Greek theatre Teatro Greco, Taormina, Sicily, Italy by Dennis Jarvis

The most important monument of Taormina is the Greek theatre Teatro Greco, built in the 3rd century BC, rebuilt later by the Romans in the 1st century BC. Theatre offers a magnificent view of snowy Mount Etna and the sea coast. During the summer there is a popular Art Festival in Taormina.

The city also offers other historical monuments such as Odeion – used for music shows and recitation. Another monument is the Palazzo Corvaia. On the Piazza IX Aprile you can find Torre Dell’Orologio built in the 12th century, with a terrace offering views of Mount Etna and the bay. You can visit a fortress of Castelo Saraceno which is still situated on the hill of Monte Tauro, not far from the town of Taormina.

Taormina at night, Sicily, Italy by Christine Zenino

Coast around the town is very attractive as well. You can find beaches, caves and rocky bays here. Currently, the city has about 11,000 inhabitants and if you are heading to Sicily, never miss this great Sicilian jewel.

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La Rometta, Tivoli, Italy by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

Above the falls just outside of town, you can find two temples. The temples include the Temple of Vespa and the Temple of Tiburtine Sibyl. The later was used for the worshiping of a water nymph named Albunea who was said to have lived along the banks of the Aniene River. The Temple of Tiburtine Sibyl was initially constructed in the 2nd century B.C. In 978, a church that was dedicated to Saint George had been built inside the temple, but no traces of the church exist today.

Just outside of the city of Tivoli you will also find the ruins of the Sanctuary of Hercules the Winner. When it was built back in the 2nd century B.C. it was considered to be the largest structure in the whole of Italy. Besides the temple dedicated to Hercules, the sanctuary also housed a large theater. Another temple dedicated to Hercules was also built outside of the city in the 4th century and featured 12 meter dome. The Temple of the Tosse would later be turned into a church.

Tivoli, Italy by Theodore Ferringer

In 1461, a fortress was built in Tivoli under orders of Pope Pius II. Known as Rocca Pia, the fortress is a very popular attraction in the city. There are many other fine attractions in Tivoli that dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Every year countless people make their way up to the city to see the sites and to get away from the large crowds that are common to Rome.

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Pisa, Tuscany, Italy / Photo by admin

There are many famous universities and other institutes of higher learning located in Pisa. The 12th century University of Pisa is the most famous of the institutes in the city. However, you can also find the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and the Napoleonic Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa in the Italian city of Pisa.

The city dates back to the days of the Greek Empire. There have been a number of artefacts uncovered over the years which have confirmed this. The most important of these is the discovery of an Etruscan necropolis back in 1991. This means that Pisa can be easily dated back to the 5th century B.C.

Pisa was known as an important port city for the Roman Empire. Known back in 89 B.C. as Portus Pisanus, the city played an important role in the Roman naval battles against the Carthaginians, Gauls and Ligurians. Pisa would continue to be a prosperous city and home to the Italian Naval fleets until 1284 when the Genoese fleet defeated Albertino Morosini at the Battle of Meloria.

The famous 67 meter tall leaning tower of Pisa took an amazing 344 years to build. The construction of the tower began in 1173 and by the time that the second floor was added in 1178, the tower began to sink as a result of the small foundation.

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Parma Baptisterium, Italy by Philip Schäfer

Up until the middle ages, the town of Parma was regularly attacked, plundered and destroyed. There were many such occasions in which the entire town was rebuilt from the ground up. However, there are still a number of beautiful sites in this small Italian town that dates back to the 11th century. The most famous attraction in Parma is a pink marble tower which can be found in the town’s center. Taking more than 60 years to construct, the Parma Baptisterium has become a symbol of the city. Shortly after its completion, the tower had been damaged by an earthquake requiring it to be rebuilt.

Anyone who visits Parma will have to make their way over to the Teatro Regio which is the city’s own opera house. Arturo Toscanini, the famous conductor was born in Parma and the Theater is now a museum which is dedicated to the life and genius of Toscanini.

Of course we would not have parmesan cheese if it were not for the town of Parma. The town is also known for its special ham recipes too. Today, Parma stands as the European Association for Food Safety’s official home. One cannot go to Parma without trying the many local delicacies which are world renowned. While the town may not have a lot in architectural attractions, the cheese and hams of Parma are an attraction in their own right.

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