Travel Writing - Coming to Taormina

When you first step off the plane at the Catania airport, it doesn’t feel much different from mainland Italy. Sicily is a few degrees warmer, to be sure, but nothing strikes you as particularly special. Then again, once you’ve been to one small airport you’ve been to them all. Once you get out into the city, the real Sicily starts to show itself. The buildings are generally less ornate than in Florence, but there is a certain indescribable air of history and timelessness about them. Largely untouched by the renaissance (of Florentine origin), Catania’s landmark churches instead feature Muslim and Norman influences. The city is far less crowded than Florence, and what few tourists there are seem to be more interested in the food than anything else. Catania maintains the small-town feel that eludes many populous cities, despite being the second largest city in Sicily and boasting nearly 300,000 inhabitants.

However, the truly distinct feel of Sicily doesn’t fully hit you until you escape into the lush countryside. The coast is littered with picturesque towns that overlook the Ionian Sea. Red clay roofs and pastel colored houses contrast beautifully with the green grass and sapphire sea. Around every corner of the winding road out of Catania lies a view even more breathtaking than the last, culminating with Taormina. Perched high on a promontory some two hundred meters above the sea, Taormina is composed of a cluster of sandstone buildings. Directly beneath the town lies Isola Bella, a quasi-island nature reserve and beach surrounded by crystal clear water. The entire scene is stunning, but even more so when you turn to see Mount Etna, an active volcano, looming over the town. Bringer of both fortune and destruction to the region, Mount Etna dominates the skyline. Words do little justice to this awe-inspiring setting; there is truly no substitute for feeling the steady breeze and breathing in the array of fragrances while soaking up the timeless view from Taormina.