Catania and Eastern Sicily: Etna, Taormina, and the Sea

Day's program:

• Free time after arrival
• Stroll through Taormina
• Greek-Roman Theatre
• Panoramas of the Ionian Sea and Etna
• Botanical Garden
• Sicilian Desserts
• Dinner at your preference

Description:

Comfortable transfer and free time after arrival. Next — a walk through Taormina: the Greek-Roman theater, the main street, the alleys of the old town, the Arab tower, Byzantine mosaics, and elements of Catalan Gothic.

From panoramic points, views of the Ionian Sea and Etna are revealed. In the end — a botanical garden created by an English aristocrat in the 19th century, and Sicilian granite or cannoli.

Dinner at your preference.

Day's program:

• Transfer to Mount Etna
• Ascent to the Southern Slope
• Craters and Lava Fields
• Lunch at a Winery
• Wine Tasting of Etna
• Optional — Helicopter Tour of Etna in Season and Good Weather
• Dinner at your preference

Description:

Transfer to Etna — the largest active volcano in Europe and a UNESCO site. The ascent to the Southern Slope takes place by cable car or special off-road vehicles; along the route — lava fields, craters, and a sharp change in natural zones.

After the volcano — a winery on the slopes of Etna. The vineyards are located on terraces of lava stone, and the tasting helps to feel the character of local wines and the connection of taste with volcanic soil.

Optionally — a helicopter flight over Etna in the summer season and suitable weather. Dinner at your preference.

Day's program:

• Choice of one of the day's routes
• Option 1 — Castiglione di Sicilia and the Alcantara Gorge
• Option 2 — Syracuse and Ortigia Island
• Option 3 — Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples
• Lunch along the route
• Dinner at your preference

Description:

Choose one of three routes. Alcantara is suitable for a more nature-oriented day: Castiglione di Sicilia, a monastery-museum, a walk by the mountain river, and lunch or tasting at a winery.

Syracuse and Ortigia — an option for ancient and baroque Sicily: the archaeological park of Neapolis, the Greek theater, the 'Ear of Dionysius', the Temple of Apollo, the Cathedral Square, the Cathedral, and the Arethusa spring.

Agrigento — a route to the Valley of the Temples, one of the main archaeological complexes in Italy. The focus is on the Temple of Concord, the Temple of Hera, the ruins of the Temple of Zeus Olympian, and the wide landscapes of ancient Akragas.

Dinner at your preference.

Day's program:

• Transfer to the port of Milazzo
• Ferry to the Aeolian Islands
• Lipari Island
• The Citadel and Historical Center
• Vulcano Island
• Beaches with volcanic sand and fumaroles
• Panoramas of the Faraglioni, the Horse Cave, and the Venus Pool
• Dinner at your preference

Description:

Transfer to the port of Milazzo and departure to the Aeolian Islands. Lipari — the main island of the archipelago: the Citadel, a small archaeological park, the Church of St. Bartholomew, and a walk through the old center.

Then — the island of Vulcano with beaches of dark volcanic sand and areas with underwater fumaroles. During navigation, the Faraglioni cliffs, the Horse's Grotto, and the Venus Pool are visible.

Dinner at your preference.

Day's program:

• Transfer to Savoca
• Church of San Nicolò
• Forza d'Agrò
• Mountain Villages of Eastern Sicily
• Lunch with Local Cuisine
• Optional - Castello degli Schiavi
• Optional - Ape Calessino Ride
• Dinner at your preference

Description:

The route passes through the eastern part of Sicily, where key scenes from 'The Godfather' were filmed. The first stop is Savoca and the Church of San Nicolò, associated with the wedding scenes of Michael Corleone.

Next — Forza d'Agrò, a mountain village with views of the coast and the atmosphere of old Sicily. Lunch takes place in one of the villages: pasta, meat dishes, and local wine.

Optionally — a visit to Castello degli Schiavi, a private villa where the final episodes of the film were shot. A ride on an Ape Calessino can also be added.

Dinner at your preference.

Day's program:

• Option 1 - Sicilia Outlet Village
• Shopping in an open-air shopping complex
• Option 2 — yacht off the coast of Taormina
• Giardini Naxos, Isola Bella, grottos and bays
• Swimming in the Ionian Sea
• Lunch on the yacht or at a local restaurant
• Dinner at your preference

Description:

Choose — a day of shopping or a maritime format. Sicilia Outlet Village — an open-air shopping complex with boutiques, cafes, and architecture in the style of Sicilian villages.

An alternative — a yacht along the shores of Taormina. The departure usually starts from Giardini Naxos; the route goes along Isola Bella, grottos, bays, and cliffs of the eastern coast.

Throughout the day — stops for swimming in the clear waters of the Ionian Sea. Lunch takes place on board or in a local restaurant of your choice.

Dinner at your preference.

Free morning for last-minute strolls or shopping. Then — transfer to Catania Airport.