For a long time Giardini Naxos merely served as a sheltered anchorage for nearby Taormina; a better development of town centre there was in the XIX century and in 1847 it was separated by commune of Taormina and reached its autonomy.
Its name derives from the Sicilian word "Giardini" that means "citrus orchards"; Naxos, indeed, is the name od the Greek colony, founded in 735 b.C by Calcidesi.
The most interesting monuments are the Castle of Schisò with medieval origins; the ruins of a Blockhouse of the XVII-XVIII centuries and inside are kept some archaeological finds; an Archaeological Museum and the Tower Vignazza of medieval period. There are also many archaeological areas of the ancient Naxos where are preserved the remains of a temple of the V century B.C. and graves of the bronze age.