Isola Bella is a small island that was a private property until 1990, when it was bought by the Region of
Sicily, being turned into a nature reserve, administrated by the Italian branch of the World Wide Fund for
Nature. There is a narrow path that often connects the island to the mainland beach. The island has a small
and rather rocky beach which is a popular destination for sunbathers.
King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies gifted the island to the nearby town of Taormina in 1806. The island was
then bought from the town by a Ms. Trevelyan, who built a small house facing the sea and imported exotic
plants, which thrived in the Mediterranean climate. Subsequent owners kept up the island, until the owner
went bankrupt, and auctioned the island in 1990.
The island had been noted by conservationists as early as 1983, and it was quickly obtained by the Region
and designated as a protected natural site. The island is home to several species of birds, and a few types of
lizards.
