Created by the Scottish noblewoman Lady Florence Trevelyan in the late 1800s, these formerly private gardens were opened to the public in 1922, and the estate remains the most beautiful park in Taormina. In addition to the wide variety of local flora, the garden grounds are home to a number of delightful fountains and ornamental “Victorian follies”, whimsical towers or pavilions that punctuated many gardens in the 19th century. Once you’ve explored the highlights of Taormina’s old town with a walking or Segway tour, the shaded paths, quiet lawns, and scenic overlook of Villa Comunale beckon as an ideal spot to relax. Take a day trip or shore excursion from Catania, Messina, or Syracuse to Taormina, combining a visit with stops in the nearby town of Castelmola or the volcanic peak of Mt. Etna.
The gardens of Villa Comunale are located just off the main Corso Umberto I in the center of Taormina, and can be reached from the train station in the valley below by bus.
With towering trees and lush magnolias, hibiscus, and bougainvillea, these shady gardens are a welcome relief from Sicily’s midday heat. Shutterbugs may want to visit in the early morning or late afternoon for the best light to capture the view.
The Villa Comunale isn’t necessarily the sort of park you’d expect in Sicily, as it’s more of an English-style garden, created by a Scottish woman who lived in Taormina in the late 1800s. Lady Florence Trevelyan was asked to leave England in the 1880s after having a fairly public affair with the future King Edward VII. She eventually married a man in Taormina and began work on her gardens.