How many things can be hidden in the folds of your toga? Treasure all the anecdotes, curiosities and insights collected in this column, carry them "in your pocket" and, if necessary, take them out to amaze everyone with your knowledge!

In the Folds of the Toga

No rules, just one truth: art is for everyone! 
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Art Without Rules

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Hidden artworks in Disney classics

Let’s talk about one of the most engaging artistic expressions ever created by the human genius: theatre

Grand Tour is the space dedicated to adventurers. Whether you are looking for unique locations to visit, places to savor the local gastronomy or advice for a family-sized holiday, this section is for you!

Grand Tour

Every year on March 27 falls the day dedicated to one of the most ancient and engaging artistic forms ever invented by man: the theater. For centuries this expression of human genius has inspired the spirit of spectators and brought the creativity of its playwrights to unexpected heights. Today we take this opportunity to reflect on the history, the diversity and the impact that theater has had on culture and our understanding of the world and explore its roots, with an eye to its most atavistic forms and savoring the masterpieces.

**THE ORIGINS OF THEATRE**

How did the theatre come about? As we mentioned it is an ancient artistic form, whose birth, according to legend, is attributable to Thespis, Greek playwright and actor who came to Athens in the sixth century BC. His figure, although cloaked under certain verses of mysticism, finds some historical evidence dating back to the third century B.C. that place the theatrical activity of this character in the same period of the first Athenian dramatic competitions. 

Over the centuries the role of Thespis has increasingly abandoned its historicism favoring a mythical reading of his person, which lead him to be identified as the creator of the tragedy, a role comparable to that of Homer as supreme poet and father of epic song. 

The theater is one of the most long-lived socio-cultural activities in history and in times where human and divine were inextricably intertwined, it is not strange opinion if at the origin of everything there are rituals and cults dedicated to a particular deity: Dionysus. 

**FORMS OF ANCIENT THEATRE**

The passions, fantasies and transformations that imbued the cults and mysteries of Dionysus, made him the perfect patron of this fundamental aspect in the life of the ancients.  In particular, the most ancient forms of theatrical representations have roots in dithyrambi, particular choral compositions dedicated to the god where poetry, lyric and dance are combined, from which originated according to Aristotle the highest theatrical form ever created: tragedy. 


The tragedy (which literally means "song for the goat") was represented on certain religious occasions dedicated to Dionysus: the Great and Small Dionysians. Among the greatest exponents of the Greek tragedy are Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, whose works were characterized by a series of episodes interspersed with choirs, which together constituted the tragic action of the drama and were preceded by a prologue. 

Another theatrical form was the comedy, born a few decades after the tragedy, which Aristotle linked to the phallic songs that followed the Dionysian processions. The plays were performed on the occasion of the Lenee (dedicated to Dionysus Leneus, adored by the Maenads) and the Great Dionysias and saw comic poets competing with each other with one or two pieces each. Our knowledge of ancient comedy is mainly due to the works of Aristophanes, although the oldest authors were Epicenter, who composed about forty works, Chionides and Magnetus. 


**THE PLACES OF THE PERFORMANCES**

To admire the places where these works came to life it is not necessary to go to Athens. Just stop in the territories of Sicily, once part of Magna Grecia, and let yourself be carried away in reality full of charm that still today, despite the centuries, exude air of majesty. Magna Graecia housed many ancient theatres that were the fulcrum of cultural and social life. These include the Greek Theatre of Neapolis in Syracuse and the Ancient Theatre in Taormina.

Carved in the rock of the Temenite hill, the ancient Theatre of Syracuse has a huge cavea, with 67 orders of steps. A majestic building that still inspires admiration and respect - to mention the travelers of the Grand Tour - and that in its golden age called great playwrights of the time as Aeschylus, who staged here "The Persians" and "The Ethnos". Once on the steps let yourself be carried away by the echo of the representations that seems to permeate the space, close your eyes and breathe in the history that exudes from this imperishable structure, you will feel like you are back in the past! And if you want to attend a show, remember that in the summer there are still theatrical performances from ancient dramas. 

 The Ancient Theatre of Taormina, located on a hill overlooking Mount Etna, offers breathtaking scenery and continues to be a popular tourist attraction. Set in the rock, this architectural jewel fits perfectly into the surrounding environment, as if he were himself a product of nature. Built at the behest of the wife of Ierone II Filistide in the third century. BC, with its size, view and location is really a place of unparalleled beauty! Imagine visiting on a quiet summer evening. 

The sounds of the wind mix with the scent of the sea, the imposing silhouette of Etna stands out in the background, and the colors of the sunset are mixed in a carousel of orange, pink and red that dye new shades of its ancient stones, in a breathtaking view. Here where art, culture and nature mix you will certainly live an experience that will leave you speechless!

**SOME EXAMPLES**

Among the most famous examples of ancient comedies we cannot fail to mention the "Lysistrata" of Aristophanes, a brilliant satire on war and politics, with a female protagonist who organizes a sex strike to force men to end the conflicts that inflamed the Peloponnese. Although the author’s intention was certainly not to promote female autonomy, as much as to represent an inverted world, it is nevertheless the oldest example of female emancipation ever documented, with women of different backgrounds and cities uniting with a common purpose. 

Greek tragedies profoundly influenced western fiction and theatre. 
Two iconic examples are Oedipus King of Sophocles and Medea of Euripides. The first explores the themes of fate and guilt through the story of a man who tries to escape his tragic prophecy, while the Medea of Euripides distances itself from others in that for the first time he chooses to focus on the period of Corinth, with a deep analysis of the motivations behind the inhuman act of which the protagonist is stained - the killing of the children - accusing not only Medea, but the same Jason, guilty of having abandoned her for a younger wife. 

*****

Treasuring what our ancestors created, we can only appreciate the opportunity that the World Theatre Day offers us to celebrate not only the ancient and classical forms of theatre, but also its continuous evolution and relevance in contemporary society. 
Through theatre, we can explore the depths of human experience and connect with the emotions and stories that make us human, reminding us of the importance and beauty of an art that has stood the test of time. From the ancient theatres of Magna Grecia to the modern theatrical productions, the theatre continues to be a mirror of our humanity. Celebrating theatre means celebrating human creativity, the ability to tell stories and stage experiences that unite us as a community.





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Emotional revolution  

Taormina is a natural terrace overlooking the sea, dream for any tourist. A wonderful location and unique natural and architectural beauties have given it the nickname 'Pearl of the Ionian', making it one of the places of excellence for tourists from all over the world. Taormina is welcoming at any time of the year thanks to its mild climate and, in fact 12 months out of 12, it welcomes tourists and travelers curious to know its historic center full of monuments and the spectacular Hellenistic theater which offers a unique panorama of its kind, with a view that extends as far as the coasts of Calabria, the city of Syracuse and the summit of Etna. You already have your suitcase packed, right?

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What to do in Taormina

Taormina

Nature, art and history are the three ingredients of Taormina's international success that make the Pearl of the Ionian Sea one of the most sought-after destinations ever since modern tourism began.


Nature, art and history are the three ingredients of Taormina's international success that make the Pearl of the Ionian Sea one of the most sought-after destinations since modern tourism has existed.

Its **Teatro Antico** is the main attraction that has always conquered generations and generations of visitors.

Visit it together with an **expert guide**, who will be able to show you the wonders of this place!

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Guided Tour Ancient Theatre Taormina 

Guided Tour Taormina Ancient Theatre 

Guided Tour

A splendid Catalan Gothic style setting that hosts cultural exhibitions and events.

**From the 15th to the 21st century: 500 years of history**

Palazzo Ciampoli was built in 1412 in Catalan Gothic style. The date appears in the coat of arms contained in the rhombus above the main portal, but the existence of two identical coats of arms, the shield with the flag and the shield with three stars, both in Palazzo Ciàmpoli and in Palazzo Corvaja, has led us to believe that in the past the mansion had belonged to the Corvaja family. Furthermore, the flag blowing in the wind above the entrance portal (heraldry of the Damiano Rosso) and the starry shield that closes the corner of the string course (heraldry of the De Thermes) suggests that these two families have something to do with the birth of building. Perhaps they were the ones who started the construction before the second order with Hispanicizing connotations was built in the mid-15th century.

The mansion then took the name of Ciàmpoli from the family who maintained ownership until it was purchased by the Sicilian Region. All the noble homes of Taormina were built within the fortified perimeter, with the exception of Palazzo Ciàmpoli, built along the Via Consolare Valeria, in the medieval village of the city which once extended from the Clock Tower to Porta Catania, inside the city ​​walls, near the Cathedral.

The date of 1412, however, marked the decline of the Latin party in Sicily, Chiaramontano and the advent of the Catalan party. And the palaces and churches lost their characteristic fortress structure to become elegant residences.

Palazzo Ciàmpoli stands, almost haughtily, with a simple and elegant façade marked by battlements and with five mullioned windows resting on a two-tone string course of rare beauty, worked with small rosettes, with inlays of lava stone and Syracuse stone. The structure shows only its main façade, which rests on a wide and steep staircase, its natural base; The east façade is also very beautiful, hidden, almost invisible, intimate and reserved.

In the garden of the palace, in 1926, the Palazzo Vecchio hotel was born, so called because, in its architecture, it vaguely recalled that of the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence.

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Palazzo Ciampoli

A Catalan Gothic style setting for exhibitions and events

Built in 1412, Palazzo Ciampoli stands in the center of Taormina as a cultural center where you can take part in events and exhibitions of great historical-artistic interest.                                                 

Museum

**Isolabella: an extraordinary natural landscape**

Isolabella lies at the centre of a beautiful inlet between Capo Sant'Andrea and Capo Taormina, sunk into a landscape that owes its beauty not only to the crystal-clear sea and the conformation of the land, but also to a vegetation of extraordinary variety and riches

**The Lady of the Gardens**

The history of the island revolves around a woman: Florence Trevelyan, born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a descendant of Sir John Trevelyan, Baronet of Nettlecombe. In 1890 Florence bought the Scoglio di Santo Stefano (previously owned by the mayor of Taormina, Pancrazio Ciprioti), and settled there without ever returning to England. It was she herself who gave the place its current name, Isolabella. 

A naturalist and lover of plants and flowers, she created an English-style garden on her property, harmoniously adding new varieties to the lush Mediterranean scrub. In doing so, she not only enhanced the biodiversity of the place, she redefined its vocation and destiny forever. Subsequent changes of ownership were in fact all about care for the landscape and the environment. 

**A site of historical, cultural and naturalistic interest**

In 1984 Isolabella was listed as a site of historical, cultural and naturalistic interest. In 1992 it was acquired by the Sicilian Region, which in 1998 established the **Isolabella Nature Reserve** to protect the flora and fauna of the bay. In 2010, it became part of the newly established **Archaeological Park of Naxos and Taormina**, which also includes the Ancient Theatre of Taormina and the Museum of Giardini Naxos and Francavilla. 

**The botanical garden of Villa Caronia**

Also part of the **Isolabella Nature Reserve** is the **Villa Caronia** complex: a red building surrounded by more than a hectare and a half of garden that blends harmoniously into Capo Taormina below. The south-southeast slope has a rugged profile with dense Mediterranean scrub vegetation, while the north-northeast part contains terraces connected by paths and steps supported by stone walls. Due to the great variety and value of the plant species concerned, the park is registered and publicised as a botanical garden.


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Naturalistic Museum of Isolabella

Isolabella Naturalistic Museum 

THE MEDITERRANEAN DREAM OF AN ENGLISH NOBLEWOMAN

One of the incredibly beautiful things to see in the Naxos Archaeological Park is an island that represents a unique environmental and scenic treasure. A place where tourists and travellers flock to admire lush exotic flora, harmoniously blended into the rugged nature of the Sicilian coastline.

**The Greek Theatre of Taormina: a spectacle within a spectacle**

**Taormina**, pearl of the Ionian Sea, is one of the birthplaces of modern elite tourism. Here nature, art and history meet: the beauty of the landscape combines with the memory of all the cultures of the Mediterranean. The ancient **theatre** has been a must-see for generations of visitors from all over the world: from its seats one can admire the Bay of **Naxos** to the south and the Strait of Messina with the Calabrian coast to the north. Immersed in this spectacular natural setting, the huge complex with its cavea cut into the rock is in perfect harmony with the environment, and seems to have always been part of it.

**Five centuries of history**

Not always - but certainly for a long time: the theatre was built in the 3rd century BC at the behest of Philistides, wife of the tyrant Hieron II. It was extensively renovated in Roman times with clay bricks and lime, and decorated with splendid columns of white marble and grey granite. It is a work of incredible beauty.
Over the centuries, the theatre changed purpose several times: from a stage for classical plays to an amphitheatre where gladiators and ferocious animals fought. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was abandoned until the Middle Ages, when the stage building was converted into residences. From the 17th century onwards, it was a must stop for every traveller with a passion for history and culture, and in the second half of the 18th century it returned to prominence, its romantic revival linked to the Grand Tour. 

**A theatre capable of accommodating 10,000 spectators**

The structure is divided into three parts: the stage, the orchestra and the cavea. Two large side rooms enclose the stage and the stalls. Consisting of tiers of seats, the cavea has a diameter of more than 100 metres, is divided by eight stairways into nine sectors, and it is estimated that in ancient times it could hold at least 10,000 spectators (today the capacity is 4,500). 
In the Theatre, there are some fragments of painted plaster from the 3rd-2nd century BC from a building identified as a Gymnasium, and Greek inscriptions of a public character - such as the tables of the Strategists and Gymnasiarchs - dated between the 2nd and 1st century BC are visible. From the Roman period are the remains of a calendar and lists of consuls in office, found near the baths, and a beautiful small sarcophagus, found in the area of the via Pirandello necropolis and dating from around the 2nd century AD.

**The Antiquarium and the Naumachia**

Close to the theatre is the Antiquarium, a small archaeological museum housing valuable archaeological finds such as a statue dedicated to Caius Claudius Marcellus and a small oval marble sarcophagus carved in high relief. 

The so-called Naumachia (naval battle) is a large monumental fountain built in Roman times, consisting of a red brick wall more than one hundred metres long and five metres high, enriched with niches of various sizes. 

**The largest Ancient Theatre in Sicily after that of Syracuse**

Today, the **Ancient Theatre of Taormina** retains its original Greek structure, as well as much of the brick building from the Roman era. The stage front substantially retains its original form, also thanks to a (highly controversial) 19th-century restoration. Its charm, size and international renown make it the ideal stage for hosting concerts, plays and operas, as well as prestigious events such as *Taormina Arte*, the *Taormina Film Fest* and the *David di Donatello* award ceremony. 

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Taormina Ancient Theatre

ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR AND BEST-PRESERVED GREEK THEATRES IN THE WORLD

Visiting the Greek Theatre at sunset - illuminated by the light of the setting sun, with a view of the sea and the majesty of Mount Etna in the background - is an unforgettable experience. Under the starry sky of the bay, concerts, plays and operas take on a magical dimension.


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Have you ever wanted to walk in the ancient city of Taormina? 

The city built by the Greeks to admire the sea and be admired by it will come back to life in the spaces of Palazzo Ciampoli thanks to an exhibition where archaeological finds and multimedia elements restore the prolific urban center that was Taormina between the 3rd century BC. and the 2nd AD. 

A large collective project of the Naxos Taormina archaeological park, directed by the archaeologist Gabriella Tigano, who for about two years has been coordinating various working groups - scientific and technical - made up of archaeologists and officials of the Park, of the Superintendence of Messina and of the Universities of Messina, Palermo and Catania

"From Tauromenion to Tauromenium. The invisible city between history and archaeology", can be visited from 7 August until 30 November 2024. Visits every day from 10am to 7.30pm (ticket office closes at 7pm). 



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The invisible city between history and archaeology

From Tauromenion to Tauromenium

Exhibition

A journey of exploration into the depths of reality, from which dilated visions, dreamlike imaginaries and symbolic elements of the confrontation between cultures and civilizations emerge.

On the occasion of the 2023 edition of Taobuk, opens in the Ex Chiesa del Carmine in Taormina *Le Grand Bleu*, solo exhibition of Velasco Vitali curated by **Luca Beatrice**.
The exhibition is a journey of **exploration into the depths of reality**, from which dilated visions, dreamlike imaginaries and symbolic elements of the comparison between cultures and civilizations emerge.
Taking inspiration from the theme chosen by Taobuk for this year's edition, the concept of freedom, Vitali works on it adding reflections on the **indomitable and mysterious power of the Mediterranean**, thanks to a focus on some of the subjects most dear to him: hot air balloons, the herd, landscapes.
Velasco Vitali investigates the most problematic aspects of human conditions through the use of metaphors reworked thanks to the most disparate artistic techniques, giving life to an exhibition symbol of his **eclectic production**. 

> *"Aria is musical air, a detachment from the ground. The hot air balloon is the first flight project, still existing and practiced. A metaphor of freedom and an invitation to look at the world from above" - Velasco Vitali*

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Velasco Vitali. Le Grand Bleu

A journey through time and space to discover the millenary history of the Ancient Theater of Taormina.

**Archaeology and technology** come together to bring to light all the phases of life of the Ancient Theater of Taormina. 

In this exhibition **organized by Electa** through the musealization of the western entrance to the cavea the spectator-visitor can approach the **millennial history of the Theater**, reviewing through inscriptions, busts and marbles the singular historical and architectural stratification.

The visit is not limited to the Sicilian site, but through an outdoor audiovisual path and the use of QR code the visitor-spectator will be accompanied on a journey through time and space to discover the theater through the fascinated eyes of the artists of the past who chose to immortalize its beauty in their works.
**A network of languages and eras** that underline more than ever the role of the Ancient Theater of Taormina as a crossroads of cultures.

"Memory" of our collective memory.

**[PRESS RELEASE
](https://www.parconaxostaormina.com/ufficiostampa/taormina-mostra-palinsesti/)**

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