Isola Bella

Southwest of Lido Mazzarò is the amazing Isola Bella, set in a stunning cove with fishing boats. You can walk here in a few minutes but it’s more fun to rent a small boat from Mazzarò and paddle round Capo Sant’Andrea.

The Isolabella island is declared of great historical and artistic interest, and subject to the protection regulations of Law no. 1089/39 by D.A. n. 2060 of 9 October 1984. It is part of the archaeological park from September 1, 2010; while the establishment of the Island Nature Museum is earlier and in accordance with LR n. 4 of 17 February 1987. Isolabella part of Zone A homonymous Natural Reserve established by L.R.14 / 88 and is part of the Sites of Community Interest (ITA 030031); also the seabed around al’isolotto fall into SIC area (ITA 300040). Isolabella is at the center of a beautiful bay designated by Capo Sant’Andrea and Capo Taormina.

More than an island it may be regarded as an offshoot of the mainland connected by a thin strip of pebble beach, in the central section remains submerged with a variable swing as a function of the weather and sea conditions and fluctuating with the alternations of the tide.

Geologically the island forms part of the Unity structural domain S.S. Kabilo-Calabride and clastic combinations that characterize the carbonate and dolomite heap, are related to Triassic sediments lithologically consist of limestone debris, oolitic and stromatolitic, passers locally dolomite saccharoidal yellow.
Morphologically the islet extends for about 8000 square meters and reaches a conical shape with a maximum height of 33 m s.l.m., showing harsh characters and rock, with very jagged rocks in correspondence next horizon at sea level.
Local climatic conditions have favored the istaurarsi a unique botanical facility and extremely personal experience, today is characterized by endemic species, also of significant scientific interest as well as ornamental exotic plants or agrarian (olive trees) planted by the various owners of the island, who created microenvironments adjust to enter essences.
Among the spontaneous species, some of which are rare and endangered, will detect the Dianthus rupicola (rupicolo carnation), the Brassica incana Ten. (Whitish cabbage) and Seabiosa cretica (vedovino of the cliffs) and especially the Limonium Jonicum Brullo, small plant herbaceous perennial exclusive maritime rocks located around the island and overlooking Capo Taormina.
The terrestrial fauna is limited but the small island stands out the presence of endemic and rare lizard (called Red-breasted) which is present only in this site.
The bird is represented by seabirds and those related to the environments of the rocky walls; both well adapted to the element plane, experts and tireless voleggiatori offer bird-watcher the fascinating flight show in all its nuances.
E ‘in a natural context such as that briefly described, certainly poignant and high pesaggistica valence, which fits the human component.
The history of this island includes the passage of famous people all dedicated to disclose its beauty as Baron Von Gloden Wihelm, Goethe, Byron, Dillon, Geleng and many others.
The recent history of this island you can do to start with Ferdinand I of Bourbon, who in 1806 donated it to the City of Taormina, who later sold it to Miss Trevelyan who built a small house and introduced the exotic plants.
Subsequently the island passes to the keeper of the Trevelyan family (Don Cesare) who sold it to The Turkish family who in turn ceded in 1954 to the fam. Bosurgi, Messina known entrepreneurs, who built a villa which became their residence. The environmental sensitivity and Bosurgi landscape is evident by looking at the villa and the details that characterize it. In fact it fits between the bumps of the limestone rocks, with a series of rooms and overlapping viewpoints, connected by internal and external stairways and expanded with walls and sometimes constructed with aggregate stones with thin wires, resulting in a harmonious and attractive complex. The combination of all these components have fostered a unique and incomparable landscape together, it stands out most when inserted in the scenarios of the coast and the hills of Taormina.