What It Is

The Clock Tower, also called Porta di Mezzo, is Taormina's third historic gate. It stands in the middle of Corso Umberto, between Porta Messina and Porta Catania. It divides the centre into two stretches: the "lower" part (towards Porta Messina) and the "upper" part (towards Porta Catania, with Piazza IX Aprile in between).

Its origin is medieval. The current tower, with the clock on its face, is the result of successive interventions. The dial still works.

From Piazza IX Aprile the tower is the visual vanishing point: every "postcard" photo of the square includes it.

Why It's Worth Visiting

• It's a wayfinding landmark: if you get lost on the Corso, it's the central reference
• It's free and always accessible (an open passage, 24/7)
• The photos from Piazza IX Aprile towards the tower are among Taormina's most recognizable
• The main pedestrian flow passes under the tower: it's the heart of the Corso

Practical Info

• Address: Corso Umberto, by Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina
• Hours: always accessible (gate-passage, 24/7)
• Ticket: free (exterior). Tower interior: not open to the public under ordinary circumstances.
• Recommended visit time: 5–10 min (photo, passing through)
• Accessibility: flat, navigable by wheelchair and stroller. Stone paving as on the whole Corso.

When to Go

• Early morning (before 10): clean photos of the tower from Piazza IX Aprile, without the crowd
• Evening: lit up, lovely for night photos
• To avoid: 11–15 in high season, the entire tourist flow passes under the tower

Honest Assessment

• It's a passage, not a real visit. It counts as part of the Corso, not as a stop in its own right.
• The tower interior is normally not open to the public: you see only the exterior.
• The "iconic" photo from Piazza IX Aprile is beautiful, but in high season it's almost impossible to take without people in the frame: try at dawn.

How to Get There

• From Porta Messina: 5 min on Corso Umberto
• From Porta Catania: 10 min on the Corso in the opposite direction
• From Piazza IX Aprile: it's right there, on the edge of the square

You can't reach it by car (ZTL — see the ZTL page and the parking page).

Itineraries That Include This Stop

• Taormina Essentials — 1 day

Nearby POIs (5 min on foot)

• Piazza IX Aprile — adjacent, the "living room" beneath the tower
• Corso Umberto — the tower is at its centre

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Last verified: 2026-05-31. Historic pedestrian passage, always freely accessible. Reference: Comune di Taormina · visittaormina.com.