Piazza IX Aprile (April 9th Square), Taormina (must see)
On April 9, 1860, the people at Mass in the Cathedral of Taormina were excited. Word had come that Giuseppe Garibaldi, a leader of the anti-Bourbon revolution, had arrived in Marsala, Sicily. Liberation was on the way! False alarm. Garibaldi did not arrive until May 9th. The news came on April 9th.
Before 1860, the square was called Sant'Agostino Square (Piazza Sant'Agostino). It was so named for the Church of Sant'Agostino, built in 1448. The church still stands, deconsecrated, and in use, as a public library. The 17th-century Church of San Giuseppe also shares the square, along with the fabled Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio) of Taormina.
April 9th Square is lined with cafes and other tourist watering holes. Caricature artists may sketch a visitor's portrait while they enjoy a cappuccino and a fine view of the Ionian Sea. The gate at the bottom of the Clock Tower leads to the medieval part of town and the Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo).
Before 1860, the square was called Sant'Agostino Square (Piazza Sant'Agostino). It was so named for the Church of Sant'Agostino, built in 1448. The church still stands, deconsecrated, and in use, as a public library. The 17th-century Church of San Giuseppe also shares the square, along with the fabled Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio) of Taormina.
April 9th Square is lined with cafes and other tourist watering holes. Caricature artists may sketch a visitor's portrait while they enjoy a cappuccino and a fine view of the Ionian Sea. The gate at the bottom of the Clock Tower leads to the medieval part of town and the Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo).
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Taormina. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Piazza IX Aprile (April 9th Square) on Map
Sight Name: Piazza IX Aprile (April 9th Square)
Sight Location: Taormina, Italy (See walking tours in Taormina)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Taormina, Italy (See walking tours in Taormina)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Taormina, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Taormina
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Taormina Introduction Walking Tour
Dionysius I, also known as Tyrant of Syracuse, permitted his army commander Andromachus to make a settlement in Taurmenium at the foot of Mount Etna in 396 BC. From its very beginning, Taormina has been the most desirable conquest of the great powers of the Mediterranean.
Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, French, Spanish, and Arogonese have all taken turns cross-pollinating... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, French, Spanish, and Arogonese have all taken turns cross-pollinating... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles