Six hundred feet up on a mountain spur overhanging the sea stands the
little town of Taormina.
Long ago it was chosen as a beauty spot by the Romans and Greeks, and
here they had their villas and baths and theatre.
The theatre stands to this day, in ruins, it is true, but sufficiently
whole to show what an ancient theatre was like.
One can sit in the upper circle and look down upon the "pit" and
"orchestra," and the marble pillars and wall which formed the back of
the stage in those days in place of scenery.
But an earthquake has thrown down the greater part of the back wall,
and has thereby opened up a beautiful view of the coast of blue water
and white sand far below, and of the purple slopes and snowy crest of
Mount Etna above--a scene such as no scene painter could have
equalled.
[Illustration: THE THEATRE AT TAORMINA.]
Among the quaint and ancient buildings of the town stand the old
monastery and church of San Domenico. The monastery is now the chief
hotel, and with the splendid view from its windows and its pretty
gardens makes a charming place to stay at in this most charming spot.
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