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Nature reserve · Taormina, Sicília
Isola Bella
Small islet covered in vegetation in the bay of Mazzarò, linked to the beach by a strip of sand and pebbles that the tide covers and uncovers. It is a nature reserve with a house-museum.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Isola Bella
Isola Bella is a small limestone island in the bay below Taormina, connected to the beach by a narrow strip of sand and pebbles. Depending on the tide, that passage is either dry or covered by a few centimeters of water.
The island was donated in 1806 by King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies to the town of Taormina and was bought in 1890 by Florence Trevelyan, the same Englishwoman who created the Villa Comunale, who brought exotic plants there. Later it belonged to the Bosurgi family, who built a house with rooms carved into the rock, stairways and hidden passages in the vegetation.
In 1992 the island was bought by the Region of Sicily and, in 1998, it became a nature reserve to protect the bay’s flora and fauna. Today it is part of the Parco Archeologico Naxos Taormina, and the house houses a small natural history museum; visiting the island requires an entry fee.
The beach in front is pebbly with clear water. In the bathing season, usually from June to September, it becomes very crowded. Boats leaving from Mazzarò offer trips around the coastal grottoes.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour on the island; half a day if you want to stay on the beach.
Best time
In the morning, before the beach fills up, or in the early afternoon. In the bathing season, June to September, arrive early. Check whether the island is open before you go down.
How to get there
From central Taormina, take the funicular down to Mazzarò and walk about 10 minutes along the road to the beach stairs. There are also buses along the coastal road.
Tip
Wear water sandals, because the beach is pebbly and the causeway can be wet. To view the island from above, stop at the roadside viewpoint just above the bay.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Isola Bella
Can you walk to the island?
Yes, along the strip of sand and pebbles that connects the island to the beach. Depending on the tide, the crossing may be covered by a little water.
Is there a fee to visit the island?
Yes. The island is a nature reserve managed by the archaeological park, and an entrance fee is charged. The beach in front is public.
How do you get down from the center of Taormina?
By cable car to Mazzarò and then about a 10-minute walk. There are also buses along the coastal road.
Is the beach sandy?
No. It's pebbly. Water sandals help.