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{{about|the town in Sicily|people with the surname|Taormina (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Expand Italian|date=January 2023|topic=geo}}
{{Infobox Italian comune
| name                = Taormina
| official_name       = Comune di Taormina
| native_name         = {{native name|scn|Taurmina}}<br>{{native name|el|Tauromènion}}
| image_skyline       = Aerial image of the coast of Taormina (view from the southeast).jpg
| imagesize           =
| image_alt           =
| image_caption       = Aerial view of Taormina
| image_shield        = Taormina-Stemma.png
| shield_alt          =
| image_map           =
| map_alt             =
| map_caption         =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt     = 
| mapframe            = yes
| coordinates         = {{coord|37|51|8|N|15|17|31|E|type:city(6,716)_region:IT|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| region              = [[Sicily]]
| metropolitan_city   = [[Metropolitan City of Messina|Messina]] (ME)
| frazioni            = Mazzeo, Trappitello, Villagonia, Chianchitta, Spisone, Mazzarò
| mayor_party         =
| mayor               = [[Cateno De Luca]]
| area_footnotes      =
| area_total_km2      = 13.13
| population_as_of    = 2025 May, 31
| population_footnotes =<ref name="population">{{cite web|title=Monthly Demographic Balance|url=https://demo.istat.it/app/?i=POS&l=en|publisher=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics|ISTAT]]}}</ref>
| population_total    = 10440
| pop_density_footnotes =
| population_demonym  = Taorminesi
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m         = 204
| twin1               =
| twin1_country       =
| istat =
| saint               = [[San Pancrazio di Taormina]]
| day                 = 9 July
| postal_code         = 98039
| area_code           = 0942
| website             = {{Official website|https://www.comune.taormina.me.it}} {{in lang|it}}
| footnotes           =
}}

'''Taormina''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˌ|t|ɑː|ɔːr|ˈ|m|iː|n|ə}} {{respell|TAH|or|MEE|nə}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://glosbe.com/en/en/Taormina |title=Taormina |publisher=Glosbe|access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|US|-|n|ɑː}} {{respell|-|nah}}, also {{IPAc-en|t|aʊr|ˈ|-}},<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Taormina|access-date=20 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite Merriam-Webster|Taormina|access-date=20 July 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|it|ta.orˈmiːna|lang}}; {{langx|scn|Taurmina}}) 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 (Sicily)|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 ==
{{Main|History of Taormina}}
[[File:Taormina 2025 scenic view.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Taormina as seen from the [[Normans|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 {{convert|250|m|ft}} above the sea, while a very steep and almost isolated rock, crowned by a Norman castle, rises about {{convert|150|m|ft}} 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>{{Cite web |title=Saracen castle |url=https://www.thatstaormina.com/item/saracen-castle-taormina/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=That's Taormina map |language=en-US}}</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>{{cite web | url=https://www.thatstaormina.com/item/saracen-castle-taormina/ | title=Saracen castle }}</ref>

Arab Necropolis:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arab Necropolis of Taormina - Sicily |url=https://www.enjoysicilia.it/en/taormina-area/taormina/necropoli-araba-taormina/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=www.enjoysicilia.it}}</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>{{cite web | url=https://www.enjoysicilia.it/en/taormina-area/taormina/necropoli-araba-taormina/ | title=Arab Necropolis of Taormina - Sicily }}</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 {{convert|109|m|ft}} (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 [[Corvaja Palace|''Palazzo Corvaja'']], the 13th-century cathedral (''Duomo di Taormina''), a 1635 [[Baroque]] fountain, the ''Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano'' in 14th-century [[Gothic architecture|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 {{formatnum:714}}, i.e. {{formatnum:6.8}}% of the population. The largest groups were:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://demo.istat.it/app/?i=RCS&l=en|editor=ISTAT|title=Demographic balance and foreign resident population at 31 December 2023 by gender and citizenship|accessdate=3 July 2024}}</ref>
{{div col}}
# [[Bangladesh]] {{formatnum:118}}
# [[Sri Lanka]] {{formatnum:90}}
# [[Romania]] {{formatnum:82}}
# [[Morocco]] {{formatnum:68}}
# [[Ukraine]] {{formatnum:39}}
# [[Russia]] {{formatnum:36}}
{{div col end}}

== Culture and tourism ==
Just south of Taormina is the [[Isola Bella (Sicily)|Isola Bella]], a [[nature reserve]]; and further south, beside a bay, is the popular seaside resort [[Giardini Naxos]]. Tours of the Capo Sant'Andrea [[grotto]]s 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]].

===Image gallery ===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180px">
File:Taormina Piazza IX Aprile cropped 8-2-21.jpg|Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina's main square
File:Taormina as seen from the Saracen castle overlooking the town..jpg|The first-century AD church of San Biagio
File:Palazzo Corvaja-pjt.jpg|The tower of the 13th century Palazzo Corvaja showing the Gothic influence.
File:Tao25 103809 chiesa.jpg|Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
File:The Greek theatre Taormina.jpg|The Greek theatre of Taormina
File:MountEtna Erupting as seen from Taormina.jpg|Mount Etna erupting
File:Coast looking Taormina.jpg|Coast looking Taormina
File:IsolaBellaView.jpg|Isola Bella
</gallery>

== Cultural references ==
[[File:G7 Taormina family photo 2017-05-26.jpg|thumb|Group photo of G7 leaders at the Ancient Theatre]]
Taormina inspired the naming of '[[Toormina, New South Wales|Toormina]]', a suburb of [[Coffs Harbour, New South Wales|Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL13930 |title=Toormina|website=abs.gov.au|accessdate=3 July 2024}}</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 apnea|no limits freediving]] World Championships.<ref>[https://movie-locations.com/movies/g/Grand-Bleu.php 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>{{cite web |last1=Aurthur |first1=Kate |last2=Shanfeld |first2=Ethan |date=January 20, 2022|title='The White Lotus' Season 2 Will Be Set in Sicily (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/white-lotus-season-2-sicily-hbo-1235158490/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120192938/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/white-lotus-season-2-sicily-hbo-1235158490/ |archive-date=January 20, 2022 |access-date=January 20, 2022 |website=Variety}}</ref>

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

On 26–27 May 2017 Taormina hosted the [[43rd G7 summit]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/05/25/news/g7_taormina_pronta_per_il_vertice_la_citta_si_trasforma_in_fortezza-166341741/|title=G7, Taormina pronta per il vertice: la città si trasforma in fortezza|publisher=Repubblica.it|language=it|accessdate=25 May 2017}}</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 ==
* [[Timaeus (historian)|Timaeus]] of Taormineum, 3rd century BCE historian
* [[Andromachus (ruler of Tauromenium)|Andromachus]], 4th century BC ruler of Tauromenium
* [[Tyndarion (tyrant)|Tyndarion]] (278 BC), [[tyrant]] of Tauromenium
* [[Pancras of Taormina]], sent to Sicily in 40 AD by Saint Peter as first Bishop of Tauromenium
* [[Thomas Shaw-Hellier]] (1836–1910), commissioned Villa San Giorgio
* [[Wilhelm von Gloeden]] (1856 in Wismar – 1931 in Taormina), German photographer who worked mainly in Italy, best known for his pastoral nude studies of Sicilian boys. Resident from 1880
* [[Pancrazio Buciunì]] (1879–1963), Gloeden's model, lover and heir
* [[Gayelord Hauser]] (1895–1984), Nutritionist and author
* [[Robert Hawthorn Kitson]], (1873 in Leeds – 1947 in Casa Cuseni), British watercolour painter, resident from 1899
* [[Daphne Phelps]] (1911&nbsp;– 2005), Kitson's niece and heir, a writer. Resident from {{Circa|1947}}.
* [[Carla Cassola]] (born 1947), actress and composer.
* [[Francesco Buzzurro]] (born 1969), musician
* [[Cateno De Luca]] (born 1972), mayor (2023–)
* [[Guido Caprino]] (born 1974), actor
* [[Norma Murabito]] (born 1987), sprint canoeist

== International Relations ==

=== Twin towns and sister cities ===
*[[Abadan]], [[Khuzestan]], [[Iran]]
*[[Sunny Isles Beach]], [[Florida]] [[United States]]
*[[Contrexéville]], [[France]]
*[[Swieqi]], [[Malta]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Città gemellate|url=https://www.comune.taormina.me.it/altri-contenuti/gemellaggi.aspx|website=comune.taormina.me.it|publisher=Taormina|language=it|access-date=2025-06-18 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Catholic dioceses in Italy]]
* [[European archaeology]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
* [https://festivaltaorminarte.it Taormina Arte official website]  {{in lang|it}}
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{{Messina}}
{{Province of Messina}}
{{Magna Graecia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Taormina| ]]
[[Category:Coastal towns in Sicily]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Messina]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Italy]]
[[Category:Ancient cities in Sicily]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Sicily]]
[[Category:Colonies of sicilian Naxos]]
[[Category:Euboean colonies of Magna Graecia]]
[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Italy]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 8th century BC]]
[[Category:730s BC]]
[[Category:8th-century BC establishments in Italy]]