Taormina was built on a hillside adjacent to the original Greek settlement in Sicily at Naxos. The Greeks had an unerring sense of selecting dramatic sites for their towns, temples and theaters. In Taormina, Mt. Etna, the highest and most active volcano in Europe forms the backdrop for the stage of the Greek theater.

Because of its dramatic site and lovely weather, Taormina became an essential stop on th eEuropean Grand Tour of the 18th & 19th centuries. It is therefore still a wealthy town exploiting its spectacular location.