Piazza IX Aprile and Corso Umberto, Taormina

One of my favorite memories from Taormina was our evening walk along Corso Umberto. The charming pedestrian street that runs through the heart of town. It was an easy walk from our hotel, Hotel Continental Taormina. It’s lined with little boutiques, cafés, and restaurants, and it has such an inviting energy after sunset.

As we wandered along, the street suddenly opened into Piazza IX Aprile Taormina’s most beautiful square. From the terrace, I could see the dark outline of the coastline far below, dotted with twinkling lights reflecting off the Ionian Sea. The square was full of life, with people dining outdoors under strings of lights and musicians playing softly nearby.

We ended the night with dessert at La Scala, just a short walk away. There was live music, and we sat outside listening while enjoying our sweets. It was such a lovely way to end the evening simple, relaxed, and unforgettable.

A Little History

Piazza IX Aprile is often called the living room of Taormina. Its name, “April 9th,” recalls a curious story from 1860, when a false rumor spread that revolutionary hero Giuseppe Garibaldi had landed in Sicily to free the island from Bourbon rule. The townspeople celebrated the news with such joy that the date became part of local history, and the piazza was later named in its memory.

At one end of the square stands the beautiful Church of San Giuseppe, with its soft pink Baroque façade, while the Torre dell’Orologio, a medieval clock tower, marks the entrance to the older part of town. The square sits right on Corso Umberto I, connecting two ancient city gates — Porta Messina and Porta Catania — that once marked the boundaries of Taormina.

Today, Corso Umberto and Piazza IX Aprile together form the beating heart of the town. They’re where locals and visitors gather to shop, enjoy a glass of wine, listen to music, and take in that famous Taormina view.