Strategic position
A decades-long wait: the wonderful Castle of Mount Tauro finally reopens.
10 March 2023 - Categorie: The places of the heart, Cultural tourism, Cities of Art and Villages Tags:
The history of our beloved Sicily is vast, rich in history, legends and nostalgic nuances and the castles tell it in their vicissitudes. From the Arab conquest to the Norman one, passing through the Spanish influences and the rich Sicilian Baroque. There are more than 200 castles, fortresses and strongholds on the island. Some are reduced to ruins and their indisputable charm blends with that of unforgettable landscapes. Others have arrived more intact up to the present day. All absolutely to visit: among those previously discussed we remember the Castle of Caccamo, Ursino, Carini, Donnafugata and Sperlinga.
This time we will focus on the wonderful Castle of Mount Tauro which we highly recommend as part of the itinerary of your trip to eastern Sicily. From here, you can visit the most interesting places in the area such as Taormina, which has always fascinated artists and intellectuals, the nearby seaside destinations of Mazzarò Bay, Capo Sant’Andrea, Isola Bella and Giardini di Naxos. And again, destinations such as the Etna Park, the Alcantara Gorges, the Nebrodi Mountains, Caltagirone and its ceramics.
And if you feel tired after this adventurous day, you can always stay in one of our fantastic private villas with pools in the area.
The Castle of Taormina, nicknamed "Castle of Mount Tauro" is located on the homonymous fortress at an altitude of 400 metres and its position allows the eye to sweep over the entire Ionian side composed to the north by the Strait of Messina, to the south by the of the Alcantara river and the slopes of Etna and, in the distance, you can see the silhouette of the beautiful city of Catania. This fantastic manor stands in a position that has been quite strategic since ancient times. The advantageous position made it possible to monitor all the passageways from Catania to Messina. In fact, especially during the Byzantine period, the castle constituted a real defence outpost against the continuous Arab incursions. With the advent of the Normans, the building was then subjected to a whole series of renovations.
The entrance portal is preceded by an uncovered avant-corps made up of patrol paths placed to protect the environment. Protection also ensured by the presence of an ancient tower which probably served as a lookout in the past. Worthy of mention are the cisterns used for rain collection which are still visible today. An underground corridor was also found which, possibly, served as a deposit for supplies and weapons.
Strategic position
Bottom view
View from above
This jewel of eastern Sicily has been closed for 20 years. Around 2005, there were the first restoration attempts aimed at making this marvel of architecture accessible to the public again. Attempts, as you can well understand, went up in smoke. It may have been the pressing desire of the tourists to visit this pearl of the Ionian or perhaps it may have been the complaints of the local inhabitants for the almost non-existent enhancement of this masterful historical asset but it was thus that, finally after long and metaphorical struggles, it will be possible to access the Castle of Mount Tauro.
Recommended villas
Villa Luce: A few kilometres from Taormina, one of the most important international tourist centers and one of the greatest destinations of the famous Grand Tour, you will find this wonderful property. You just have to let yourself be caressed by the sea breeze in the large terraces of Villa Luce that will give you an unprecedented and uninterrupted view of the sea and the bay of the city. Whether you want to relax on the sofas of the spacious outdoor patio on the first floor, or take a dip in the refreshing swimming pool located on one of the two large terraces, this delightful residence is for you. With its 4 double bedrooms, one of which is a master bedroom on the first floor with a view of the blue sea of Taormina, the residence is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends.
Villa Tao: Villa Tao is a wonderful luxury residence located in the beautiful city of Taormina, just 10 minutes walk from the center and just over a kilometer from the fantastic Sicilian sea. Immersed in a garden of 2000 square metres, the villa is surrounded by fragrant Mediterranean vegetation with a thousand shades of green where you will find the splendid private salt purified pool and a fantastic Jacuzzi where you can relax surrounded by the smells of north-eastern Sicily.
Nerello Mascalese: Splendid country residence located on the slopes of the Etna volcano, very close to the characteristic town of Randazzo. With its 5 bedrooms, it is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends for a holiday of peace and quiet, detached from the chaos of the city. The residence has many shaded corners in which to relax and a delightful private swimming pool in which to cool off in the hottest hours and be able to observe the wonderful panorama over the hills of Eastern Sicily.
Buena Vista: Majestic and elegant private villa in one of the most sought-after cities by world tourism: Taormina. With its 3000 square meters of garden, get ready for a holiday in the colors of eastern Sicily, enjoy the quiet inside the wonderful Jacuzzi located on the terrace of the house to give you an unprecedented view of the sea and the bay of the city since always most praised by writers, philosophers and artists such as Goethe, Nietzsche and Klimt.
Borgo degli Aranci: In the village of Fiumefreddo, at the foot of Mount Etna and in front of the Ionian Sea, this spectacular residence is born, surrounded by citrus trees whose scent of oranges will delight your holidays. The residence is divided into three wonderful houses close to each other and surrounded by 11 hectares of land whose green lawn will lead you to the splendid swimming pool overlooking the gentle slope that naturally slopes towards the sea.
Viagrande: Luxurious villa with private pool located in Viagrande, on the south-eastern side of Etna. Furnished with taste and elegance but with a modern spirit, this splendid residence will give you moments of absolute quiet on its well-equipped and covered terrace or in its swimming pool immersed in the green of the English lawn and surrounded by Mediterranean plants.
Vecchia Dimora Resort: Wonderful residence just a few kilometers from the Etna Volcano Park, detached from the chaos of the city and the classic tourist circuits to give you the opportunity to breathe the pure and nostalgic Sicily of an aristocratic past. Villaetna is an aristocratic home that has been renovated with great taste and attention to detail to preserve its splendid Baroque architecture. With its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the green nature of eastern Sicily, it is ready to give you immense peace and tranquility but also an excellent starting point for exploring this delightful part of the island.
Villa Tao: Villa Tao is a wonderful luxury residence located in the beautiful city of Taormina, just 10 minutes walk from the center and just over a kilometer from the fantastic Sicilian sea. Immersed in a garden of 2000 square metres, the villa is surrounded by fragrant Mediterranean vegetation with a thousand shades of green where you will find the splendid private salt purified pool and a fantastic Jacuzzi where you can relax surrounded by the smells of north-eastern Sicily.
Nerello Mascalese: Splendid country residence located on the slopes of the Etna volcano, very close to the characteristic town of Randazzo. With its 5 bedrooms, it is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends for a holiday of peace and quiet, detached from the chaos of the city. The residence has many shaded corners in which to relax and a delightful private swimming pool in which to cool off in the hottest hours and be able to observe the wonderful panorama over the hills of Eastern Sicily.
Buena Vista: Majestic and elegant private villa in one of the most sought-after cities by world tourism: Taormina. With its 3000 square meters of garden, get ready for a holiday in the colors of eastern Sicily, enjoy the quiet inside the wonderful Jacuzzi located on the terrace of the house to give you an unprecedented view of the sea and the bay of the city since always most praised by writers, philosophers and artists such as Goethe, Nietzsche and Klimt.
Borgo degli Aranci: In the village of Fiumefreddo, at the foot of Mount Etna and in front of the Ionian Sea, this spectacular residence is born, surrounded by citrus trees whose scent of oranges will delight your holidays. The residence is divided into three wonderful houses close to each other and surrounded by 11 hectares of land whose green lawn will lead you to the splendid swimming pool overlooking the gentle slope that naturally slopes towards the sea.
Viagrande: Luxurious villa with private pool located in Viagrande, on the south-eastern side of Etna. Furnished with taste and elegance but with a modern spirit, this splendid residence will give you moments of absolute quiet on its well-equipped and covered terrace or in its swimming pool immersed in the green of the English lawn and surrounded by Mediterranean plants.
Vecchia Dimora Resort: Wonderful residence just a few kilometers from the Etna Volcano Park, detached from the chaos of the city and the classic tourist circuits to give you the opportunity to breathe the pure and nostalgic Sicily of an aristocratic past. Villaetna is an aristocratic home that has been renovated with great taste and attention to detail to preserve its splendid Baroque architecture. With its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the green nature of eastern Sicily, it is ready to give you immense peace and tranquility but also an excellent starting point for exploring this delightful part of the island.