Italy · Sicily
Yacht Charter Taormina
A Greek theatre with Etna framed in its arch, and Isola Bella in the bay below it.
Taormina sits two hundred metres above the Ionian on a terrace of rock, with Etna behind it and a bay of turquoise water underneath. The Greeks put a theatre here in the third century BC and aimed it so the volcano fills the gap between the columns, which tells you they were choosing the view rather than the acoustics. Arriving by sea puts you directly below all of it.
Isola Bella, and the bay
The islet below the town is a nature reserve joined to the shore by a spit of shingle that appears and disappears with the sea. Anchoring in the bay outside it is the finest position on this coast, and the cable car from Mazzarò runs straight up to the town.
North and south of the bay the coast is cut into small coves — Grotta Azzurra, Capo Sant'Andrea, Spisone — reachable by tender and shallow enough to read the bottom through.
Above the water
The Teatro Antico is the second-largest in Sicily and still stages a summer festival. Go at opening or in the last hour, when the light comes across Etna and the tour groups have gone.
Etna itself is an hour inland by car and the crew arrange it. The north face has the lava flows, the vineyards on its lower slopes make some of the most interesting wine in Italy, and the whole thing is snow-capped into May.
Practical notes
- Sailed from Portorosa or Capo d'Orlando, where sixteen of this fleet's yachts sit
- Anchor in the bay outside Isola Bella; the cable car from Mazzarò runs up to the town in three minutes
- Catania airport is forty-five minutes by road, which makes this an easy end to a Sicilian week
- The Teatro Antico is best at opening or in the last hour of light; Etna is an hour inland and arranged by the crew
Reached from: Portorosa and Capo d'Orlando
Where to dine
A table by the water
Otto Geleng
TaorminaNamed for the painter who made northern Europe believe Sicily looked like this. A terrace, a star, and Etna in front of it.
Osteria RossoDiVino
TaorminaIn a lane off the Corso, doing Sicilian cooking for people who live here rather than for the season.
Il Barcaiolo
MazzaròOn the beach in the bay below, under an arch of rock, three minutes from where the tender lands.
What to do
Anchorages & excursions
Isola Bella
A nature reserve on an islet joined to the shore by a shingle spit that appears and disappears with the sea.
The Teatro Antico
Third century BC, the second-largest in Sicily, and aimed so that Etna fills the arch between the columns.
Etna, north face
An hour inland: lava flows, vineyards on the lower slopes making some of Italy's most interesting wine, and snow into May.
Grotta Azzurra and Capo Sant'Andrea
Small coves cut into the coast either side of the bay, shallow, clear and reached by tender.
The fleet
Yachts available for Taormina
Vessels that operate here, from flagship motor yachts to smaller crewed boats. Every rate is quoted on enquiry.
Good to know
Questions we are asked about Taormina
- Where do you anchor for Taormina?
- In the bay outside Isola Bella, below the town. The cable car from Mazzarò takes three minutes to the top, which is the easiest ascent on this coast.
- Can we see Etna from Taormina?
- Constantly — the Greeks framed the theatre around it. Going up is an hour inland by car and the crew arrange it; the north face has the lava flows and the vineyards below them.
- What does a yacht charter to Taormina cost?
- It depends on the yacht, the season and the crew, so we quote on enquiry rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most weeks.
Destinations
Nearby destinations
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Enquire about a charter at Taormina
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with the right yacht and a full quotation.