Taormina, March 2005

Castelmola in Sicily Italy is a beautiful village perched almost precariously above Taormina. The lovely hamlet is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Taormina is a town on the island of Sicily in Italy, and in ancient times was a Greek colony (Tauromenium), dating from about 400 BC, which submitted to Roman authority in 212 BC during the Second Punic War. Taormina is in the Province of Messina, together with the beautiful Aeolian Islands and the ancient city of Milazzo. It can be reached via highways (autostradas) from Messina to the North and Catania to the South. Taormina has been a very popular destination with tourists since the 19th century. It has beautiful beaches (accessible via a Funicular) by the Ionian sea, which is remarkably warm and has a high salt content. Taormina is built on an extremely hilly coast, and is approximately a forty-five minute drive away from Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna. Text from: www.castelmola.com/balcony.htm and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taormina

Taormina is a town on the island of Sicily in Italy, and in ancient times was a Greek colony (Tauromenium), dating from about 400 BC, which submitted to Roman authority in 212 BC during the Second Punic War. Taormina is in the Province of Messina, together with the beautiful Aeolian Islands and the ancient city of Milazzo. It can be reached via highways (autostradas) from Messina to the North and Catania to the South. Taormina has been a very popular destination with tourists since the 19th century. It has beautiful beaches (accessible via a Funicular) by the Ionian sea, which is remarkably warm and has a high salt content. Taormina is built on an extremely hilly coast, and is approximately a forty-five minute drive away from Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taormina

St. Pancras’ church The church consecrated to the Patron of Taormina, St. Pancras, Bishop and martyr, was built on the ruins of a Greek temple dedicated to Jupiter Serapis. Parts of the temple's cella can still be seen in the southern wall of the church. This church is in Barocco style and dates back to the second part of the 16th century. Its main portal is very interesting with jambs and architraves in Taormina stone; two Ionian columns decorate each side of the portal. Inside the church the intermediate floor with the organ can be seen above this portal. Two interesting oil paintings on canvas hang above the two minor altars on the right of the church, one picturing the torture of St. Nicone and the other the consecration of St. Maximus who was St. Pancras' successor. Between the other two minor altars on the justify of the church there is a fresco picturing Teofano Cerameo, Taormina's last Bishop during the 11th century. A low railing in wrought iron separates the rest of the church from the main altar which is lavishly decorated with polichrome marble slabs and an Ionian column on each side, like those on the external portal. There are eight angels on the altar, four on each side, and a bust of God giving his blessing. A fresco picturing the torture of St. Pancras can be seen on the right of the main altar. text from: www.gate2taormina.com/taormina_en.htm

St. Pancras’ church The church consecrated to the Patron of Taormina, St. Pancras, Bishop and martyr, was built on the ruins of a Greek temple dedicated to Jupiter Serapis. Parts of the temple's cella can still be seen in the southern wall of the church. This church is in Barocco style and dates back to the second part of the 16th century. Its main portal is very interesting with jambs and architraves in Taormina stone; two Ionian columns decorate each side of the portal. Inside the church the intermediate floor with the organ can be seen above this portal. Two interesting oil paintings on canvas hang above the two minor altars on the right of the church, one picturing the torture of St. Nicone and the other the consecration of St. Maximus who was St. Pancras' successor. Between the other two minor altars on the justify of the church there is a fresco picturing Teofano Cerameo, Taormina's last Bishop during the 11th century. A low railing in wrought iron separates the rest of the church from the main altar which is lavishly decorated with polichrome marble slabs and an Ionian column on each side, like those on the external portal. There are eight angels on the altar, four on each side, and a bust of God giving his blessing. A fresco picturing the torture of St. Pancras can be seen on the right of the main altar. text from: www.gate2taormina.com/taormina_en.htm

View of the Corso Umberto, the main pedestrian street in Taormina, Sicily, which is lined with many charming shops and restaurants.

View of the Corso Umberto, the main pedestrian street in Taormina, Sicily, which is lined with many charming shops and restaurants.

View of the Corso Umberto, the main pedestrian street in Taormina, Sicily, which is lined with many charming shops and restaurants.

View of one of the side-streets with a staircase, leading off the Corso Umberto, the main pedestrian street in Taormina, Sicily.