Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari, Medieval cathedral in Taormina, Italy.

The Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari is a medieval cathedral in Taormina built with a Latin cross layout and three naves. Six monolithic columns made of pink Taormina marble support the structure throughout.

The church was built in the 13th century on the remains of an earlier church dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, using a Romanesque-Gothic Sicilian style. In 1078 the diocese of Taormina had been absorbed by Troina, and the city had lost its episcopal seat after the Norman conquest. The main portal was remodeled in 1636, and the church was elevated to minor basilica by Pope John Paul II on 6 February 1980.

Locals call it "la cattedrale fortezza" because of its crown of battlements and the bastion tower behind, where the bells were hung in 1750. The main portal was remodelled in 1636, as a Latin inscription above it records, and restored in 1936. The rose window is cut from stone from Syracuse.

You can visit on any day of the week, with longer hours available during warmer months. Keep in mind that regular services take place, which may affect visitor access at certain times.

The church is nicknamed "la cattedrale fortezza" for its crown of battlements along the facade and the bastion tower at the rear, where the bells were hung in 1750. The main portal was restored in 1936, and the large central rose window is cut from Syracuse stone in the Sicilian Gothic manner.