Funivia Mazzaro-Taormina (Mazzaro-Taormina Cableway), Taormina

And now, for something completely different, a cable car ride! The Funivia can whisk travelers from just outside the Messina Gate (Porta Messina) in Taormina to Mazzaro, the land of beautiful beaches and the aptly named Beautiful Island (Isola Bella), in little more than two minutes. The cable cars operate year-round from 8 am to 8 pm. Summer hours may run to 1 am.

The cable car system features gondolas with large windows that travel in two groups of four cabins each at around 100 feet above the ground. The ride offers spectacular views of the ancient city, beaches, and the Ionian Sea. The capacity of each car is about eight people. The cars are in near-continuous operation, depending on the season.

Construction of the Taormina cable car system began in 1928. It has been renovated at least three times since it opened for riders. The length of the ride is about 2,230 feet. The Mazzaro-Taormina line has carried more than one million passengers a year. Rides depart every 15 minutes. Bring a camera.