Signs of Jewish settlement in Taormina can be seen in the street names found behind the fountain heading east, such as Vicolo Degli Ebrei (Street of the Hebrews), Via del Ghetto (Ghetto Street), and Traversa degli Ebrei (Jews’ Passage). Jews settled in the city, as in all of Sicily, after the destruction of the Second Temple, and during the Muslim rule of the island between the 8th and 11th centuries.

In 1492, all Jews of the Kingdom of Sicily — then under Spanish rule — were expelled. At that time, Taormina had about 220 Jews, roughly 37 families. The boundaries of the Jewish ghetto included Piazza del Duomo, the city walls up to Catania Gate, and the area of today’s pedestrian street, Corso Umberto. Within this area, Jews enjoyed freedom of worship, the ability to observe religious commandments, and had institutions such as a synagogue, a kosher slaughterhouse, a charity organization for the poor, and more. Today, there is no organized Jewish community in the city.