IX Aprile Square
Piazza IX Aprile is located right in the center of Corso Umberto.
The square is known for the breathtaking view of the azure Ionian Sea and of the Mount Etna.
Piazza IX Aprile is located right in the center of Corso Umberto.
The square is known for the breathtaking view of the azure Ionian Sea and of the Mount Etna.
The Saracen Castle (Castello saraceno) is situated in an elevated position above Taormina, at about 397m high.
Most probably it was the site of the antique acropolis of the Greek town of Taormina. The Romans and later the Byzantines must have strengthened the site. In 902 AD the town fell to the Muslims after a siege of 2 years. They rebuilt the castle into its present form with a trapezoid plan adapted to the shape of the rock and crenellated walls.
On the square, just in front of the Cathedral, is situated the fountain of Piazza Duomo.
The fountain was built in 1635 in the Baroque style, is also called "4 fountains" because the 4 small columns supporting basins which are located at the corners of the central basin; mythological ponies overlook the basins and fountain water flows out of their mouths.
The palace Badia Vecchia (Old Abbey) was built in the fourteenth century and was originally a tower in defense of the walls of Taormina.
According to some scholars, the building is called Badia because it was an Abbey, where lived Mother Abbess Euphemia, regent since 1355 of the Kingdom of Sicily.
