Voices from the past

The name of Taormina was initially Tauromenion, from the Greek "habitation on the Tauro", the hill on which it was built. Greeks from nearby Naxos, one of the oldest Greek colonies, founded the city. Later the city went through the Roman domination, was transformed in a colony and many inhabitants were made to leave to make room for Roman families. The Byzantine period was very prosperous, and during the latter Taormina became the capital of Oriental Sicily and seat of the Archbishopric. The city's splendour continued with the next Arab domination, from 902 to 1079, but a period of crisis started with the arrival of the Normans and continued with the Spanish dynasties. Through various events, the city remained under the Spanish crown until 1860, the year when it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. From that moment on the city stopped being a political and military centre and started transforming into an internationally renowned tourist attraction thanks to its natural and artistic beauties .

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The Greek period saw the construction, in the 3rd century BC, of one of Taormina's most characteristic constructions, the Teatro antico, which was then transformed into an amphitheatre by the Romans. Smaller, but of similar model, is the Odeon, characterised by its division in three parts that is typical of Roman theatres. The famous "Naumachie", a long wall with 18 great niches that contained statues of heroes, are also from the Greek-Roman period. Among architectonic remains left by the Arabs it is worth seeing the 11th century military tower, and the Saracen castle, built on the ancient Greek acropolis. Also visit the Cathedral, built in 1400 on the remains of a medieval church and decorated with a renaissance rose window. The Badia Vecchia and the Palazzo del Duca di Santo Stefano, typical examples of Sicilian gothic art, are also from the medieval period. The city's most important palace is Palazzo Corvaja, with a mixed style that includes Arab, Gothic and Norman, the result of various remakes. Other important works are the Baroque churches of San Giuseppe and San Pancrazio; the latter was built in the second half of the 1600's on a Greek Temple dedicated to Zeus.

Events

The most important appointment among those dedicated to art by this jewel of the Mediterranean is beyond doubt Taormina Arte. For many years the festival has been hosting artists of International renown performing in the beautiful scenery of the Teatro Antico. As well as music the festival dedicates an important space to theatre, ballet and painting. In the context of Taormina Arte there is also Taormina BNL Film Festival, for fifty years an unmissable appointment for cinema lovers.