On a rocky terrace high above the Ionian Sea on the east coast of Sicily, Taormina couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting. Views of the sea and Mt. Etna, often with a puff of steam wafting above its smoldering cone, are framed by flower-draped houses or by the finest Greek theater on the island. Taormina’s most important tourist attractions are this ancient amphitheater and the picture-perfect qualities of the town itself. But there’s a lot more to see and do here, whether it’s marveling at the beautiful Baroque church interiors, shopping in the boutiques that lure the town’s many cruise ship passengers, strolling in its streets and gardens, climbing up to its castle, or descending to the beaches below. Plan your trip with our list of the top attractions in Taormina and in Catania .(by planetware )