Sicily: Taormina

Taormina is on everybody’s list in Sicily. “Charming” town set high on a coastal cliff with spectacular views along the coast, beach access via aerial tramway, shopping, restaurants, celebrities, five 5-star hotels, and a reputation as a playground of rich and famous. It’s pretty – no doubt. And the streets and flower balconies are very nice. But it’s a total tourist trap with hordes and hordes of Russian, American, and British tourists in search of “high society” and instead settling for loads of trinket souvenirs from peddlers and pseudo Sicilian food which is (unless you go to a Michelin restaurant) a total fake junk. But you can say – you went to Taormina!