Lido La Pigna

La Pigna is on Via Mazzaro in the bay below Taormina, the one most people reach by taking the cable car down from the old town, which takes a couple of minutes and saves the walk. The bay is pebbled and sheltered, with clear water and boats moving in and out towards Isola Bella and the grottoes further along the coast. The lido rents loungers and umbrellas on the shore and has showers, changing rooms and towel hire, so you can arrive with nothing and still have a full day. Food is the strong point for the price bracket: a restaurant and pizzeria on a terrace looking over the bay, doing Sicilian standards including mussels, clams and swordfish, alongside pizza and artisanal granita. There is a snack bar for lighter eating, a takeaway option, and staff will bring orders down to your lounger. An information desk on site books boat tours, diving, and rents out pedalos, canoes, SUP boards and small boats, which is the practical way to see the coves that are not reachable on foot. The tone is informal rather than exclusive, which is not a given in Taormina.