Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari

Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari tickets: which one to buy

Taormina's cathedral stands at the western end of the Corso Umberto, the pedestrian main street that runs across the town, and it is free to enter. Almost every visitor walks past it, since the Corso links the Greek theatre at one end with the gate at the other, and the cathedral square is where most people stop for a photograph of the fountain. Day trips from Catania, Messina's cruise port and the coast resorts usually allow two or three hours in Taormina, which is enough for the theatre, the Corso and a look inside the church, but not for the hill village of Castelmola above.

Walking tours of the town include the cathedral along with the theatre, the public gardens and the medieval palaces on the Corso. Tours of Etna often end in Taormina in the late afternoon. Nothing needs booking for the church; the Greek theatre is ticketed and worth buying early in the day. Wraps are not lent at the door, so carry something to cover shoulders in summer.

Visiting Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari: what to see

The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Nicholas and dates from the thirteenth century, rebuilt and altered over the following centuries, and it looks more like a small fortress than a church: its flanks are topped with battlements, which is why it is sometimes called the fortress-cathedral. The front is plain stone with a rose window and a baroque portal added in 1636. Inside, the church has three naves divided by columns of pink marble, and a few good paintings of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, including a polyptych by Antonello de Saliba, a nephew of Antonello da Messina.

The square outside is the real set piece. Its baroque fountain of 1635 is topped by a female centaur, two-legged and crowned, holding an orb and sceptre; she is the symbol of the town and appears on its coat of arms. Balconies on the edge of the square look down to the sea. A side chapel holds a painted panel of the Virgin and Child attributed to a fifteenth-century Messina workshop.

Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari opening hours and the best time to go

Taormina is crowded from late spring to early autumn and busiest in the middle of the day, when coach groups and cruise passengers fill the Corso. Early morning and evening are far better, and the evening walk along the Corso, with the cathedral square lit and the cafes open, is part of the pleasure of staying overnight. July and August are hot, though the town's height keeps it slightly cooler than the coast.

Spring brings the gardens into flower and clear views of Etna. The summer arts festival uses the Greek theatre for concerts and film. Winter is quiet, with some hotels closed but the town still pleasant on sunny days. The church closes over lunch. Allow twenty minutes inside, and keep time for the terrace views from the square. A cable car links the lower beach at Mazzaro with the town and saves the drive up the hairpins.