Taormina Ancient Theatre
The Taormina Ancient Theatre is a magnificent Greek theatre in Taormina, Sicily, Italy and is also renowned world over. The theatre was originally built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC, and it was later expanded and renovated by the Romans. Avail tickets to this UNESCO World Heritage Site and enjoy audioguided tours.
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Explore the exceptionally well-preserved Greek Theater of Taormina, considered one of the world's most spectacular amphitheaters.
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The theater offers views of the Calabrian and Ionian coasts of Sicily. On clear days, the unchanged view of Mount Etna spans over 2,300 years.
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Learn how this theatre went from staging musicals to gladiator battles with audio guides. You can tailor your pace and choose from 5 languages!
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Next to the theater, discover the Antiquarium—a small museum boasting treasures like the Caius Claudius Marcellus statue and an oval marble sarcophagus.
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Fun Fact: Taormina hosts concerts, plays, and operas, along with prestigious events like Taormina Arte, the Taormina Film Fest, and the David di Donatello award ceremony.
More details
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Explore the exceptionally well-preserved Greek Theater of Taormina, considered one of the world's most spectacular amphitheaters.
-
The theater offers views of the Calabrian and Ionian coasts of Sicily. On clear days, the unchanged view of Mount Etna spans over 2,300 years.
-
Learn how this theatre went from staging musicals to gladiator battles with audio guides. You can tailor your pace and choose from 5 languages!
-
Next to the theater, discover the Antiquarium—a small museum boasting treasures like the Caius Claudius Marcellus statue and an oval marble sarcophagus.
-
Fun Fact: Taormina hosts concerts, plays, and operas, along with prestigious events like Taormina Arte, the Taormina Film Fest, and the David di Donatello award ceremony.
-
Discover the ancient wonders of Taormina's Greek Theater on a guided tour, soaking in panoramic views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
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Explore the theater's fascinating evolution, from its Greek origins to Roman renovations, with your guide leading the way.
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Wander the ancient stage and orchestra, where actors once performed and musicians filled the air with music, and feel the weight of history.
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Learn how the theater was transformed into a gladiatorial arena with your English or Italian-speaking guide, bringing the venue's dramatic history to life.
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Fun fact: Musical legends like Elton John and Sting have graced this stage, making it a historic open-air venue.
More details
-
Discover the ancient wonders of Taormina's Greek Theater on a guided tour, soaking in panoramic views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
-
Explore the theater's fascinating evolution, from its Greek origins to Roman renovations, with your guide leading the way.
-
Wander the ancient stage and orchestra, where actors once performed and musicians filled the air with music, and feel the weight of history.
-
Learn how the theater was transformed into a gladiatorial arena with your English or Italian-speaking guide, bringing the venue's dramatic history to life.
-
Fun fact: Musical legends like Elton John and Sting have graced this stage, making it a historic open-air venue.
-
Discover Taormina, renowned for its breathtaking ancient amphitheater, offering stunning views of the Strait of Messina and the Calabrian coast to the north.
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Plug into audio guides in 5 languages to journey through the theater's history at your own pace and learn about its role as a stage for gladiator battles.
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Avoid the queues and discover Naxos, Sicily's inaugural Greek colony, along with ancient Greek artifacts at the museum, including the reconstructed Gorgon pediment.
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Explore beyond the ruins and uncover the scenic beauty of Naxos Park, including Isola Bella and historic landmarks such as Schisò Castle.
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Fun fact: The theater could accommodate around 5,000 spectators in its heyday, showcasing the importance of entertainment and cultural events in ancient society.
More details
-
Discover Taormina, renowned for its breathtaking ancient amphitheater, offering stunning views of the Strait of Messina and the Calabrian coast to the north.
-
Plug into audio guides in 5 languages to journey through the theater's history at your own pace and learn about its role as a stage for gladiator battles.
-
Avoid the queues and discover Naxos, Sicily's inaugural Greek colony, along with ancient Greek artifacts at the museum, including the reconstructed Gorgon pediment.
-
Explore beyond the ruins and uncover the scenic beauty of Naxos Park, including Isola Bella and historic landmarks such as Schisò Castle.
-
Fun fact: The theater could accommodate around 5,000 spectators in its heyday, showcasing the importance of entertainment and cultural events in ancient society.
5% off
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Discover the remarkably well-preserved Greek Theater of Taormina and soak in panoramic views of Sicily's Calabrian and Ionian coasts.
-
Learn about the evolution of this theater, transitioning from musicals to gladiator battles, with an audio guide in 5 languages.
-
Enjoy a comfortable round-trip shuttle bus ride from Messina to Taormina, taking 1 hour and 15 minutes each way.
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Go along the coastline of the Ionian Sea, treating your eyes to visually stunning landscapes, and then explore the town of Taormina at leisure.
-
Fun fact: The Taormina Ancient Theatre has attracted numerous notable visitors such as Oscar Wilde, Richard Wagner, and Truman Capote.
More details
-
Discover the remarkably well-preserved Greek Theater of Taormina and soak in panoramic views of Sicily's Calabrian and Ionian coasts.
-
Learn about the evolution of this theater, transitioning from musicals to gladiator battles, with an audio guide in 5 languages.
-
Enjoy a comfortable round-trip shuttle bus ride from Messina to Taormina, taking 1 hour and 15 minutes each way.
-
Go along the coastline of the Ionian Sea, treating your eyes to visually stunning landscapes, and then explore the town of Taormina at leisure.
-
Fun fact: The Taormina Ancient Theatre has attracted numerous notable visitors such as Oscar Wilde, Richard Wagner, and Truman Capote.
5% off
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Unearth Sicily's first Greek colony on a self-guided tour through the Naxos Archaeological Park and Museum with skip-the-line tickets.
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See the city's remains and artifacts like the Gorgon pediment reconstruction at the museum to imagine the bustling daily life in ancient Naxos.
-
Delve beyond the ruins and discover scenic Naxos Park, including Isola Bella and historic landmarks like Schisò Castle.
-
Explore at your own pace with a multilingual audio guide, unlocking the secrets of Naxos' everyday objects and underwater treasures.
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Fun fact: The park once housed a massive naval arsenal where Naxos kept its fleet of swift trireme warships.
More details
-
Unearth Sicily's first Greek colony on a self-guided tour through the Naxos Archaeological Park and Museum with skip-the-line tickets.
-
See the city's remains and artifacts like the Gorgon pediment reconstruction at the museum to imagine the bustling daily life in ancient Naxos.
-
Delve beyond the ruins and discover scenic Naxos Park, including Isola Bella and historic landmarks like Schisò Castle.
-
Explore at your own pace with a multilingual audio guide, unlocking the secrets of Naxos' everyday objects and underwater treasures.
-
Fun fact: The park once housed a massive naval arsenal where Naxos kept its fleet of swift trireme warships.
-
See the most famous city in Sicily, Taormina, on this round-trip shuttle bus service from Messina for a different experience.
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This shuttle takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Taormina and functions on the days the day cruise operates, leaving the marina on Via Battisti at 10:30pm.
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Enjoy the spectacular view of the coastline of the Ionian Sea as you travel from Messina to Taormina and spot fine monuments.
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Get a good 3 hours to explore the pretty town of Taormina which is best known for its ancient Greek theatre.
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Fun fact: The Greek theatre in Taormina appears in a scene from Godfather where Al Pacino meets with his Sicilian counterpart.
More details
-
See the most famous city in Sicily, Taormina, on this round-trip shuttle bus service from Messina for a different experience.
-
This shuttle takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Taormina and functions on the days the day cruise operates, leaving the marina on Via Battisti at 10:30pm.
-
Enjoy the spectacular view of the coastline of the Ionian Sea as you travel from Messina to Taormina and spot fine monuments.
-
Get a good 3 hours to explore the pretty town of Taormina which is best known for its ancient Greek theatre.
-
Fun fact: The Greek theatre in Taormina appears in a scene from Godfather where Al Pacino meets with his Sicilian counterpart.
Pro tips to help you make a pick
Check your calendar: Make sure you’re in the know of what events and performances are happening in the theater. As a result of this, it could close early.
Dress appropriately: The ancient theater of Taormina is outdoors and there is a significant amount of walking, so make sure you wear light, loose clothes. Bring your hat, coolers, and sunscreen.
Visit at the sunset: It is advisable to visit two hours before sunset so you can catch the views of the city and everything around it.
On the first Sunday of the month, visitors get free entry to the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. This also means you can expect heavy crowds though!
The theater also offers free entry for EU members under the age of 18 years, Italian teachers and on your birthday.
Be sure to watch the brief 2-minute video being showcased at the venue for a glimpse into the theater's former grandeur.
Prepare for a slight incline on your way to the entrance; there's a brief uphill walk involved.
Top things to do in Taormina
About Taormina Ancient Theatre
The ancient theater of Taormina, dating back to the 3rd century B.C., is one of the most remarkable remnants of Greek and Roman influence in Sicily. Carved into the slopes of Mount Taurus, it offers breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. With its well-preserved structure and excellent acoustics, the theater continues to host various cultural events and performances, attracting visitors from around the world.
The Ancient Theater of Taormina was originally built by the ancient Greeks in the 3rd century BC.
The theater, initially Greek, was heavily modified by the Romans, blending Greek and Roman styles to create its current form.
The theater's design has excellent acoustics which allow performers to project their voices naturally, without modern amplification.
Why visit Taormina Ancient Theatre?
Highlights
The Antiquarium
Adjacent to the theater lies the Antiquarium, a small archeological museum where you can see valuable artifacts, including a dedicated statue of Caius Claudius Marcellus and a finely carved oval marble sarcophagus.
The Naumachia
Built during the Roman era, the Naumachia or the naval battle, stands as an important monumental fountain. Its impressive design includes a red brick wall that spans over one hundred meters and stands at a height of five meters.
The Cavea (Seating Area)
The tiered seating area, known as the cavea, is perhaps the most iconic feature of the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. Carved into the natural rock of the hillside, the cavea offers spectacular views of the stage and the surrounding landscape.
The Scene (stage)
Although now a faint shadow of its former self, the scene is where the actors performed. However, it is now in ruins and many of its original columns are lost.
The Orchestra
This space was dedicated to the singers/musicians and performers during the Greek times. When the Romans took over, it was repurposed as the arena for gladiatorial combat.
Plan your visit
Last admission: 45 minutes before closing time.
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