Located on the eastern shores of Sicily, Taormina is a popular travel destination which isn’t really a surprise given its beautiful medieval streets overflowing with flowers, stunning views and lively piazzas.
And that’s not all! One of Taormina’s most popular attractions is its very old amphitheatre. You’ll sometimes see it referred to as the Greek theatre, the Greek-Roman theatre, or simply The Ancient Theatre of Taormina. But, which one is it? Is it Greek or Roman?
Well, there is still much debate going on about where its origins truly lie, but one thing is for sure, it’s ancient! Taking into account its design and style, it is believed this horseshoe-shaped amphitheatre was built by the Greeks in the third century BC. The theater, the second largest in Sicily, was carved out of the rocky mountain it sits on and offers an incredibly impressive backdrop of the Sicilian coastline and Mount Etna in the distance. Later, it is thought that the theatre was rebuilt and/or expanded on by the Romans and used to host gladiator shows.
Today, the amphitheatre is still used for all sorts of events including concerts, fashion shows and other festivals.
If you’re planning a trip to Sicily and Taormina is on your list of places to visit, then you’ll want to make sure you give yourself time to visit this historical monument that continues to stand the test of time.
It’s easy to get around Taormina and getting to the theatre is no exception. You can get to the theatre on foot from the historic centre. Just walk along Corso Umberto to via Teatro Greco. Make your way up via Teatro Greco and the theatre is located at the end of the road.
The theatre is open daily, however opening and closing times vary between high and low seasons, so double check before you plan your visit. You can purchase tickets at the ticket office located behind the stage area.
If you can, try to plan your visit on a clear day so that you can get the best view of Mount Etna. It’s a bit of a climb up the rocky steps of the theatre, but once you’ve reached the top, you’ll see that it was all worth it!
If you’ve been wanting to head to southern Italy, and in particular to Sicily or Taormina, you should check out our upcoming Southern Calabria and Eastern Sicily tour happening in September. It’s not too late to book and we’d love to show you first-hand why we love Taormina.
Image Credits: Gnuckx, Harvey Barrison, Luca Galli
