Page 287 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

Aperol spritz, and sip it slowly as you people-watch. Daily 9am–late.

SHOPPING IN TAORMINA

Corso Umberto I can lay fair claim to be the flashiest shopping street in southern

Italy, and here you’ll have no trouble tracking down a Gucci bag, a €10,000
necklace or a genuine Baroque candelabra. Of course, you can also pick up mass-
produced ceramic dishes, Sicilian puppets, model Etnas and AC Milan football
shirts. The bulk of the out-and-out tourist gift shops are up Via Teatro Greco on the
way to the theatre, but for quirkier boutiques and souvenirs, delve into the side
alleys and stepped streets off the Corso.

A few outlets are especially worth seeking out. The ceramic workshop at
Kerameion, Corso Umberto I 198 (daily 9am–8.30pm; closed Sun Nov–March;
339 207 9032, kerameion.com), turns out tiles, plates, vases and espresso cups,
among other items. At Corso Umberto I 27, corner Via F. Ingegnere (daily 9am–
9.30pm; 0942 23 544, cacopardoarteantica.com), Signor Pancrazio’s
grandmother first opened the Arte Antica Cacopardo antiques store in 1902 (he’s
got postcards showing her sitting outside it), and he continues to set out the furniture,

porcelain and objets on the pavement every day, rain or shine.

There’s also a daily indoor market (Mon–Sat) for fruit and veg off Via
Cappuccini, and a weekly Wednesday market for household items, above town at
Parcheggio von Gloeden, off Via Leonardo da Vinci; both are morning affairs, open
till around 1.30pm. The Upim/Punto SMA supermarket (Mon–Sat 9am–1pm & 4–
8pm) is outside Porta Catania (and to the right) on Via Apollo Arcageta.

DIRECTORY

Hospital Ospedale San Vincenzo, in Via Crocefisso, Contrada Sirina, south of Porta
Catania ( 0942 5791; for emergencies 0942 579 297).

Pharmacy British Pharmacy, Corso Umberto I 152, corner of Piazza IX Aprile
(June–Sept daily 8.30am–9.30pm, Oct–May Mon–Fri 8.30am–1pm & 3.30–8pm;
0942 625 735); outside these hours pharmacies operate according to a rota system,

indicated on pharmacy doors.

Police Carabinieri, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 4 ( 0942 23 232 or 112).

Post office Piazza Sant’Antonio, outside Porta Catania (Mon–Fri 8am–6.30pm, Sat
8.30am–1pm).

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