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Taormina t-shirts, framed Taormina photo prints and souvenir items are presented in a context of travel information, video clips, maps, and even the local weather! Visiting this page is like a virtual tour of Taormina!
new taormina t shirt sunset

Taormina T-shirts


Taormina has been called the pearl of Sicily, incomparable for its total combination of physical beauty, history, and climate.

These Taormina t-shirts and hoodies are based on sketches and photographs made during a trip to the town. They are as unique as the place that inspired them. Printed on high quality apparel for men and women, including organic styles in several colors.

taormina sicily t shirt
Taormina Folk Art T Shirts/Hoodies
$20.00- 38.00
In Taormina this female figure can be seen on various objects from pottery to candles, and this t-shirt is based on that same traditional motif.
taormina mount etna t shirt
"Mt. Etna Vignette" T Shirts/Gear
$20.00- 38.00
A charming retro style vignette of the town of Taormina framed against the backdrop of Mt. Etna as the massive volcano bellows smoke into the sky.

cupid taormina t shirt t shirt
Taormina Cupid T-Shirts/Hoodies
$20.00- 38.00
For many years Taormina has been a destination for lovers, due to its stunning combination of climate, landscape, sea, and sensuality. This little sketch of Cupid is a reflection on Taormina's romantic ambience.
taormina italy t-shirt
"Teatro" Taormina T Shirts/Hoodies
$20.00- 38.00
A portion of the ancient Greek Theater of Taormina with cypress trees and a sunset over the sea.
taormina t shirt
Tropical Floral Taormina T Shirts
$20.00- 38.00
The gardens and squares of Taormina are bursting with beautiful tropical flowers, and so is this delicious Taormina t-shirt

sicilia  t shirt
Sicilia "Lion Head" T Shirt
$20.00- 38.00
This lion head motif, discovered on a wall in Taormina, has now been translated into an attractive t-shirt.
Taormina t shirt displayed on model with scenery

sicily t shirt
Taormina Varsity T Shirts/Hoodies
$20.00- 38.00
Taormina, Sicilia in varsity style letters with the island symbol (called the trinacria or trisceli).
sailboat taormina t shirt
Taormina Sailboat Shirts/Apparel
$20.00- 38.00
Sailboats are ever-present in the azure waters surrounding Taormina. This silhouette has a beautiful wave texture running through it.
taormina sicily t shirt
Taormina Arabesque T Shirts/Hoodies
$20.00- 38.00
The Moors who ruled Sicily for centuries left an exquisite legacy of their style in Taormina, in the form of North African motifs and arabesque architectural flourishes.

Taormina Gifts


Shop for beautifully designed Taormina gifts and merchandise such as these mugs and beach totes.
taormina sicily apron
Taormina Apron
$14.00
Apron with an image of the Ancient Theater.
taormina sicily mug
Taormina Sicily Mug
$14.00
A retro style vignette of the town of Taormina is featured on this charming mug. This image wraps around the mug. Rollover to see the other side, and click for more details.
sicily taormina beach tote bag
Taormina Beach Tote
$23.00
This beach tote features a design reminiscent of the arabesque architectural motifs left behind by the Moors, rulers of Sicily for several centuries.

Taormina Framed Prints


An exciting collection of photographic framed prints, perfect for introducing a bit of international flair to your home or office. All prints are custom manufactured using archival inks and acid-free paper. Framed prints are matted and framed in a stylish black frame that includes complete backing. Frame size: 19" x 15". Select for more details.
taormina framed print
Church of San Pancrazio at Taormina
Large Framed Print

$38.00
This church is consecrated to St. Pancras, patron of Taormina. The pink detailing of the belltower peeks above stone arches in this beautiful framed print.
taormina framed print photography
"Colors of Taormina"
Large Framed Print

$38.00
The subtle washes of color seen on the buildings of Taormina are captured in this charming framed print.

Italy framed photography prints
See All Italy Prints
$38.00
Dozens more prints of Italy to choose from, so check out the whole collection!
taormina mt. etna framed photography
Taormina w/ Mount Etna
Large Framed Print

$38.00
Sepia toned photograph of Taormina, Sicily with Mount Etna rising in the distance.

Taormina Information

Legendary Taormina is a must see for anyone visiting Sicily...


an historic town complete with ancient ruins, a spectacular setting, and incredible food."

road in taormina

After spending three days in Palermo, the capital of Sicily, it was time for me to see something else on the island. With a total of only five days in Sicily, there was no chance for me to see many of the towns I originally intended on visiting, such as Noto, Siracusa, and Cefalu. Instead, I had time for only one more destination, and for me it had to be Taormina.

For years I had read that Taormina is a fantastic resort town of particular beauty, drawing visitors from many parts of the world. The physical loveliness of the place is overwhelming, and that must be what the Greeks thought when they first arrived on the Sicilian coast in 832 BC and founded the colony of Naxos. The settlement of Tauromenion was established shortly afterwards and became quite prosperous.

Tauromenion eventually became Taormina, it's history spanning miillenia as wave after wave of conquerors laid claim to Sicily and assumed control over the town. Greeks, Romans, Muslims, Normans, Spanish, and French each controlled Taormina for a time, and reminders of each era can be found here.

wilhelm von gloeden photograph serenade

During the 19th century Taormina became a fashionable tourist destination with a long list of famous people spending time there, including Goethe, Nietzsche, Richard Wagner, Nicholas I of Russia, and many others. The subtropical climate, sparkling sea, tree covered cliffs, and charming architecture combine to create a very romantic setting. Some people came and never wanted to leave; the photographer Wilhelm Von Gloeden came to Taormina and then sent much of his life there, becoming famous for the photos he shot using local subjects, many of them male nudes.

By the early 20th century the town was flush with writers, artists, and intellectuals such as D.H. Lawrence and Truman Capote, and it gained the reputation of being quite a licentious place. Today Taormina has settled into a more tame existence as an upscale resort town, offering posh accommodations overlooking the sea and excellent shopping and dining along its cobblestone streets.

Couples arrive from all over the world to be married or spend their honeymoons here. Whole families come too, in fact lots of them during the summer months. Piazza Aprile IX, the town's main square, seems always alive with children running back and forth, people strolling, and cafés crowded with diners.

taormina as muse

I wouldn't characterize this as a party town, though. Things seemed to mostly close down by midnight, except for a few bars and nightclubs. Taormina is more of a relaxed experience... a place to be enjoyed with loved ones, or perhaps with the meditative pleasure of a camera, sketchbook, or other means of creative expression. The beauty of Taormina can bring out the poet in anyone.

So, aside from writing the next great novel or love song, what is there to do or see in Taormina?
Here's a rundown of some of the main attractions...

Corso Umberto I is the main thoroughfare of Taormina. It's like the spine of the town, and meanders for about a kilometer from Piazza Sant’ Antonio to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. It's pedestrian only, is lined with shops and restaurants, and is the street you will inevitably stroll many times during your stay. It passes right through Piazza Aprile IX, the main square mentioned above, and most of Taorina's monuments and attractions can be reached from here by foot.

Piazza Aprile IX is really something special as far as town squares go, because it's like a giant terrace that overlooks the wide Bay of Naxos far below. You can stand at the edge of the piazza, lean against the railing, and look upon a panorama that seems to stretch forever. To the west Mt Etna smolders peacefully (for now), gradually sloping down to the azure Ionian Sea.

Piazza Duomo with its Baroque fountain built in 1635 is hard to miss as you walk along Corso Umberto. Mythological figures decorate the various basins of the elaborate fountain. Grandiose old sculpture aside, I'm making special mention of this square because there's a really good pizzeria located on the left hand side of it, past the fountain; a small carry-out shop with damn good slices. You can walk your pizza right over to the marble steps of the fountain and eat it while taking in the scene. This may be the cheapest good meal in Taormina...restaurants and hotels here are pricier than what you'll encounter in other Sicilian towns.

ancient theater taormina

The Public Gardens

Many visitors miss them, but the Public Gardens of Taormina contain an incredibly maintained, wide assortment of tropical and subtropical plants. The variety is amazing, as well as the style of planting, which is naturalistic instead of being overly arranged in a formal geometry. Romantic stone structures accentuate the plantings, giving an atmosphere of antiquity.

The Ancient Greek Theater

One of Taormina's well known attractions, the Ancient Theater provides one of the most panoramic views I have ever seen...anywhere! When the Greeks built this theater thousands of years ago, they must have chosen the location for this reason. The theater is not just a lump of photogenic ruins either- during the summer there are nightly shows featuring classical and pop music, opera, fashion shows, and more. It's amazing to think that this venue is still a performance space after thousands of years. Wow.

mount etna sicily
Mount Etna

Obviously an excursion to Mount Etna is high on the list when visiting the Taormina area. It's Europe's largest active volcano (11,000 feet tall) and it's close- only about a 45 minute drive from town. The volcano can be experienced in several ways, including wine tastings (the volcanic soil is great for growing grapes), hiking, a cable car ride, or in a 4WD jeep. Guided excursions are easy to arrange and will take you to interesting sites at the summit where volcanic activity continues.

Isola Bella is a tiny island situated below Taormina, and during low tide you can walk on a narrow strip of sand to reach it from the beach. It was once a private villa, but now contains a museum and nature preserve. It's an extremely photogenic spot and worth a visit, but the adjacent beach is small and can be crowded during the high season.

the view from castelmola

Grutta Azzura is one of the beautiful caverns that dot the coast below Taormina. The water takes on an electric blue color as sunlight filters down. You can reach it by one of many boat excursions that depart from the beaches.

Castelmola

Since Taormina is positioned high on the cliffs above the sea, it's amazing that there is actually another town even higher, on a mountain that looks down upon Taormina! It's called Castelmola and it's about an hour's hike from Taormina (or you can take a bus). The views up here are breathtaking from 2000 feet above the sea, with the whole town and Sicilian coast spreading below you. The ruins of a 16th century Saracen castle are up there too, which served as a lookout point to guard against attacks from the Italian mainland.

Where to stay: Trying to find the right place to stay in Taormina using the internet was frustrating at first. My search had to meet several criteria. I wanted the hotel to be positioned at the edge of the sea with a balcony view of the water, close to Corso Umberto, and not cost an arm and a leg. My search led me to settle on Hotel Villa Schuler, run by a German family for generations, hence the name. I was pleased with my choice from the moment I arrived. The lobby was bright and spacious, the room was clean and comfortable with a balcony facing the Ionian Sea, and the hotel is located steps from Corso Umberto.

villa schuler taormina hotel

Breakfast is included with your room, and becomes a most memorable experience. Eggs cooked to order, a basket of fresh pastries and breads, fresh fruit, and of course some amazing Italian coffee served on a garden terrace that overlooks the sea, with the volcano in plain view. The property is landscaped with towering date palms, flowering plumeria, and other exotic plants. As the morning sun bounces off the sea far below, and birds sing in the garden all around, breakfast takes on a whole new meaning.

The rates are not too expensive compared with other establishments. I enthusiastically recommend Villa Schuler based on personal experience, although there are many other luxurious accommodations available in Taormina as well. I've posted some hotel websites in the links section at the bottom of the page.

-C. Petsos


Taormina photo tour
Check out the slideshow for more Taormina pictures and information

taormina bay of naxos
Overlooking the Bay of Naxos

taormina piazza aprile IX
Piazza Aprile IX



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