Travels in Italy--Taormina (Part 2 of 4)

The Taormina tour continues. 
  

Taormina, with its beautiful scenery and ancient cultural sites, has been part of the Grand Tour since the 1800's. 

One of the ancient sites is the Roman theater, the Odeon, in the center of the town.  The theater was built in the 1st century B.C.

Another ancient site is the Palazzo Corvaja, first built by the ruling Arabs in the 10th century.  The building was both a palace with typical Moorish, Norman and Gothic architectural features and also a watch tower for defense. 

Façade of the Palazzo Corvaja

Inner courtyard of the Palazzo Corvaja

Another beautiful sight in Taormina is the public garden.  The garden was established in the 1880's by Lady Florence Trevelyan, who left Britain following an affair with the future Edward VII.  Today, the garden is a peaceful oasis with all sorts of flowers, trees, and other plants, plus other sights. 

One of the best features of the garden is the view.  Below is a view of the very large volcano Mount Etna. 

Next Up: Another ancient cultural site.