Greek Theatre

A panoramic terrace like no other in the world

The Greek theatre of Taormina is the real historic and architectonic pearl of the city. This precious monument represents part of our artistic-cultural heritage, heritage and tangible proof of the Greek origins, which are a great part of our culture, it arises behind Palazzo Corvaja, on Corso Umberto.

Its charm does not only regard the historic echo, but also the strategic point, in which it arises. It is a real and proper panoramic stage, offering to its visitors, a large view of Etna, the plains of Catania and the Ionic Coast, upto the Calabrian mountains. The Greek Theatre of Taormina, is the best preserved ancient monument, and is placed in the second place of Sicilian theatres, due to the size, following the one in custody, in the city of Siracuse.
The geographical position, the breathtaking scenery, the green nature that surrounds it and the sea of Schisò Bay, make the Greek Theatre of Taormina a panoramic terrace like no other.

About the origins of the Theatre, historics reveal its construction around the III century B.C. it’s possible, also today, to read on some of the steps, the incision of the name of Filistide, wife of the Siracuse Tyrrhenian, who built the theatre. During the Roman era the Theatre was re-built, in the II century A.C. upon request of Cesare Augusto Ottaviano.

The Theatre was addressed to musical and letterary presentations, addressed to the elite of the city. The Greek Theatre of Taormina reproduces the architecture of the largest Greek-Roman theatre, but with carvings that diversify both structures. The entire theatre was built with clay bricks and is divided in three main parts: stage, orchestra and audience. The audience has a diametre of about 109 metres and is divided into nine sectors. At the top of the steps, it is possible to admire a double porch covered by a vault.

On the wall of the porch, 36 small niches open up, maybe addressed to the collecting of statues; today, they seem like small windows, which offer panoramic glimpses. During the 800’s the Theatre went through works of renovation, regarding the placement of the columns on the stage. In the 50’s, of the 900’s The Greek Theatre of Taormina was inaugurated, as a stage for events in the open air and has become the location, since 1983, for Taormina Art, an annual manifestation, addressed to the cinema, prose, dance shows and concerts.