Situated on the east coast of Sicily between Messian and Catania, Taormina is a popular holiday destination thanks to its beautiful beaches and warm Ionian Sea. The town was founded as a Greek colony in 400BC and was conquered by the Romans during the Second Punic War. 
The first real tourist was Johann Wolfgang Goethe, a 19^th century German writer who wrote about Taormina’s wonders. Artist Otto Geleng visited and painted the colonial ruins and landscape. His critics back in Germany accused him of painting with “unbridled imagination” as they could not conceive such beauty being a reality!
By the 20^th century Taormina was firmly on the map as a colony for artists and writers, including D.H. Lawrence. The modern-day town has a population of 11,000 inhabitants and is built on the clifftop of this hilly coastal area. The beaches are accessible via a funicular railway which links them with the town 250m above.
One of the main historic sites in Taormina is the Teatro Greco, the second largest theatre of its kind in Sicily. Built in the 2^nd century BC, it has a diameter of 109 metres and frequently hosts theatrical performances and concerts. The solidly built Duomo dates back to the 14^th century and the grand Palazzo Corvajo is well worth exploring.
The remains of the Saracen Castle or citadel sits high above the town on a single craggy rock. The ancient walls trace the remains of this ancient community, complete with water reservoirs, sepulchres and tessellated pavements. Further afield the Capo Sant’Andrea grottos and Mount Etna are a short drive away.