Isola Bella

Taormina


Southwest of Lido Mazzarò is the minuscule Isola Bella, a beautiful nature reserve set in a stunning cove with fishing boats. Reached on foot via a narrow sandbar (take your shoes off!), the island was once home to Englishwoman Florence Trevelyan, creator of Taormina's Villa Comunale.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Taormina attractions

1. Lido Mazzarò

0.34 MILES

This is the nearest beach to Taormina, located directly beneath the town. It's well serviced with bars and restaurants, though it gets very crowded in the…

2. Teatro Greco

0.5 MILES

Taormina's premier sight is this perfect horseshoe-shaped theatre, suspended between sea and sky, with Mt Etna looming on the southern horizon. Built in…

3. Villa Comunale

0.64 MILES

Created by Englishwoman Florence Trevelyan in the late 19th century, these stunningly sited public gardens offer breathtaking views of the coast and Mt…

4. Porta Messina

0.74 MILES

Porta Messina was originally named Porta Ferdinanda when opened by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon in 1808. The occasion is commemorated in the plaque above the…

5. Palazzo Corvaja

0.74 MILES

Dating back to the 10th century, the crenellated, Arab-influenced Palazzo Corvaja houses the tourist office and occasional exhibitions.

6. Corso Umberto I

0.8 MILES

Taormina's chief delight is wandering this pedestrian-friendly, boutique-lined thoroughfare. Start at the tourist office in Palazzo Corvaja, which dates…

7. Chiesa di San Giuseppe

0.85 MILES

Overlooking Piazza IX Aprile, this jewel-box church was completed in the early 18th century. The central portal is made of local marble while the portals…

8. Torre dell’Orologio

0.87 MILES

Located just west of the main square, Piazza IX Aprile, this 12th-century clock tower marks the entrance to Borgo Medievale, Taormina's oldest quarter.