Follow Greek Immigration and Life in Greece: Taormina, despite its unbeatable sea view, the rippling sea, and the fiery sunrise, is most famous for the ancient Greek theater located on the mountaintop. Sitting quietly there, gazing through time and space, one can imagine the beautiful starry sky, the sea, and Mount Etna as a grand backdrop, with summer operas, ballets, and concerts being performed here in succession. As the stars shift and the waves continue to roar, what a refreshing enjoyment that would be!
There is a cable car to go up the mountain from the hotel, with a ticket price of 3 euros. However, I thought it would be better to save that money and slowly climb up, enjoying the scenery along the way and breaking a sweat. The weather is great, and there are several viewpoints along the way. When tired, one can stand at a viewpoint and gaze at the sea view, and soon feel rejuvenated to continue the journey.
In Taormina, the ancient Greek theater is a must-see. Entering the small town from the Messina Gate, walk along the slope on the left side of Vittorio Emanuele Square until you reach the end. This ancient Greek opera house is the second largest theater in Sicily, after the theater in Syracuse, built in the 3rd century BC, and still usable after thousands of years of weathering. It is a spectacular U-shaped open-air theater, uniquely built against the mountain. Although the theater has suffered from the elements for over two thousand years and is now in ruins, its framework remains intact, and it still regularly hosts Italian operas and musicals. I stood at the highest point of the theater, thinking how wonderful it would be to listen to an Italian opera in a theater built by ancient people thousands of years ago!
The ruins of the ancient Greek theater in Taormina are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Strolling through the theater, one can still see the prosperity of that time and the traces left by the theater architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. These remnants, which have endured over 2300 years, carry so much glorious history!