Lovely Taormina

Sunday, Nov. 6. We arrived in port (Messina, Sicily, Italy) around 1pm. The clouds are lifting and we enjoyed a sunny day.  The port is lovely and we even see the mainland of Italy it is so close.  There was very little to do on the ship in the morning since it is a port day and that is fine.  Our tour departs from the theater and we left on time.  Since it is Sunday there is much less traffic so the drive there took less time and we had additional leisure time in Taormina. 

Here is the description of our tour, and it is quite accurate:  “This tour will explore the history of the Sicilian coast's well-known resort community. Perched on a mountainside, Taormina is renowned for its setting. You'll pass along the highway that cuts through the mountainous West Coast of Sicily. Stop below the village of Taormina before proceeding uphill (on foot) to the village gates. Upon reaching Taormina, walk past the ancient village's many squares and see the small boutiques located along the Corso Umberto. Built in the 3rd century BC, the city was completely renovated by the Romans. Near the center of Taormina, your walking tour will begin as your guide leads you along cobblestone streets to Palazzo Corvaia, a 15th century structure adorned with classic double windows. You will then proceed to the Greek Theater, built in the 3rd century BC. Renowned for its width and for its unique acoustic qualities, it is still used today for open-air concerts. Weather permitting; you will have an impressive view of Mt. Etna from the Theater. After the guided portion of the tour, you will have free time to enjoy the busy main street with its numerous shops and cafes.”

Taormina is a lovely little city.  The squares we stopped in with the guide were quaint and beautiful.  We didn’t have to go clear to the theater to see Mt. Etna and we were thrilled that the weather cleared so much that we had a sunny visit and fantastic views.  There is really very little left of the Greek theater since the Romans more or less completely remodeled it.  The Greeks were the first to establish this land in 800 BC, they hung on until 300 BC when the Romans took control.  That’s when the theater was remodeled and redesigned for their purposes.  We roamed the city and almost every inch of the theater. We strolled back to the bus buying gelato and a couple of post cards.  After getting on the bus we realized how tired we were and I trust tomorrow our legs will remind us how many steps we climbed as well! We opted for a half decent meal from room service and watched a mediocre but nice movie as we fell asleep.