Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina, Sicily, Italy

© rudi1976/Alam

The Pearl of the Ionian Sea. Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina, Sicily, Italy

Welcome to Taormina, an historic Italian resort built into a hillside high above the Ionian Sea on the coast of Sicily. From here you can take in panoramic views of the coast of Calabria, on the Italian mainland, the city of Syracuse, and Mount Etna, roughly 20 miles away.

Our homepage image shows the town's main square, the Piazza IX Aprile, with a Baroque church and bell tower, the Chiesa di San Giuseppe, and an historic clock tower. The square is seen as an elegant 'public living room' with many outdoor bars and artists waiting to paint your portrait.