as the nearby mountain village of Taormina. Access points to the sea and parking areas line the beach promenade while the archaeological park sits at the northern edge of the center.
The Torre Vignazza was built in 1544 as a watchtower against pirates and stands today near the harbor above the bay. From its walls both the old port basin and the open sea can be seen.
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