FLORENCE TREVELYAN GARDENS, TAORMINA’S PUBLIC PARK
A garden suspended between sky and sea, a gift of love and the vision of an extraordinary woman
In the heart of Taormina, set against the blue of the Ionian Sea and the majestic Mount Etna, the Florence Trevelyan Gardens, also known as the Villa Comunale, are the city’s public park.
This is one of the city’s most beloved and picturesque spots: a green oasis where nature, art and history come together, offering views that enchant every visitor.
Behind the splendour of the gardens lies the fascinating story of a cultured, sensitive and visionary woman: Florence Trevelyan Cacciola. Thanks to the generosity and foresight of this extraordinary woman, visitors to Taormina can today enjoy a garden unrivalled worldwide, a symbol of her appreciation of beauty and love for the land.
Florence Trevelyan Cacciola: a woman ahead of her time
Born in England in 1852 into a noble family related to the British royal family, Florence Trevelyan Cacciola arrived in Taormina in the 1880s and fell head over heels in love with the town, its light and its people.
She married Salvatore Cacciola, a doctor from Taormina, and decided to stay here, devoting her life to creating these exotic, beautifully landscaped gardens. She introduced rare botanical species and plants from all over the world into the local landscape, carefully acclimatising them to the mild climate of eastern Sicily.
Her sensitivity to the environment and the art of gardening made her a true pioneer of ecology and nature-based tourism, at a time when such concepts were virtually unknown.
The creation of the Gardens and the gift to the city
The Florence Trevelyan Gardens were originally the noblewoman’s own private garden, designed in an eclectic and romantic style.
Among the terraces, Florence had the famous ‘follies’ built – small ornamental turrets and pavilions made of stone and brick, inspired by Victorian and Oriental architecture.
On her death in 1907, Florence Trevelyan bequeathed the entire plot of land to the Municipality of Taormina, subject to an extraordinarily modern and far-sighted clause:
“No building may ever be erected on this plot of land.”
This caveat ensured that the Gardens have remained intact for over a century, preserving their genuine charm and their role as a public space open to everyone.
Today, the Trevelyan Gardens are one of Taormina’s most popular attractions: a panoramic garden featuring a mix of flower-lined avenues, pergolas, palm trees and rare plant species, offering spectacular views of Isola Bella and Naxos Bay. Every corner reflects the refined taste and poetic spirit of their founder, who made beauty a gesture of love towards the city that had welcomed her.
Trevelyan Park joins the network of Great Italian Gardens
Recently, a resolution by the Municipality of Taormina officially included the Florence Trevelyan Park in the prestigious network of Great Italian Gardens, recognizing its historical, botanical, and landscape value.
This is an important milestone for the city and for the AAT – Taormina Hoteliers Association, which has supported the enhancement of the area's symbolic places for years.
This national recognition confirms the excellence of the Trevelyan Park as one of the most beautiful and representative gardens in Italy, guardian of the enlightened vision of Florence Trevelyan Cacciola.
