Rambling in Taormina
My lodging last night was a small two-star hotel called the Taormina Garden, and I couldn’t have hoped for a better location, four twisty kilometers from the bus station and perhaps a city block from the funicular that is the best way to reach the top of the town. Taormina clutches a steep, rocky coast facing the Ionian Sea, and its beaches arch gracefully to form picturesque coves where sailboats rock at anchor.
Teatro Greco was built by the Greeks during the third century B.C. and later modified by the Romans, who constructed the brick portions of the proscenium. Today it hosts a rich schedule of concerts and theater productions, seating about 5000 people. The only larger Greek theater outside Greece is in Siracusa.
Just steps from the ancient teatro, cafés, chic boutiques and trinket shops line Corso Umberto. Balconies bursting with flowers, narrow side streets and steep stairways add charm to a stroll along the city’s main shopping street.
The staff at Taormina Garden were especially gracious, and had let me leave my car in their teeny lot while I explored. Not wanting to overstay my welcome, I hit the road for Siracusa, still weary from the long day yesterday.
After a little rest, I dined at a place called Syraka, just a few blocks from “home.” I began with mussel soup, prepared with a gorgonzola cheese sauce I practically licked off the plate. Then lampuga, which I determined was Mediterranean mahi-mahi, the small steaks lightly fried and served with braised green peppers, which were slightly sweet and jammy. For the first time all week, I treated myself to dessert, a warm chocolate cake of the perfect size…
Spectacular!
Your pictures are fantastic and I love reading about all of your adventures!