Where is Taormina located?
Taormina is located on the eastern coast of Sicily and is a well-known center of cultural and historical heritage in Italy. The town is situated on the terrace of Mount Tauro, between Messina and Catania. From the town itself, there is a breathtaking view of the majestic Mount Etna volcano.
Taormina has a population of only 11,000 people, but the influx of tourists increases the number of people at the resort by tens or even hundreds of times!
The History of Taormina
According to legend, Taormina was founded by Greek sailors who were thrown ashore by a storm near Mount Tauro. They later told their fellow countrymen about the marvelous place they had visited, and in 735 BC, the first settlers from Greece arrived here.
Based on historical facts from ancient times, the city was originally called Tavromenion and in 394 BC, it was inhabited by the Sicels, who were directed here by Dionysius the Elder. During this time, the city changed hands several times: first under the rule of Andromachus, then ten years later under Timoleon, followed by a period of oppression under the tyrant Tyndareus, and in 210 BC, it was handed over to the Romans.
In 135 BC, the First Sicilian Revolt unfolded here, which was suppressed by Publius Rupilius, and its instigators were defeated and killed.
In ancient times, the city did not experience peaceful and tranquil development. It suffered greatly during the war between Octavian and Pompey and at the end of the 1st century, it converted to Christianity. The city endured many hardships and persecutions in order to maintain its Christian faith and eventually surrendered.
In 902 and 906, the city was plundered by invaders and received the Arabic name Muizia. The Arabs rebuilt the southern part of the resort and later renamed the city after the caliph - Almoetia. After a century, the city was returned to the Christian church by the Normans: they besieged it and restored its original name.
The beleaguered resort enjoyed incredible popularity among famous personalities. It was praised by Goethe, admired by Maupassant, mentioned by Nabokov, Dali, Wagner, and Dumas. Anna Akhmatova also visited here and was honored with an award at the festival held in Taormina.
