Giardini Naxos, or Giaddina in Sicilian, is a delightful seaside resort on Sicily’s eastern coast in the province of Messina. Originally home to the Greek colony of Naxos, which it is named after, it sits directly on the sea and has around 9,000 residents, a figure that swells considerably during the summer season.
Not far from Taormina and sometimes, rather unfairly, overshadowed by it, Giardini Naxos boasts a stunning coastline, a host of unmissable monuments evoking its ancient Greek past, and an attractive historic centre with pedestrianised streets lined with beautiful buildings.
There is plenty to see in Giardini Naxos beyond its beaches. Here are the main attractions, allowing you to take a break from the sea and explore this fascinating town with its extraordinary past.
The Naxos archaeological park, established in 2007, is undoubtedly the town’s main attraction. It offers a journey back in time to discover the ancient Greek colony of Naxos dating to 700 BC, where visitors can admire the remains of 10 houses from that era, as well as sacred buildings arranged throughout the city, including sanctuaries, altars and statues. Also noteworthy is the Agora, which marked the boundary of the military port, with a structure similar to those found in some ancient Greek cities.
The sculpture of the Nike of Kalkis, created by Sicilian artist Carmelo Mendola, has graced the town since 1966, commemorating Giardini Naxos’s strong ties with Greece, particularly with the city of Chalcis in Euboea, known as Kalkis in Greek, with which it is twinned. The statue, standing on Cape Schisò, gazes out to sea as if awaiting the arrival of Greek colonists’ ships, and draws inspiration from the Nike of Samothrace, the goddess messenger of victory.
In the Greek city of Chalcis in Euboea, a copy of the Nike of Kalkis has stood since 1980, symbolising the strong sisterhood between the two towns.
Just a stone’s throw from the Nike, the Gate of Naxos was erected on 29 October 2000 to celebrate Giardini Naxos’s second twinning, with its namesake Greek Naxos in the Cycladic islands. Today it serves as the town’s entrance and is modelled on the Temple of Apollo, the symbol of Greek Naxos.
Overlooking Giardini Naxos’s bay stands the Schisò Castle, dating back to the 13th-14th century and rebuilt during the Spanish period in the 16th century. It was constructed on a rocky outcrop and towers behind the San Pancrazio beach. Although it is one of the town’s symbols, Schisò Castle today stands empty and abandoned, though the Sicilian region has incorporated it into the Naxos archaeological park.
Beyond the undoubtedly beautiful monuments and statues to see, the main reason for visiting Giardini Naxos is its stunning sea. There are several beaches within the town and in the immediate vicinity: here are the best.
The Recanati beach is the most famous in town. Located south of the centre, on the far side of the peninsula that houses the Naxos archaeological park. Part of Recanati beach is sandy, the other part consists of small pebbles and shingle; it is a very extensive beach, bathed in crystalline water and equipped with designated areas where you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas. Recanati boasts plenty of facilities, including bars and restaurants, whilst nearby you’ll find hotels and nightlife venues for evening entertainment.
The Schisò beach is notable as the landing spot of the Greek colonists who, in 700 BC, founded what is now Giardini Naxos. The beach is composed of golden, fine sand, with part designated as free beach and another section containing beach clubs. The beach is especially busy during peak season, and behind it there is lovely Mediterranean scrubland vegetation.
In the northern area, closer to Taormina than to Giardini Naxos’s centre, lies Porticciolo Saja beach, distinctive for its small bays. It is a rocky beach with crystal-clear water stretching out before it, making it ideal for relaxation. On the beach you can hire canoes for a safe trip out to sea.
San Giovanni, located north of the historic centre, is one of Giardini Naxos’s town beaches, as the town is just behind it. This allows you to alternate between seaside life and relaxing in town, visiting shops or taking a stroll in the centre after a refreshing swim in the clear waters of eastern Sicily. The view from San Giovanni beach is particularly striking, with the historic centre in the background and the imposing bell tower of the church of the same name rising up immediately behind.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Giardini Naxos is an interesting town to visit, and it is often included in guided tours of the area, which also cover Taormina and a visit to Mount Etna. Entrust yourself to an expert guide and discover all the town’s secrets, its history and hidden heritage.
Giardini Naxos is easily accessible by car from Catania and Messina, as it is just 2 kilometres from the A18 motorway exit (the exit is, naturally, Giardini Naxos). From Taormina too it is very easy to reach Giardini Naxos, as the two resorts are practically next to each other, separated by just a handful of kilometres along the coast.
From other towns in Sicily, long-distance buses are available; if your trip involves stopping in Taormina, get off there and reach Giardini Naxos easily by taxi in just a few minutes.
The built-up area of Giardini Naxos is relatively compact, so your choice of accommodation is not particularly wide. Of course, there are plenty of options, from fully equipped hotels to private apartments for tourists, as well as small family-run bed and breakfasts. Choose a property close to the beaches so you can walk to the sea and forget about your car, and also consider the option of staying in the Schisò area, south of the centre: here you’ll find a very spacious beach and be close to the Naxos archaeological park.
For greater peace and quiet, the Recanati area is ideal, further from the hustle and bustle of the town centre but naturally with fewer facilities.
We offer a selection of hotels at Giardini Naxos to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Giardini Naxos, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Giardini Naxos. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Giardini Naxos are in high demand.
What's the weather at Giardini Naxos? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Giardini Naxos for the next few days.
Giardini Naxos is situated on the eastern coast of Sicily, in the province of Messina and behind the Etna Park. It lies just 12 kilometres from the centre of Taormina, whilst the nearest airport is Catania, approximately 60 kilometres away.
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