Our cruise ship, L’Austral, is docked in the distance and we came in by tender boat to explore this beautiful city which spawls from the beach front up to the top of the hill where the main shops and sights are.I managed to find free WiFi at this restaurant so settled in with a beer and opened my office while buskers played and tourists pottered around. So happy!If you really need a souvenir and can’t bothered with the 45 minute ride up the mountain, just buy Mt Etna lava rock for €1 a pieceYou’ll need to pack this guy into your hand luggage to protect his cigar!One of the many cafes around the town square anchored by this old church high on the hill overlooking the harbourThese guys were fantastic singing Italian songs from scenes of an old mafia movie. Check out the “red head”!A room with a view. Just one of the many cute balconies hanging over the narrow streets lined with souvenir, ceramic and fabric shops.Locally painted ceramics. I regret not buying an adorable figurine of a Sicilian woman. Sniff!Another lovely church at the top of the hill. If you look reeeally closely you can make out my “office” at one of the yellow cloth-covered tables.Looking back over the entrance gate into the clifftop town I spotted this church bell peeking above a roof.Arriving at Taormina by cruise ship and Mt Etna rises in the distanceSting and Ben Harper recently performed here in this ancient ampitheatre. Imagine the accoustics!This guy just would not move, so I let him have his way and be the centre of attention! This is the entrance into the hilltop city from the gate beyond, edged in shops.Our cruise ship is docked waaay down there. Can you see it? (Where’s Wally?)The colourful houses of Taormina overlook the bayAs well as souvenirs and ceramics you’ll find fashion retailers, shoe shops and the obligatory gelataria!
I got to Taormina onboard Ponant’s boutique cruise ship, L’Austral. With only 130 cabins we sailed for 8 days from Istanbul visiting ancient sites in Greece before arriving in Sicily, then up to Pompeii, Corsica and finally Nice. I can thoroughly recommend this relaxed way to see the world!
If you fancy rubbing shoulders at the breakfast buffet with Brad and Angelina or take a dip in the infinity pool with Orlando Bloom, here are 5 hotels to check out…
