Medieval Fortifications and Castles, Taormina: View of medieval fortifications above Taormina with crenelated walls

Date

Circa 1910

Probably Castello Saraceno The city is located on a plateau below Mount Tauro, for which it is named, where there are the ruins of two medieval fortresses. The larger castle on the highest ground (in the Castelmola district) overlooks the city. It affords a spectacular view, though it is somewhat distant from Taormina and is not particularly well preserved. The "Saracen" castle (called Castello di Taormina or Castello Saraceno) atop Mount Tauro was probably built by the Arabs on an older Byzantine structure, and later enlarged by the Normans.