Perched in a stunning position 200 metres above the sea on the eastern side of the island of Sicily, the world famous resort of Taormina is quite rightly known as the “pearl of the Ionian sea”. You could not choose a more picturesque location in the whole of Italy for an exclusive Italian wedding.
Thanks to its high panoramic position it has breathtaking views both over the sea and towards magnificent Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. For centuries it had been the inspiration of poets and artists from all over the world which is mainly due to its magnificent Greek theatre dating back to the 3rd century BC - a place of culture and education for the Greek citizens of Taormina, totally transformed by the Romans in the 1st century into an arena for violent gladiatorial combats. Having been abandoned for centuries, it is only since 1955 that this marvellously preserved structure now regularly hosts a summer arts festival of music, theatre and dance (July and August).
The town itself is particularly charming with its fashionable main pedestrian shopping street, the Corso Umberto and maze of side streets laden with more shops, bars and excellent typical restaurants. A three minute cable car journey takes visitors down to the pretty pebble and coarse sand beaches where plenty of watersports are available from the bathing establishments along the coast. An excellent choice of daily excursions also operate from town.