Taormina

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Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Expand Italian Template:Infobox Italian comune

Taormina (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell, also Template:IPAc-en,<ref>Template:Cite American Heritage Dictionary</ref><ref>Template:Cite Merriam-Webster</ref> Template:IPA; Template:Langx) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Messina, on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy. Taormina has been a tourist destination since the 19th century. Its beaches on the Ionian Sea, including that of Isola Bella, are accessible via an aerial tramway built in 1992, and via highways from Messina in the north and Catania in the south.

History

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Taormina as seen from the Norman castle overlooking the town.

Taormina's history dates to before Ancient Greece established its first colony on Sicily in 734 BCE in Magna Graecia. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Taormina remained one of the island's more important towns. Taormina followed the history of Sicily in being ruled by successive foreign monarchs. After Italian unification, Taormina began to attract well-off tourists from northern Europe, and it became known as a welcoming haven for gay men and artists. The municipality of fishermen, farmers, and wealthy bourgeoisie transformed into a town of merchants, hoteliers, and builders. During World War II, it was the headquarters of the German Wehrmacht command, and on July 9, 1943, the feast day of its patron saint, Bishop Pancras, Taormina suffered two devastating bombing raids by Allied aircraft, destroying part of its southern section and a wing of the San Domenico Hotel, where a meeting of the German High Command was taking place.

Main sights

The present town of Taormina occupies the ancient site, on a hill that forms the last projecting point of the mountain ridge that extends along the coast from Cape Pelorus to this point. The site of the old town is about Template:Convert above the sea, while a very steep and almost isolated rock, crowned by a Norman castle, rises about Template:Convert higher. This is the likely site of the ancient Arx or citadel, an inaccessible position mentioned by ancient writers. Portions of the ancient walls may be traced at intervals all round the brow of the hill, the whole of the summit of which was occupied by the ancient city. Numerous fragments of ancient buildings are scattered over its surface, including extensive reservoirs of water, sepulchres, tessellated pavements, and the remains of a spacious edifice, commonly called a Naumachia, the real purpose of which is difficult to determine.

Saracen Castle:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Built by the Arabs about 400 meters high on the rock of Monte Tauro, the Castello Saraceno dominated Taormina and its bay, and controlled the valley of the river Alcantara.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Arab Necropolis:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The necropolis was probably built between the ninth and eleventh century with symmetrical cells positioned one on the other. Located outside the city walls that defended the town of Taormina, the necropolis extended northeastward between the existing ruins and the Church of St. Pietro.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The ancient theatre of Taormina is built for the most part of brick, and is therefore probably from Roman times, though its plan and arrangement are in accordance with those of Greek theatres; it is speculated that the present structure was rebuilt upon the foundations of an older theatre of the Greek period. With a diameter of Template:Convert (after an expansion in the 2nd century), this theatre is the second largest of its kind in Sicily (after that of Syracuse); it is frequently used for operatic and theatrical performances and concerts. Most of the original seats have disappeared, but the wall that surrounded the whole cavea is preserved, and the proscenium with the back wall of the scena and its appendages, of which only traces remain in most ancient theatres, are preserved in an uncommon state of integrity. From the fragments of architectural decorations still extant it has been determined that these were of the Corinthian order, and richly ornamented. Some portions of a temple are also visible, converted into the church of San Pancrazio, but the edifice is small.

Other sights include the 12th-14th century Palazzo Corvaja, the 13th-century cathedral (Duomo di Taormina), a 1635 Baroque fountain, the Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano in 14th-century Gothic style, the Church of San Domenico, the Anglican Church of Saint George, and the municipal gardens (Giardini della Villa Comunale).

Demographic evolution

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Foreign ethnicities and minorities

As of December 31, 2023, foreign residents in the municipality were 714, i.e. 6.8% of the population. The largest groups were:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col

  1. Bangladesh 118
  2. Sri Lanka 90
  3. Romania 82
  4. Morocco 68
  5. Ukraine 39
  6. Russia 36

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Culture and tourism

Just south of Taormina is the Isola Bella, a nature reserve; and further south, beside a bay, is the popular seaside resort Giardini Naxos. Tours of the Capo Sant'Andrea grottos are available.

Taormina is on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. Besides the ancient Greek theatre, it has many old churches, lively bars, fine restaurants and antique shops. The Santuario Madonna della Rocca is one such church. Located on the slope above the town, it commands an impressive view of the coast and Mount Etna to the south, and is accessible on foot via the staired path, Salita Castello. Taormina is approximately a 45-minute drive from Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna.

Taormina was visited by multiple famous celebrities, such as the Swedish actress Greta Garbo, German actress Marlene Dietrich and the English actress Elizabeth Taylor.

  • Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina's main square
    Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina's main square
  • The first-century AD church of San Biagio
    The first-century AD church of San Biagio
  • The tower of the 13th century Palazzo Corvaja showing the Gothic influence.
    The tower of the 13th century Palazzo Corvaja showing the Gothic influence.
  • Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
    Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
  • The Greek theatre of Taormina
    The Greek theatre of Taormina
  • Mount Etna erupting
    Mount Etna erupting
  • Coast looking Taormina
    Coast looking Taormina
  • Isola Bella
    Isola Bella

Cultural references

Group photo of G7 leaders at the Ancient Theatre

Taormina inspired the naming of 'Toormina', a suburb of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A part of the film The Big Blue (1988) was set and filmed in Taormina, where the main characters take part in the no limits freediving World Championships.<ref>Le Grand Bleu movie-locations.com</ref>

The second season of the U.S. show The White Lotus primarily takes place in Taormina, and was filmed in various locations throughout the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mark Knopfler's album Tracker (2015) has a song named "Lights of Taormina".

On 26–27 May 2017 Taormina hosted the 43rd G7 summit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Events

Many exhibitions and events are organized during the summer in Taormina. The exceptional stage for pop and classical concerts, opera and important performances often recorded by television (for example, the ceremony of the Silver Ribbon Award, the Festivalbar, the Kore) is the Ancient Theatre. Since 1983, the most important performances are realized by Taormina Arte, the cultural institution which organizes music, theatre and dance festivals.

Within the programme of Taormina Arte there is the Taormina Film Fest, the heir of the Cinema Festival of Messina and Taormina, dating from 1960, which for about twenty years has hosted the David of Donatello Awards. During the Taormina Film Fest the Silver Ribbons are awarded, a prize created by Italian Film Journalists.

Since 2005, in October, Taormina Arte has organized the Giuseppe Sinopoli Festival, a festival dedicated to its late artistic director.

People

International Relations

Twin towns and sister cities

See also

References

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