Taormina is that rare place where nature and luxury compete over which will linger longer in memory. The Sicilian town, perched on a cliff above the Ionian Sea with a view of the Etna volcano, has for centuries drawn artists, travelers and - lately - celebrities looking for somewhere elegant to hide.

The heart of the town is the Ancient Theater, a Greco-Roman amphitheater with acoustics that still host concerts today, and from its tiers the view falls at once on the sea and the volcano. Just below the town is Isola Bella, a small protected islet connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand when the tide is low - turquoise water and beaches of fine pebbles. For those who want adrenaline, the volcanic zones of Etna are reached by cable car up to 2,500 metres, and guided tours go higher.

You get there by direct flights to Catania airport, about 65 kilometres away, then onward by bus or a rented car. The historic core is closed to vehicles - you walk on foot, which is no punishment when every street leads to another view. Two to three days are recommended for a stay.

The cuisine is a story of its own: cannoli filled with ricotta, pasta „alla Norma“ with blue eggplant, „Grillo“ white wine with seafood. The hotels are the kind that end up on postcards - the „Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo“, where Tamara Falco recently stayed, or the „Four Seasons San Domenico Palace“. Taormina isn't a cheap destination, but it's one of those that convince you some places are simply worth what they ask.