Giardini Naxos

Giardini Naxos is a lovely coastal town located in the district of Messina in eastern Sicily. It sits closely next to Taormina in the north and is a very popular tourist destination. It features a large bay sitting between Cape Taormina and Cape Schiso. Large private boats and super yachts are regularly moored there.

Naxos has never been a prominent town in Sicily but its bay has been an important access point to the east of island. Catania and many other towns and villages on the east coast were colonised from here. Its importance grew during Greek times when a temple to Apollo Archegetes, a deity of protection, was built in the town. This gave Giardini Naxos great religious influence in the area.

In recent times, it has been little more than a small but attractive fishing village. Since the 1970’s, however, the worldwide travel boom has seen Naxos grow into a very popular tourist destination.