Naumachia
A 122-metre wall of Roman brick runs along Via Naumachia at head height, its surface broken by eighteen deep arched niches and dozens of smaller rectangular ones. It looks, at first, like the back of something — a service corridor, a forgotten boundary. That impression isn't entirely wrong: for centuries nobody was quite sure what it was for.
Walk the shaded path beside it and you'll pass kitchen staff on cigarette breaks from the restaurants whose yards back onto the wall. The planting is quiet, the stone is old, and the far end opens unexpectedly onto Via degli Artisti.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've done Taormina more than once tend to use this as a through-route rather than a set-piece stop — in from Piazza IX Aprile down Via Naumachia, out the other end toward Bam Bar on Via degli Artisti. The walk takes fifteen minutes if you're moving; longer if you stop to read the niches.
The story behind Naumachia
The wall dates to the second century AD, built in Roman brick against an older Greek structure — a stoa in square ashlars — that already stood on the same line. Its proximity to the ancient Forum and what appears to have been a Gymnasium suggests it served as a monumental nymphaeum: a large decorative fountain and water-distribution facility rather than anything martial.
The misleading name came from the Dutch antiquarian Jacques-Philippe d'Orville, who in 1764 decided the niches indicated a venue for staged naval battles — naumachiae. The label stuck even after the interpretation was corrected. The structure only came to serious archaeological attention in 1943.
Good to know
Free to visit and accessible during daylight hours. From Piazza IX Aprile, walk down Via Naumachia — the wall appears on your right at number 13. Fifteen to thirty minutes is enough. No ticket, no queue, no facilities on site.
Spring through autumn is the comfortable window, with April to October bringing low rainfall and temperatures that make a slow walk along the wall easy work. Summer afternoons can push past 28°C, so mornings are better then. Winter is mild but December brings the most rain.
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What travellers say about Naumachia
Great little tucked-away diversion while exploring town. I saw sources that listed it as 1st century BC and also 2nd century AD. In any case, a historic treasure from Roman times. Apparently fountains were in the arched niches and statues of gods and heroes were in the rectangular niches.
The red brick wall and rectangular niches are a historical monument. The Roman fixed construction dates from around the 2nd century. The name suggests this was part of a naval battle, but it was not and was never used to stage production of such water shows. It functioned as a retaining wall for the terrace on top of it. The garden is pretty. In the middle there was a large water cistern. Follow the IG link in profile for more travel and food and drink tips, ideas and reviews!
Very cool historical landmark in Taormina. Seemed to be a gathering place, with big alcoves where statues may have been. I wish there had been some more information about it right in that area, but there were only a couple of signs. Tickets were not needed when we visited.
Unearthed only in 1943, the Naumachie are a long red brick facade from the Roman era. The monumental succession of 18 major niches interspersed with minor rectangular niches is appreciable. All for a 122m long by 5m high elevation. There are several hypotheses on its use, certainly there is that it was not used for the representation of naval battles (contrary to its denomination); more likely it was a Gymnasium, that is, a place to do gymnastic exercises.
Nice little detour away from the main Corso Umberto leading you down a shady walk with nice planting and Greek and Roman remains. Keep going to the far end and you'll come out at Via degli artisti and the Bam Bar (be prepared to queue).
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