Sicily’s Isola Bella is often called ‘The Pearl of the Ionian Sea’, and quite rightly so – its dramatic position at the centre of Taormina’s bay earns the title alone. Connected to the beachfront by a narrow causeway that disappears at high tide, Isola Bella is a rocky jumble of an island, topped by a historic villa that is open today for visits.
Most of the charm comes from the almost Jurassic scenery, with towering boulders and ancient foliage helping to create the effect. Most visitors stay on the mainland beach, which provides the very best views of the island itself, but there are also several nearby beaches set just around the headland
