This was our first visit to Sicily and to Taormina. What a magical place!! Just beautiful. The apartment was as pictured on the site, except for one thing. The view from the terrace is something you have to experience. You simply can't capture it in a photo, the Ionian Sea, Taormina and Mt. Etna. Breathtaking!!! Claudio is an experienced host, there to greet us and always available to assist. He was warm and friendly. He has an amazing art collection, and we were invited to his apartment for our own private tour of his collection. He couldn't have been more gracious. We even borrowed vinegar one night when we were cooking dinner. The apartment is in a perfect location. We were there the week before the G7 summit so things were a little different than normal, but it was still quiet. It's on a dead end street just on the edge of town. Everything you need is within a short walk. We rented a car because we wanted to explore the area on our own. It worked out well for us, but driving in and getting out of Taormina is a challenge. The streets are very narrow and twisted like knots. Something not to be missed, a walking tour of the city. Do this first so you get a sense of the history of the town and the layout. Our guide, Martine (Go Taormina tours), was amazing. She was extremely knowledgable and had a great sense of humor. She took us to see some major landmarks and went off the beaten path to nooks and crannies we would have never found on our own. Castello di Mola, a small town on the hill above Taormina, was more than I expected. I knew the views would be wonderful , but the town itself was well worth the half day we spent there. You can walk up, a challenging hike, or take a bus. After waiting at the bus stop for 30 minutes, we opted for a cab for $15 Euros. Isolabella, a small island you walk to from the beach provided a relaxing afternoon. We went after a visit to the Communal Gardens. They were lovely except parts were closed for renovation. You can take the Funivia. Bring water shoes to Isabella if you plan on swimming. Most of the beaches around Taormina pebbled, not sand. A visit to the house on the island is a must while you are there. We planned on going to several wineries, but ended up spending the afternoon with Eugenia, one of the owners of the family run winery, Vivera. It was closed, but he gave us a private tour of the entire operation and we spent the afternoon tasting fine Etna wines and sharing life stories. True Sicilian hospitality. People don't always seems friendly at first, but if you start a conversation, show a real interest, they will open up with genuine honesty and warmth. We met so many wonderful people!! Apartment Schuler was...