Lush gardens skirt a cobbled lane facing this triumph of Roman engineering that once carried the town’s water. An ancient wall today hoists modern buildings.
Naumachie comprises the remains of a Roman wall pocked with arches and niches that helped supply water to the town about 2,000 years ago. It is one of the oldest structures in Taormina. Consider the Roman ingenuity involved in the construction of this ancient wall and cistern.
Follow the quaint path to admire the array of trailing plants hanging from the wall’s arches. The rampart is 400 feet (120 meters) long, while its 18 niches are each 16 feet (5 meters) high. Chat about the remains of the walls with walking tour guides. Kitchen staff also take their breaks here from restaurants backing onto the wall. Enjoy the serenity of this secluded lane, away from the wider streets of the town.
Notice that modern buildings have been built on top of the walls, demonstrating the sturdiness of these millennia-old ruins and contrasting the old with the new. The wall initially had a cistern behind it and was linked to a gymnasium. The rampart was only discovered in 1943, before becoming an iconic landmark in Taormina.
Try a traditional Italian pizza in this district, which has many restaurants and bars. Sip drinks at the terrace of one of the cafés on the adjoining Piazza IX Aprile. A range of lodging options lies just to the north.
Note that the name of the structure is an Ancient Roman word for Sea Battle, which is a misnomer since it has little to do with its cistern-related function. Visit the wall for free at any time.
Find Naumachie on a narrow alley in the center of Taormina, on Monte Tauro. Get around this quaint area of cafés and restaurants on foot. Visit some of the nearby sights, such as the Palazzo Corvaja, the Porta Messina and the Giardini della Villa Comunale park.
