Taormina - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Taormina ( Sicilian Taurmina in ; Ταυρομένιον - Tauromenion in Greek; Latin Tauromenium in ) is a commune Italy located on the east coast of the Sicily, in the Province of Messine, about halfway between Messine and Catane. Taormina is a required tourist destination since the 19th century. It has splendid beaches (accessible by Téléphérique) and a very rich historical heritage (whose celebrates it Greek theater).

Geography

Located almost at the limit of the Province of Catane, it extends on the Mont Tauro to 200 m from altitude. The city is in balcony on the sea vis-a-vis the Etna.

History

The legend says that Greek sailors, passing on the Eastern coast of Sicily, had forgotten to sacrifice to Neptune. This one, in anger, capsized their boat. The only survivor, Théocle , arrived at the Cape Schiso, not far from the site of Naxos (today Giardini-Naxos). It turned over then in Greece to tell with its compatriots the wonders of Sicily. Some, convinced, decided to come to settle there.

Taormina, between the powerful cities of Catane in the South and Metz-native in North, near the continent, facing the Greece, occupied a key geographical position. This situation determined a great part of its history. The current city accounts only for 5 km ancient site of Naxos, and one is certain that the Roman city of Tauromenium (current site of the city) did not exist before the destruction of Naxos by Denys Old the in 403 av. J. - C.. The circumstances surrounding its foundation remain somewhat confused and dubious.

On the other hand, Diodore of Sicily reports to us that after having destroyed Naxos, Denys Old the, tyrant of Syracuse, put in exile the survivors and allotted the territory of the city to the Sicules. The latter, forsaking the site of the ancient city, were established in North on the hill of Taurus . They built a provisional camp first of all there (in -396), then set up stone walls. The camp became a traditional fortress then, and a new baptized city Tauromenium was created (Diodore of Sicily, XIV, 58-59). The place was always in the hands of the Sicules in -394, holding in failure Denys Old the which in vain besieged it during most of the winter -394. Even if it had succeeded once, of night and by surprise, to cut through a path through the walls, it were pushed back by undergoing heavy losses. ( ibid 87-88). However, in the peace treaty concluded in -392, it was expressly stipulated that Tauromenium was to be subjugated in Denys, which expelled the majority of the Sicules which had settled there, and which installed there its own mercenaries ( ibid 96). We do not have information on Tauromenium between this date and -358, date on which Diodore reports to us that Andromachus, father of the historian Timée de Tauroménion, succeeds in joining together what remained exiled of Naxos, disseminated through the Sicily, and with all to install them with Tauromenium ( ibid , XVI, 7). Contrary to its preceding testimonys, Diodore reports these events here as if it were about a new foundation of the city, even like the first time that one gave his name to the city. One does not know exactly what became the former inhabitants. However one can consider this reliable testimony in the broad outlines, and that it is on this date (-358) the town of Tauromenium was finally regarded as a Greek city with whole share, thus replacing Naxos even if it did not occupy of it the site (Wesseling, AD Diod. XIV 59.). Thus the sentence of Pline Old the affirming that Tauromenium had formerly been named Naxos, is more or less correct ( Pline III, 8, S 14).

This new establishment seems to be become thrives quickly. At the time of the forwarding of Timoléon in -345, it was probably an important city. It was the first place in Sicily where this chief put foot at ground, succeeding in thwarting the vigilance of the Carthaginois which kept the Détroit of Messine (Diodore XVI 68; Plutarque Timol. 10). The city was still under the direction of Andromachus, whose government right and equitable contrasted with that of the tyrants and despots of the other sicilian cities (as with Syracuse for example). It accommodated Timoléon cordially, and offered rest and secuity until to him it can conclude its plans in other areas of the Sicily (Diod. L. C. ; Rained. L. C. ). Contrary to the other tyrants and chiefs who were driven out by Timoléon, it is certain that Andromachus preserved its statute of chief and its authority, and this until its death (Marcellin. Saw. Thucyd. § 27.). Tauromenium is mentioned then rather little in the texts. It is probable that it passed under the authority of Agathoclès of Syracuse, which led the historian Timée to the exile. Some time after, the city was subjected by a local tyrant of the name of Tyndarion, contemporary of Hicetas of Syracuse and Phintias d' Agrigentum (Diod. XXII Exc. H. p. 495.). Tyndarion was one of those which invited Pyrrhus Ier in Sicily (-278). When the monarch (formidable general of war but poor politician) unloaded with his army with Tauromenium , Tyndarion joined it with all its forces, supporting it in its walk on Syracuse (Diod. L. C. pp. 495,496). A few years later, one finds the trace of Tauromenium : it then fell under the cut from Hiéron from Syracuse, and it was used as bastion in the war against the Mamertins ( ibid p. 497). It also formed part of the cities left under its domination by the peace treaty with the Romains in -263 (Diod. XXIII p. 502). It is without any doubt why the name of Tauromenium is not quoted during the First Punic War.

Tauromenium made without any doubt integral part of the kingdom of Syracuse until the death of Hiéron. It passed then under the domination of Rome when the totality of the Sicily became a Roman province. One has however only little information on his participation in the Second Punic War, even if according to an allusion of Appien ( Sic. 5) it seems that it was subjected to Marcellus in favorable terms. It is probably on this occasion which it obtained the particularly beneficial position that it preserved under the Roman domination. Indeed, Cicéron reports to us that Tauromenium was one of the three sicilian cities having the statute of civitas foederata (quoted allied). Thus it kept a nominal independence and was not even prone like Messine to the obligation to provide warships (Cicéron Verrines II 6, III 6, V 19). The city suffers heavy damage at the time of the First War servile (-364 - -132. It fell to the hands from the insurgent slaves who, being given the position of the city, did one of them their bastions. They were thus able to defy lengthily the consul Publius Rupilius. They resisted until they were reduced to the famine, and were betrayed by one their chiefs of the name of Sarapion. All the survivors perished by the sword (Diod. XXXIV. Exc. Phot. p. 528; Oros. v. 9). Tauromenium has also sudden heavy a tribe at the time of the war carried out by Sextus Pompée in Sicily. Because of the strategic position of the city, it made of it in -36 one of these principal fulcrums against Auguste. The city was pilot besides of a naval battle between part of the fleet of Octave, ordered by triumvir it in person, and that of Pumped which ended in the defeat of this one and it quasi total destruction of its fleet (Appian, B.C. v. 103,105,106-11, 116; Dion Cassius XLIX 5). After the defeat of Pumped, Auguste chooses to establish there a Roman colony by measure of precaution because of its strong position. He thus made expel the former inhabitants to install there his colonists (Diod, XVI 7). Strabon mentions Tauromenium like one of the cities still remaining of its time on the east coast of Sicily, even if the population were lower than that of Messine or Catane (Strab. VI pp. 267,268). Pline and Ptolémée assign both to him the row of colonia (Plin. III 8. S. 14; Ptol. III 4. § 9), and it seems besides that it was one of the towns of Sicily to continue to receive consideration under the Roman Empire. Its territory was known for the quality of its wine (Plin. XIV 6. S. 8), and produced a kind of marble which seems to be very required (Athen. v. p. 207.). Juvénal also mentions its products of the sea, in particular of the mules of choice (Juv. v. 93.). The Routes place Tauromenium at 40 km of Messine and the same distance from Catane (Itinéraire of Antonin p. 90; Table of Peutinger). The city remains one of the most important towns of Sicily after the fall of the Western Empire. Thanks to its strong position, it was one of the place-strong last to remain with the hands of the Byzantine Empire in the area. But the city was taken by the Sarrasins in 906 after a two year old seat, and was completely destroyed.

In 1079, it is rebuilt and directed by Norman the Roger de Hauteville. It will follow one long period of prosperity from there.

At the end of the 19th century, Taormina was made famous for Wilhelm von Gloeden which worked there during the major part of its life to photograph mainly naked men. The first important tourist of Taormina was Goethe which dedicated to the city some exciting pages in its entitled book Voyage in Italy . The painter Otto Geleng is also recognized to have taken part in re-elected of Taormina, even if it were better known in his town of Berlin where it exposed paintings which it had painted in Italy. However, which distinguishes Geleng is its choice to paint the southernmost areas of the island, succeeding in capturing the most spectacular sights and lights. It often painted the places where were Greek ruins, in particular Taormina. Its works made speak about the beauty of Taormina, and made a tourist destination of it appraisal. The artist arrived at 20 years in the search of new subjects for his paintings. On its road towards Taormina it became so in love with the landscape which it decided to make there halt during part of the winter. Geleng started to paint all that Taormina could offer: the ruins, the sea, mountains, landscapes which one nowhere does not find in Europe. When it exposed later its paintings to Paris and Berlin, one criticized his unslung imagination . By hearing this, Geleng encouraged them to come with him to Taormina, promising to them to pay their voyage if he did not say the truth.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the city became a holiday for artists, writers and intellectuals expatriates. David Herbert Lawrence remained with the Fontana Vecchia of 1920 with 1922, and wrote good number of its poems, novels, news, tests, and a book of voyage: Sea and Sardinia . Charles Webster Leadbeater, the theosophist author, found that Taormina had the good magnetic fields so that Jiddu Krishnamurti develops its talents. The Krishnamurti young person thus came there from time to time. Halldór Laxness, the Icelandic author, worked there on the first modern Icelandic novel: Vefarinn mikli frá Kasmír .

Taormina today

Today, Taormina is a tourist destination appraisal. It is also a health resort of first order, profiting from a microclimate. Its panorama is extraordinary and its historical heritage, cultural and archaeological attracts many tourists of any origines.

Taormina, dominated by its fortress and with far by the Etna, can indeed be described as " Saint-Tropez sicilien". The city resembles a small paradise with its immense bays, its forests, its gardens, which open out on the beauty of the sea or that of the sky. The downtown area pedestrian, to the medieval lanes all with the turning of which splendid points of view or vestiges of the ancient city are discovered, gives an intense feeling of calm.

Just in the south of Taormina, one finds the Natural reserve Isola Bleated. One can also benefit from excursions towards the Grotte S of the Capo Sant' Andrea .

During more than fifty years, the Festival was held of the film David di Donatello with stars international benefitting from a giant screen hoisted in the Greek theater.

In 1988, Great Blue, film of Luc Besson was turned in bay of Taormina.

Places and monuments

Ancient Monuments

The current city of Taormina occupies the ancient site, on a high hill which forms the last headland of a peak from the Cape Peloro in Taormina. The site of the old city is at 300 m above the sea level. It is dominated by a rock headland of 450 m, abrupt and almost isolated, crowned by the castle known as " sarrasin". It is undoubtedly the site of the antique Arx , or quasi-impregnable citadel to which the ancient writers refer unceasingly. Ancient wall fragments remain, but the current castle dates from the time Norman.

The ancient city was established on one of the terraces of hill of Tauro, site of the medieval old city. Many ancient vestiges remain, in particular the Naumachia , the ancient theater and the remainders of the Roman odéon. There also remains of the scattered vestiges of dwellings.

Theater gréco-Roman

The ancient Théâtre gréco-Roman is close to the downtown area, in the east of the headland. It is one of the ruins more the appraisals of Sicily because of its remarkable safeguarding and by the beauty of its site. It is mainly built bricks and thus dates probably from the Roman epoch even if its plan and its provision are more Greek influence than Roman. It is supposed that the current structure was built on the foundations of another theater of the Greek period. The construction of the Théâtre undoubtedly was started to the III E under the government of Gérone II. At the 2nd century, the Théâtre is transformed by the Romains for the plays of Amphithéâtre S.

This Théâtre is one of most important ancient world. The monument, with exceptional acoustics, 109 m in diameter (second larger theater of Sicily after that of Syracuse) is divided into 9 sectors being able to accommodate 5.400 people on the whole. and acoustics is exceptional. The scene is in very good state: remarkably preserved, with its head wall on 2 floors where 5 columns, 4 capitals Corinthian and 1 fragment of Entablement in Marbre could be replaced. Dug in the rock, of traditional form, it is like a gigantic shell vis-a-vis the sea. The panorama is with the image of the gods of the ancient Greece which had made Sicily their island of predilection.