The Natural Treasure of Isola Bella

A compulsory stop, especially in summer, is a visit to Isola Bella. Literally meaning 'beautiful island', it is a fascinating place for anyone who is passionate about nature, and it is no coincidence that its delights were first captured by a 19th century photographer. A German nobleman, Wilhelm von Gloeden went to Taormina to recover from tuberculosis. When he first saw the unspoilt natural surroundings, he fell in love with the area and relocated permanently in 1878. He took photograph after photograph of Taormina and Isola Bella spreading the word across Europe about the beauty of the Sicilian landscapes. Over the years, different people have built magnificent homes and cultivated rare species of plants on Isola Bella. Today you can find rich vegetation including capers, euforbia, white cabbages, sterlizia (birds of paradise) and cornflowers. The seabed is teeming with marine life, archaeological treasures and shipwrecks, making it an ideal place for diving. This combination of history and nature meant that Isola Bella was designated a nature reserve in 1998, now managed by the World Wildlife Fund.

The Alcantara Gorge

A short distance from Taormina, in the direction of Giardini Naxos, the Alcantara Gorge has a height of 25 metres and width of just 5 metres, created by a lava flow. The original Arab name 'Al gantar' means bridge and refers to the river that comes through the gorge and flows out into the Ionian Sea. As well as interesting tropical flora and fauna, the Alcantara Gorge is a fascinating place for many different kinds of visitors: rock lovers who come to study its stunning basalt columns and volcanic history, walkers who come for the hiking trails and water sports enthusiasts who enjoy the kayaking, rafting and canoeing available on the Alcantara River.

(written by: Anna Li Volsi | translated by: Samantha Collins)