Venue, getting there and the evening
Teatro Nazarena Taormina: how to get there
Where the Teatro Nazarena is in Taormina, how to reach the town by train, bus or car, what the interval on the terrace is like and what to wear.
Reserve a seat for the opera ↗Quick answer
The Teatro Nazarena is at Via Fontana Vecchia 3, in the centre of Taormina. Trains stop at Taormina-Giardini Naxos station on the Messina to Catania line, and the Interbus bus or a taxi covers the rest of the way to the town. Taormina also has public car parks. Your meeting point is the main entrance of the theatre, and the booking page gives the start time for your date.
Ways to reach Taormina
| Train | Bus | Car | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrives at | Taormina-Giardini | Bus terminal, Via Pirandello | A public car park |
| Then | Interbus or taxi | On foot | On foot |
| Check | Train timetable | Interbus timetable | Car park rules |
Where the theatre is
The Teatro Nazarena stands at Via Fontana Vecchia 3, 98039 Taormina, in the centre of the town. The organiser gives that address for every performance, and the booking page names the main entrance of the theatre as the place to start. The theatre is not the ancient theatre on the hill. If a taxi driver or a passer-by points you to the ruin, ask again for Via Fontana Vecchia. Keep the address on your phone, since a map pin saves time in a town of narrow old streets, and give yourself a margin on the first evening while you learn the way.
By train
Taormina can be reached by train from the main places in Sicily. The station is Taormina-Giardini Naxos, on the Messina to Catania line, and it is a stop for all categories of passenger train. It is not in the town centre. From the station the Interbus bus runs to Taormina's bus terminal on Via Luigi Pirandello, and taxis wait at the station. Timetables and fares belong to the operators, so check them close to your date. Allow for the connection from the station when you plan the evening.
By bus
The main bus stop for Taormina is the bus terminal on Via Luigi Pirandello, where you can buy tickets at the office or on the bus. The company Interbus links Taormina with the main cities of eastern Sicily, including Catania, Messina and Siracusa, and publishes its timetable on its own site. If you arrive by coach from another Sicilian city, this is where you step off. From the terminal you continue on foot or by taxi to Via Fontana Vecchia, and a local map shows the route. The terminal also has the bus office for information on schedules.
By car and taxi
Taormina has public fee-paying car parks, three of them in the historic centre and a fourth in the Mazzarò and Isola Bella area. Rules, rates and the shuttle service that one car park runs change, so check them with the operator close to your trip. A taxi from the train station or the airport is the simpler choice for an evening show, because you do not need to find a space or drive after the interval drink. Agree the fare or the meter before you set off, and check the last bus if you plan to return by bus.
On foot in Taormina
Taormina occupies a hill whose old town sits about 250 metres above the sea, so expect slopes and steps between the old streets. The main street is Corso Umberto, and Piazza IX Aprile lies right in the middle of it. Leave extra time on your first evening, because a hill town takes longer to cross than a map suggests, and keep the address of the theatre on your phone. Comfortable shoes are the one piece of kit that matters here. Evening is the time when the old town is busiest with strollers, so allow for slower going.
The room itself
The organiser calls the Teatro Nazarena an intimate setting, and the same word recurs in travellers' reviews on the booking page. The room is small enough for the singers to be heard without strain and for the pianist to be in view. The association that runs the evenings, Italian Opera Live, was founded in 2014, and Italian Opera Taormina is its signature format. No photograph on this site shows the room, so rely on the booking page and the organiser's own pages for its look, and treat any image of a different Taormina stage as just that.
The interval on the terrace
At the interval a drink is served on the theatre's panoramic terrace, and the ticket includes a glass of Italian Prosecco and water. The booking page describes views over the bay, and the organiser lists the terrace as a feature of the evening. Plan to step outside during the break and take the view in. The photograph below shows the Gulf of Naxos at night from a Taormina hillside; it was not taken from the theatre, and the theatre's own terrace is not pictured on this site. Allow a few minutes at the end of the interval to return to your seat before the second half.
What to wear
The ticket states no dress code, so wear what suits a summer evening out in a smart-casual town. Some travellers' reviews say the theatre can feel warm, so choose light layers you can take off. The terrace at the interval is open air, which is when a thin jacket helps in the cooler months. Comfortable shoes matter more than formal ones, because of the hill and the steps on the way to the theatre. Bring nothing bulky: a small bag is easier in a small room than a large one.
Arriving, seating and quiet
Be in your seat before the first aria. A late entry into a small room is noticeable to the performers and the audience, and a recital relies on quiet between numbers. Switch your phone to silent. The booking page tells you whether your ticket carries a seat number or a category, and the organiser says the room's small size creates a direct link between audience and artists, which is a reason not to treat it like a large hall.
Getting back
The show ends in the evening, so think about the return before you go. The station and the bus terminal are the two transport points the tourism sources name, and Interbus publishes its timetable on its own site, so check the last bus for your day well before you leave. A taxi is the simpler way back, and your hotel can say where to find one. Should your hotel lie in the old town, the walk back along Corso Umberto is part of the evening, and the street is lit at night.
Who this isn't for
This is the wrong evening if you cannot manage slopes and steps and have no taxi, if you want a dinner show, or if you are after the ancient theatre. It is also not the place for a loud, late night: the performance is a recital with a quiet audience. If you want to see Taormina's ruins by day and hear opera by night, plan both, and book the opera for the evening you are rested. Children up to six attend free on the organiser's own site; the GetYourGuide booking has its own child options, so read them first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the address of the Teatro Nazarena?
Via Fontana Vecchia 3, 98039 Taormina. It is in the centre of the town and is not the ancient theatre. The booking page names the main entrance as the place to start.
How do I get to Taormina by train?
Take a train to Taormina-Giardini Naxos station on the Messina to Catania line. From there the Interbus bus or a taxi runs to the town. Check timetables with the operators near your date.
Is there parking?
Taormina has public fee-paying car parks, three in the historic centre and one at Mazzarò. Rules and rates change, so check them with the operator. A taxi is simpler for an evening show.
Is there a dress code?
None is stated on the ticket. Wear what suits a smart-casual summer evening, with light layers, since some travellers' reviews say the theatre can feel warm.
Is the evening wheelchair accessible?
The GetYourGuide ticket is marked wheelchair accessible. Taormina is a hill town, so ask the organiser through its own site about the route and seating before you travel.
How long is the evening?
About 1.5 hours, including an interval on the terrace. Each date on the booking page shows its start, so dinner can come before or after.
Sources
- Italian Opera Taormina (the organiser's own site)
- Wikipedia article on the town of Taormina
- TravelTaormina: parking in Taormina
- TravelTaormina: getting to Taormina by bus
- TravelTaormina: getting to Taormina by train
- TravelTaormina: Italian Opera Taormina event page
- Italian Opera Taormina: tickets and dates