Corso Umberto (Umberto Street), Taormina (must see)
Umberto Street may carry the name of a 19th-century king, but its roots run much deeper than royal vanity projects. It follows the line of the old Greco-Roman road, the Consular Valeria road, stretching neatly between Catania Gate on one side and Messina Gate on the other. For centuries it has served as Taormina鈥檚 backbone, first for soldiers and merchants, later for nobles and pilgrims, and now for anyone with a camera or an appetite for gelato.
In medieval times, this was the town鈥檚 central spine, with alleys leading to monasteries, chapels, and palaces that announced Taormina鈥檚 status under whichever ruler happened to hold Sicily. Its architecture still reads like a roll call of conquerors: Norman arches, Gothic tracery, Renaissance refinements, and Baroque flourishes. The Palace of the Corvaja family, a 15th-century residence that mixes Arab and Norman motifs, is a standout along the route. Look closer and you鈥檒l spot the layers of antiquity as well-the Temple of Jupiter Serapis replaced by the Church of Saint Pancras, or the Roman Odeon now lying hidden beneath the Church of Saint Catherine.
Midway along, April 9th Square opens like a stage set, complete with checkerboard paving and a terrace that frames the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna as though they were painted backdrops. Overlooking it all is the Clock Tower, or Middle Gate, linking the Greco-Roman quarter to the medieval heart of the town.
Today, Umberto Street is equal parts history book and shop window. Designer stores rub shoulders with artisan workshops, while caf茅s and wine bars spill out onto the flagstones. From dawn until late, the street hums with life, reminding visitors that Taormina has always known how to turn a simple road into the grandest of stages.
In medieval times, this was the town鈥檚 central spine, with alleys leading to monasteries, chapels, and palaces that announced Taormina鈥檚 status under whichever ruler happened to hold Sicily. Its architecture still reads like a roll call of conquerors: Norman arches, Gothic tracery, Renaissance refinements, and Baroque flourishes. The Palace of the Corvaja family, a 15th-century residence that mixes Arab and Norman motifs, is a standout along the route. Look closer and you鈥檒l spot the layers of antiquity as well-the Temple of Jupiter Serapis replaced by the Church of Saint Pancras, or the Roman Odeon now lying hidden beneath the Church of Saint Catherine.
Midway along, April 9th Square opens like a stage set, complete with checkerboard paving and a terrace that frames the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna as though they were painted backdrops. Overlooking it all is the Clock Tower, or Middle Gate, linking the Greco-Roman quarter to the medieval heart of the town.
Today, Umberto Street is equal parts history book and shop window. Designer stores rub shoulders with artisan workshops, while caf茅s and wine bars spill out onto the flagstones. From dawn until late, the street hums with life, reminding visitors that Taormina has always known how to turn a simple road into the grandest of stages.
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Corso Umberto (Umberto Street) on Map
Sight Name: Corso Umberto (Umberto Street)
Sight Location: Taormina, Italy (See walking tours in Taormina)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Taormina, Italy (See walking tours in Taormina)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Taormina, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Taormina
Creating your own self-guided walk in Taormina is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Taormina Introduction Walking Tour
In 396 BC, the notorious tyrant Dionysius I of Syracuse instructed his commander Andromachus to establish a settlement at the foot of Mount Etna. This came after Dionysius had destroyed the ancient Greek city of Naxos, leaving its displaced inhabitants in need of a new home. The settlement's original name, Tauromenion, meaning 鈥渄welling on the Taurus,鈥� referred to the nearby mountain... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles