Isola Bella is one of the most iconic places in Taormina. Connected to the mainland by a thin tongue of sand, it is one of the most beautiful and famous beaches in Sicily. Its name was coined by Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden, a German aristocrat who lived in Taormina in the second half of the 19th century and became famous for his strongly bucolic male nude photographs.
The history of Taormina’s Isola Bella
The first records of Taormina’s Isola Bella date back to 1806, when Ferdinand I of Borbone decided to give it to the Municipality of Taormina. In 1890 it was bought by Lady Florence Trevelyan, an English noblewoman and wife of the mayor Salvatore Cacciola. The couple embellished the island, built a small house and planted very rare plants and trees. When Lady Trevelyan and her husband died, the island was bequeathed to their nephew, Cesare Acrosso, who in turn sold it to the Lo Turco family. In 1954 the island changed hands again and was bought by brothers Leone and Emilio Bosurgi, owners of Sanderson, a historic citrus processing company in Messina. With the bankruptcy of the company in the 1980s, the island was put up for auction, but found no buyers until it was purchased by the Sicilian Region in 1990.
Interesting fact: Lady Florence Trevelyan, who was very passionate about botany, is the creator of another little jewel: the Villa Comunale of Taormina.
Isola Bella Beach in Taormina
Isola Bella Beach is one of the most famous places in Taormina and one of the most beautiful and famous beaches in Sicily. It is formed by a tongue of sand that connects the mainland to the small island. There is both a free beach and some equipped bathing establishments. The first part of the seabed is formed by large stones, so it is certainly easier to enter the water with rock shoes. On the free beach there are several boats that offer boat trips. You can go around the island and admire the surrounding caves, the bay of Naxos, the Blue Grotto and the Shell Grotto.
Visiting Taormina’s Isola Bella: schedule and cost
The island and the villa, together with its gardens, form the Isola Bella Regional Nature Museum and Villa Caronia, named after the last owner. The villa is predominantly red and is surrounded by land of about 1.60 hectares. The southern part is dominated by thick Mediterranean scrub, while the northern part is made up of several terraces connected by paths and steps supported by stone walls. It can be visited every day, except Monday, from 09:00 until one hour before sunset.
How to reach Taormina’s Isola Bella
Taormina’s Isola Bella is located at the foot of the village of Taormina, in the so-called Gulf of Naxos. Therefore, it is not possible to reach it on foot directly from the center of Taormina. Fortunately, there are several alternatives to reach this little paradise. Whichever way you choose, the beach is reached by a staircase of about 300 steps.
The cableway Taormina – Mazzarò and buses
You can reach Taormina’s Isola Bella directly from the town center by taking the Taormina – Mazzarò cable car. The ticket for a single ride is 3 euro, with the possibility of purchasing a day ticket for 10 euro, or even weekly (50 euro) and monthly (100 euro) passes. Departures are every 15 minutes, from 09:00 in the morning to 01:00 at night. Access to the cable car is from Via Pirandello, a short distance from the Church of San Pancrazio. Alternatively, you can take one of the city buses.
How to reach Isola Bella by car, motorbike or bus
If you decide to reach Isola Bella in Taormina with your own car, you will have to leave it in one of the nearby paid parking lots. The cost is usually around 10 euros for the whole day. You can also reach Isola Bella directly from Messina by Interbus, which connects the two places in just under two hours.
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