Arca, Taormina

Advantages: historicaly interesting, prety town, great views
Disadvantages: long train journet from Palermo

...Taormina is a very pretty town on the Eastern coast of Sicily. We took a very slow train journey from Palermo along the North coast, which took the best part of a day, having to change and wait in Messina. When you get to Taormina station you will find yourself at the bottom of the hill so you would need to hire a taxi or wait for a local bus to take you up to the town. The buses didn't seem too predictable but then we were arriving on a Sunday. All other information pointed to the weekday service being somewhat more reliable. However, when you get up into the town you will realise that the journey is well worth it. Taormina is a very pretty historic town. Visit the amphitheatre for fantastic views of Mount Etna. A walk up a steep path behind the town affords more spectacular vies of Etna and the coast The town can basically... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful Culture and Scenery
Disadvantages: Mad Drivers in traffic choked streets!

...Taormina - Undeniably special, a very pretty hillside town and one of our favourite Sicilian holiday locations. Although expensive to stay here it is well worth coming here. Taormina is high on Monte Tauro so you have to travel downwards to the two bays below if you wish to visit the beach, Giardini-Naxos. We stayed in Villa Belevdere, via Bagnoli Croce, situated in the cliff, views absolutley stunning of the Bay of Naxos. We stayed here in early September, and loved the gardens and pool. Although there is no restaurant in the evening here, the local trattorias are only a few minutes stroll away. Very busy place during June and September, very crowded with tourists in the main street Corso Umberto, but what an atmosphere! Music everywhere, and street entertainers! Absolutely fantastic. You walk alot here, as it is the best way... Read review

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Advantages: Stunning views, well located.
Disadvantages: Poorly run, shabby and poorly maintained

...My wife and I returned on 09/09/2007, from a wonderful week in Taormina on the beautiful Island of Sicily. A wonderful week marred by one thing - The Hotel Bristol Park! We paid around £800 each for a weeks B & B at this establishment, provided through Thompsons. This Hotel passes itself off as a Four Star Hotel. *** LOCATION *** One of the greatest assets of this Hotel is its fabulous location. If you want a well located Hotel in Taormina, with great views of Mount Etna (the main reason we booked this Hotel), there won't be many better in Taormina. We had a room on the third floor with a 180 degree view of the sea, the town of Guarding Naxos below Taormina, and the town of Taormina itself. By far the most imposing part of the view though was Mount Etna - the view of this 10,000 feet active Volcano was magnificent. Most... Read review

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