The road to Taormina was quite hilly and the road going up was some work of engineering. Not to mention spiral tunnels!
Going up the hill in Taormina was quite challenging as it was narrow and steep. We managed to find a parking just few steps away from our hotel. We could see amazing pool just at the entrance to the hotel. The view looked spectacular! The sea, the sky and volcano Etna! Hotel was called Hotel Sole-Castello.
Taormina, Sicily is a beautiful destination for weddings and is home to some of the oldest and most unique wedding traditions in the world. The traditional wedding in Taormina includes a number of special customs and activities that have been passed down from generation to generation.
One of the most important wedding traditions in Taormina is the exchange of the wedding vows. During the ceremony, the bride and groom will exchange promises to love and honor each other for the rest of their lives. They will also make a commitment to remain faithful and to be kind to one another. Following the exchange of the vows, the couple will be blessed with a blessing from the priest and the guests will offer their congratulations and best wishes for the newlyweds.
Another custom associated with a Taormina wedding is the “spumante” ceremony. During this ceremony, the bride and groom will exchange a glass of the sparkling white wine, spumante, to symbolize the beginning of their new life together.
After the ceremony, the bride and groom will be taken to the reception where they will enjoy a traditional Sicilian banquet. The wedding banquet consists of dishes such as eggplant parmesan, seafood pasta, and cannoli. During the reception, the bride and groom will be presented with gifts from their guests, which usually include jewelry and other valuable items.
Finally, the wedding in Taormina includes a unique tradition called the “Mazzo di Fiori”, which is the exchanging of the bouquets between the bride and groom. The bouquets are made up of the flowers that are in season and the groom’s bouquet is presented to the bride as a sign of his love and devotion.
These are just some of the wedding traditions that are observed in Taormina, Sicily. These customs are an important part of the culture and are sure to make your wedding a truly unique and memorable experience.
There was a wedding going on down the road.
Sicilian moors heads are a traditional symbol of passion, jealousy and betrayal in Sicily. They are often found in architectural decorations, still life paintings and other art forms. The symbolism of the Sicilian moors heads is rooted in the history of the region, as well as its cultural and literary traditions.
The Sicilian moors heads are often seen as symbols of passionate love and jealousy. It is said that they were used to ward off evil and remind the Sicilian people of their passionate love for one another. This passionate love often led to jealousy and betrayal. The moors heads were used to represent the complexities of human relationships, and the consequences of passion, jealousy, and betrayal.
The passion, jealousy and betrayal associated with the Sicilian moors heads are also reflected in the literature of the region. Sicilian literature is full of stories of doomed love, betrayal and revenge. The Sicilian moors heads are often depicted in these stories, representing the passionate and complex nature of human relationships.
The Sicilian moors heads are a powerful symbol of the passionate and complex emotions of love, jealousy and betrayal. They remind us of the fragility of human relationships and the consequences of our actions. They also serve as a reminder that although passion, jealousy and betrayal can be destructive, love and loyalty can also be powerful and lasting.
Long ago on the Mediterranean island of Sicily, there lived two Moorish brothers named Al-Amin and Al-Kabir. They were both brave and strong, but Al-Amin was the most handsome and popular of the two. Everywhere he went, people praised him for his good looks and charm.
One day, Al-Kabir became jealous of his brother’s popularity and decided to take revenge. That night, he crept into Al-Amin’s home and beheaded him in his sleep. He then buried his brother’s body in the garden, but kept the severed head as a trophy.
The next day, Al-Kabir presented the head of his brother to the local ruler as a gift. The ruler was so impressed by the gruesome offering that he declared Al-Kabir the new leader of the island.
From then on, Al-Kabir was known as “The Moor with Two Heads”. He became a powerful ruler and the island prospered under his rule.
However, the people of Sicily never forgot the gruesome tale of the two Moorish brothers. Even today, many Sicilians still tell the legend of the two Moorish heads as a reminder of the dangers of jealousy and revenge.
Later we visited Teatro Antico di Taormina.
The Teatro Antico di Taormina is an ancient theatre located in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. It was built in the 3rd century BC by the Greeks and is believed to be the oldest surviving theatre in Sicily. The theatre was used for both plays and sporting events during the Greek period, and later it was used by the Romans for theatrical and gladiatorial performances. The theatre was damaged by an earthquake in the 5th century AD and was abandoned for centuries. In the 18th century, the theatre was rediscovered and restored and is now used for performances of concerts, operas, and ballets. It is also used for a variety of other events, such as film festivals and conferences. The Teatro Antico di Taormina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction in Sicily.
We stumbled onto a beautiful garden Naumachia di Taormina while wondering the streets of Taormina.
Naumachia di Taormina garden is a historical garden in Taormina, Sicily. It was built in the late 18th century by Giuseppe Valguarnera, the Duke of Camastra, who wanted to create a place for his family to relax and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The garden was inspired by the ancient Roman naumachia, or naval battles, and is made up of a large pool, a terrace, and a series of walkways and staircases. The garden has been restored multiple times over the years and is now a popular tourist destination. Visitors can explore the gardens and take in the stunning views of Mt. Etna, the Mediterranean Sea, and the historic town of Taormina.
We accidentally stumbled on Villa Comunale di Taormina. Which had amazing views to the sea.
Villa Comunale di Taormina garden was established in 1873 by the Italian botanist, Pietro Antonio Salvatore, who was commissioned by the mayor of Taormina, Giuseppe Cacciatore, to create a public park for the citizens of the town. The park was intended to serve as a place for relaxation, offering a variety of plants and flowers, as well as a scenic view of the city and the sea.
The park underwent a major renovation in the early twentieth century, when it was redesigned by the renowned landscape architect, Ernesto Basile. Basile added a variety of features to the park, such as a series of terraced gardens, a fountain, and a large open-air theatre. The park also features a botanical garden with a variety of plants and trees from around the world, as well as a play area for children.
Today, Villa Comunale di Taormina is a popular tourist destination, and is considered one of the most beautiful parks in Italy. The park is also home to a number of events and festivals throughout the year, including a classical music festival and a summer concert series. In 2020, the Villa Comunale di Taormina was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of its unique landscape, architecture, and cultural importance.
After a stroll in the park we got back to hotel.
Piazza IX Aprile is a main square in Taormina, which is also known as Piazza Umberto I, is named after the date of April 9, 1860 when the unification of Italy was officially declared. The square was designed in the 19th century by the architect Cesare Bazzani, who was inspired by the neoclassical style of the period. It was originally intended to be a large open space for public gatherings and to serve as a focal point for the city.
The square features a central fountain, surrounded by a number of trees and shrubs, and is bounded by the Palazzo Corvaja on one side, the Hotel Metropole on the other, and the Greek Theatre of Taormina behind.
The Church of San Giuseppe was built in the late 1700s and is dedicated to Saint Joseph. The church was designed by the architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini and features a Baroque-style facade with a central rose window and twin bell towers. The church is also home to several works of art, including an altarpiece depicting the Marriage of the Virgin from 1775, and a painting by the Sicilian artist Giuseppe Sciuti from 1883.
The Church of Saint Augustine was built in the 13th century, and is one of the oldest churches in the city. It was originally built as a Franciscan church, and was later renovated in the 15th century. The church is named after Augustine of Hippo, one of the most important figures in the history of Christianity. The church is noted for its beautiful interior, which includes a large stained glass window, and a large marble altar. The church is also home to some remarkable works of art, including a painting of the Madonna and Child by the Italian artist, Fra Bartolomeo.
The Church of Sant’Antonio Abate in Taormina, Italy dates back to the 13th century and is a Roman Catholic church located in the city of Taormina on the east coast of Sicily. The church was built as a small chapel dedicated to St. Anthony Abbot, the patron saint of Taormina. Over time, the church was expanded and renovated to become a larger building with a Baroque façade. The church is home to the remains of some of the city’s most important citizens, including King Ferdinand of Aragon, who died in Taormina in 1479. Inside the church, visitors can find an impressive collection of Baroque art, including a statue of the Virgin Mary from the 17th century. The church also houses a 16th-century fresco depicting the martyrdom of St. Anthony and a 14th-century painting of St. Anthony and the Virgin Mary.
Porta Catania was built in the 16th century, originally as a defensive structure against enemy invasions. The gate is made of limestone and is decorated with three coats of arms, representing the families that ruled Taormina at the time. It is named after the nearby city of Catania, a major port of the region.
The Icona della Madonna bizantina in Duomo di Taormina has a long and fascinating history. It is believed that the icon was originally painted in the 9th century, during the Byzantine period, by an artist from Constantinople. The icon was brought to Sicily in the 12th century and was placed in the Duomo di Taormina in the late 14th century. Since then, the icon has been a part of the Duomo’s history and has been venerated by the faithful of Taormina. The Icona della Madonna bizantina has been the object of much devotion and is said to have miraculous powers. It has also been the subject of various restoration works over the years, including a major restoration in 2010.
The stairs were quite difficult to climb in a hot and sunny weather.
Also it was obvious that they are not very looked after as the vegitation was slowly destroying them.
Next we were heading to Catania and Etna Volcano!