Maurizio welcomed us personally and helped us park in his nearby garage. Our view from our balcony overlooks the ocean and the building in front is actually the entrance to the gondola that takes you down to the beach. The water is a bit cooler and rocky than other beaches in Sicily but the water was clear and there are some restaurants there to grab a quick lunch. Maurizios apartment was in an ideal location. Just a few minutes to walk to numerous shops and restaurants. Taormina is a lovely place to visit with a family or a nice area for a couples getaway. We highly recommend his apartment! Air conditioning and washer worked great and beds were very comfortable. Maurizio was easy to reach as he's in an apartment nearby. There is a security gate and a few steps up to the apartment. We had a very pleasant stay in Taormina.