Description of the attraction
Isola Bella is a small island off the east coast of Sicily, located directly opposite the town of Taormina. For its natural beauty, it is often called the pearl of the Ionian Sea (La perla del Ionio).
In 1806, King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies handed over Isola Bella to Taormina. Then the island was bought by a certain Miss Travelyan, who built a small house on it, facing the sea, and brought here exotic plants that liked the Mediterranean climate. Until the 1990s, the island was privately owned, until its last owner went bankrupt and was forced to sell it to the Sicilian government. It is worth saying that back in 1983, environmentalists turned their attention to the beautiful Isola Bella, and as soon as the island became municipal property, it was turned into a nature reserve, now administered by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Several species of birds live here - gulls, kingfishers, peregrine falcons, cormorants and gray herons, and very few species of lizards. The island's lush vegetation is represented by typically Mediterranean shrubs and rare plant species brought by the eccentric Miss Travelyan.
You can get to Isola Bella by going down a cascade of stairs along Strada Statale, which leads from the top of Monte Tauro to the embankment. From there, a narrow sand spit begins, which connects the island with the city. The best time to visit is spring and early fall days. On weekends, the island's small rocky beach can be crowded with holidaymakers. Snorkeling fans especially love to spend their time here - the sea around Isola Bella boasts a myriad of organisms, various algae, colorful fish and crustaceans of all sizes.
