Leaving from Messina we took a pleasant drive along the
countryside to Taormina.  Built in the third century B.C.,
this city sits on a rocky terrace overlooking the sea.  We
walked along the cobblestone streets to the Palazzo Corvaia,
a 15th century Gothic style building.  A must see here is the
Greco-Roman Theater, located on the edge of the older part
of Taormina.

The theater was built by the Greeks in the 3rd century B.C.
and redesigned by the Romans in the 2nd century A.D.
Renowned for it's acoustics, it is still used for modern
productions of Greek tragedy as well as summer festivals.
It is considered one of the most dramatic settings for a
theater in the world.  It stands on a perfect site, facing the
sea on a hill 702 feet high, with the bay below and the
peak of Mount Etna in the distance. Mount Etna is 70 miles
from Messina and is a active volcano 10,902 feet high.
It is truly breathtaking!!

We walked along Corso Umberto and found truly beautiful
ceramic items, coral jewelry and dolls!  We've been
here a few times and it is one of my very favorite cities.