Known as ‘Sicily’s Monte Carlo’, Taormina is a mecca for the rich and famous, drawn there by its beautiful location, wealth of history, perfect climate and magical atmosphere.

Easter is the perfect time to visit – like the rest of Sicily, Taormina is a festival of colour and pageantry at this time of year

Perched on Monte Tauro, Taormina dominates two sweeping bays below and offers stunning views of Mt Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano.

People have flocked to Taormina since time immemorial; the Sicels, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards all chose to settle here and left behind an architectural legacy that leaves modern-day visitors awestruck.

Tourists can still find fine examples of Taormina’s golden times: the splendid Greek Theatre, the Roman ‘Naumachiae’, the 13th-century cathedral of St Nicolò, the 14th-century Palazzo Corvaja, the 16th century palace of the Dukes of St Stefano, the public gardens, the ‘Badia Vecchia’ (Ancient Abbey)... the list goes on.

Since the opening of the first hotel in 1874, Taormina has become a top tourist destination. Join thousands of carefree visitors on relaxing strolls through the old-town pedestrian areas, calling in the stylish shops and classical music cafés along the famed Corso Umberto.

Pop into the local art museums, take walks in the surrounding countryside, and enjoy the fantastic beaches which offer water sports, including scuba diving, sailing and windsurfing.

Then there is the food – the town offers a wide choice of restaurants, trattorias, pizzerias, pastry shops, bars, cafes and pubs, each offering is own unique take on the world-famous ‘taste of Sicily’.

Taormina is also ideally located for excursions to some of Sicily’s best attractions, including Mt Etna, Syracuse, Catania, Ragusa, Modica and Alcantara Gorges.

Easter is the perfect time to visit – like the rest of Sicily, Taormina is a festival of colour and pageantry at this time of year.

The candlelit Good Friday procession, led by women in black and girls in white, proceeds in darkness through the town to the Duomo, with all the lights switched off to add to the special atmosphere.

The contrast on Easter Sunday could not be starker – the bells of the Duomo ring out a joyous chorus and the townsfolk put on their best clothes and wander the streets, visiting friends and family and wishing a happy Easter to all.

And because of its pleasant climate, the weather is usually warm at this time of year and the spring flowers offer a kaleidoscope of colour.