• Isola Bella - Donated in 1806 by Ferdinand I of Bourbon to Pancrazio Ciprioti, the mayor of Taormina, it was purchased in 1890 by Florence Trevelyan. She enhanced it by building a small house and planting rare, valuable plants. The island was later inherited by lawyer Cesare Acrosso, the adopted godson of Salvatore Cacciola, Florence Trevelyan’s husband.

In 1954, the brothers Leone and Emilio Bosurgi bought it for 38,000 ₤. They constructed a village with 12 independent residences and a small swimming pool hidden among rocks and plants to entertain their friends, who were entrepreneurs and bankers.

The Bosurgi family owned Sanderson, a historic citrus processing company in Messina. When the company went bankrupt in 1982, it led to the judicial sale of family assets that had guaranteed the company’s debts. Among these assets was Isola Bella with its villa. The first auction was set for 17 October 1984 with a starting bid of five and a half billion lire and a minimum raise of one hundred million, but it attracted no bidders.

Meanwhile, efforts were made to protect the islet. On 8 October 1984, the Sicilian Region, at the request of the Municipality of Taormina and the Regional Department of Cultural Heritage, declared Isola Bella a monument of particular historical and artistic interest, describing it as a unique example of naturalistic, historical, and cultural value, and subjected it to protection constraints. The decree considered the island a “natural monument.”

A new auction on 6 March 1985, despite a 20% reduction in the base price, also saw no buyers.

In 1990, the island was finally purchased by the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Sicilian Region. In 1998, a nature reserve was established, managed first by the WWF, then by the Province of Messina, and recently by CUTGANA, the environmental protection center of the University of Catania.

With the establishment of the Archaeological Parks in 2010, the management, use, protection, and enhancement of Isola Bella are now the responsibility of the Archaeological Park of Naxos.

Tentative List UNESCO

In 2006, Isola Bella, along with Taormina, was entered into the UNESCO Tentative List to be recognized as a World Heritage Site.

• Taormina - Taormina is a hill town on the east coast of Sicily, near Mount Etna, an active volcano with trails leading to its summit. The city is renowned for the Ancient Theater of Taormina, a Greco-Roman theater still in use today. Near the theater, cliffs descend to the sea, forming coves with sandy beaches. A narrow strip of sand connects to the tiny Isola Bella, which is a nature reserve. The tour offers the chance to admire the beauty of Taormina and the coastline from the sea.
• Mazzaro - Mazzarò beach has always been one of the most sought-after and elegant beaches in Taormina. Additionally, right in front of the beach, there is a cable car station that conveniently connects the center of Taormina to the marine area.

• Prosecco
• Snacks

You have the opportunity to enjoy the view of Naxos Bay, the Love Cave, Capo Taormina, the Prickly Pear Cliff, the Mermaids’ Cave, Isola Bella, Mazzaro’s Bay, Atlantis Bay, and the Elephant Rock. You can even pause for a refreshing dip in the Marine Park of Isola Bella in Taormina and savor an aperitif of almond paste and prosecco. The tour may also include a delightful search for dolphins or an extra aperitif.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.