Municipal Villa Taormina

Villa Comunale Taormina 

Villa Comunale Taormina

The Villa Comunale of Taormina was originally the private property of Lady Florence Trevelyan, an English noblewoman and cousin of Queen Victoria, who lived in Taormina from 1884 and married the then mayor, Professor Salvatore Cacciola. The Villa is a typical English construction where the garden, rich in magnificent and rare plants of great importance, is placed at the centre of the design.

View from Villa Comunale Taormina

This wonderful green space is located on a cliff overlooking the sea, offering a breathtaking panorama of the coastline and the imposing Mount Etna. The Villa and its magnificent garden were donated to the Municipality of Taormina in 1922.

Victorian Follies

Inside the garden, you can admire some very peculiar buildings called Victorian follies.

Lady Florence Trevelyan

died in 1907, and one of her final eccentricities was to be buried on Mount Venere, behind Taormina, in the area known as “a francisa”, so called because all foreigners at that time were referred to as “francisi”.

Isola Bella Taormina

In 1890, she purchased Isola Bella, a small island opposite Taormina beach, connected to the mainland by a narrow sandy isthmus, where she built a house and a garden. In addition to Mediterranean flora, she planted exotic and rare shrubs, making the island home to several seabirds and unique lizards. Lady Florence was passionate about gardens and a true pioneer of conservationism.

Villa Comunale and its Legacy

Thanks to Lady Florence Trevelyan’s refined hospitality, the Villa Comunale hosted many illustrious guests of the time, which greatly contributed to promoting the name and beauty of Taormina around the world.

Useful Information

Location: Via Bagnoli Croce (easily accessible)
Facebook Page
Official Website: Municipality of Taormina
Read visitors’ reviews
Where to stay: ►► Villages and hotels

How to Get There

• From the Ancient Theatre, you can reach the Villa in about 10–11 minutes on foot (approx. 600–700 m).

• From Via Naumachia, it takes only 5 minutes.

• From Via Fratelli Bandiera, it’s less than 4 minutes on foot.

Free entrance

Summer hours: daily 09:00 – 24:00
Winter hours: daily 09:00 – 20:00