Taormina

Distance from Taormina Km. 54 | h. 00:00 | A

Catania

Catania is the second most important city in Sicily after the capital Palermo but considered the most important from a commercial and industrial perspective. The city was originally a settlement of the ancient Sicani people about which little is known. Around 729 B.C. the city was conquered by Greek colonisers and subsequently fell to various occupying powers which include the Romans, Byzantines, Normans and Svevi who constructed Castello Ursino. Subsequently under the Aragonese domination it was declared the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily in 1282 and remained so until the formation of the Kingdom of Italy. Today the city is located on the east coast of Sicily at the foot of the volcano Etna facing the Ionian Sea. It is surrounded by the vast plain of the volcano and by the nature reserve of the Simeto river, the most important in Sicily. An underground river (the Amenano) runs under the city. In the past, a short distance outside the western walls of the city, the Nicito lake could be found, however, the lake was covered by a lava flow in 1669. The position of the lake can be identified today by the street of the same name. Today the Amenano river is visible at the Acqua a Linzolu, a fountain made from white marble located between the Pescheria (fish market) and the Piazza del Duomo, and in the cellars of the Ostello Agorà. The surrounding landscape changed considerably during various eruptions of the volcano that took place between 1169 and 1381 which created the rocks to the north of the port and partially covered the old Porto Ulisse. This part of the coast is now called La Scogliera and includes the small beach of San Giovanni li Cuti. The area south of Castello Ursino (once right next to the sea) was created during the great lava flow of 1669 which encircled it and pushed it several kilometres towards the sea. The coastline south of the port was severely affected and the stretch of coastline now known as La Plaia, which is sandy, was created at this time.
Few traces of the Greek period remain in the city today, however, a larger number of Roman remains can still be seen such as the Roman Theatre (from the second century), the Odeon (from the third century), the Amphitheatre (from the second century), the Indirizzo Baths, the Rotonda Baths, the Achilliane Baths, various other bathing structures (in Piazza Sant’Antonio, Piazza Itria and Piazza Dante where a paved road has been uncovered and is partially visible today), the remains of an Aqueduct near Via Grassi and various buildings where funerals took place. The Cappella Bonajuto dates from the Byzantine period, the church of Sant’Agata al Carcere and Castello Ursino from the Svevi period, the church of Santa Maria del Gesù and the so-called Walls of Charles V from the Aragonese period. Rare examples of Sicilian Baroque architecture can be found in the churches, monasteries and palaces of Via dei Crociferi where the church of San Benedetto is located. Via Etnea is today considered the ‘living room’ of the city stretching across Catania from north to south, arriving at Piazza Università and 100 metres further on at Piazza Duomo where, in addition to the cathedral, the symbol of the city can be found: an elephant with its trunk pointing towards the sky.  The street is lined with beautiful palaces, churches and basilicas and numerous elegant bars and restaurants.  Catania is a rich and multi-faceted city with an artistic soul. Many painters, musicians and entertainers were born here. Another feature of Catania is its various markets and one of the best places to sample daily life in Catania is at the fish market (La Pescheria), always a mass of colours, sounds and smells. Another famous market is the market located in Piazza Carlo Alberto, commonly-known as the “Ferra o Luni” or “Fiera del Lunedi” because originally the market operated only on Mondays. In the same square on Sundays there is a large flea market. Another market open on Sundays sells bric-a-brac under the “marina” arches near to Villa Pacini. Another popular market takes place on Fridays in Piazza I Viceré in the district north of Barriera del Bosco. Catania also makes a good base from which to visit a large part of the eastern area of Sicily which includes numerous protected nature reserves such as the Etna National Park, the Alcantara River Nature Reserve and the nature reserve on the Simeto river.

Distance from Taormina Km. 27 | h. 35:00 | A + SS

Etna National Park

Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. It is located in the north-east of Sicily and is the result of numerous geological events that have taken place over tens of thousands of years. Its huge mass faces the Ionian Sea to the east and is bordered on the northern side by the Alcantara river which over time has carved out of the bed of volcanic rock splendid narrow gorges which now form part of the reserve of the Gorges of the Alcantara River. Etna is bordered to the west and south-west by the Simeto river. Presently, the volcano is approximately 3,300 metres high, has a perimeter of around 210 kilometres and a surface area of approximately 1,600 square kilometres. During periods of intense volcanic activity, lava can erupt from hundreds of temporary craters on the flanks of the volcano which are grouped into more than 260 eruptive systems. The current structure of the volcano, whose height is constantly changing through eruptions and flanks falls, has been building up on the old volcanoes of Trifoglietto, whose collapse created the Valle del Bove as well as the Mongibello crater, from the Arab word gebel which means "mountain of mountains", still active today. The summit of the volcano comprises the Central crater, Voragine and Bocca Nuova, the North-east crater at a height of 1,911 metres above sea level and the South-east crater at a height of 1,971 metres above sea level. In addition to the craters on the summit, Montagnola and Monti Silvestri are of particular interest. Montagnola is one of the most imposing among the temporary volcanic cones of Etna; it rises to the south of the Central crater at an altitude of 2,500 metres and was created by the 1763 eruption. The Monti Silvestri were created by an eruption in 1892 and the road that runs from Zafferana and Nicolosi to the area in front of the Rifugio Sapienza and to the cable car, the destination for all visitors who wish to climb the volcano, passes between these two volcanic cones - Monte Silvestri Superiore ("higher") and Monte Silvestri Inferiore ("lower"). Located at a height of 2,900 metres is the Torre del Filisofo, a structure named after Empedocles, the philosopher from Agrigento who climbed the volcano to study its geological phenomena and make his home there. Legend has it that the philosopher died when he fell into the mouth of the volcano but no-one is sure whether he fell by accident or voluntarily.
Guided tours to the craters on the summit are available with expert and qualified local guides in 4x4 buses and off-road vehicles. The company which operates the cable car runs these services officially, however, there are many other operators offering a similar service. Departures take places from the Rifugio Sapienza with "Acquaterra" on the southern slope or from Piano Provenzana with "S.T.A.R." on the northern slope. Flying over the volcano in a helicopter is a unique and exhilarating experience. Among the various companies offering this service we recommend "Volcanotrek".

Distance from Taormina Km. 30 | h. 00:00 | SS

Alcantara Gorges

The Park of the Alcantara River covers the basin of the Alcantara river located on the northern slopes of the Etna volcano. The source of the river is located in the Nebrodi Mountains near to Floresta. The Alcantara river has a length of around 50 kilometres and, near to the point where it crosses a series of imposing lava flows, the river has created a series of deep gorges characterised by their sheer sides and columns with prismatic bases. The columns surround the walls of the basalt canyon like organ pipes. Inside the gorges small pools and cascades have formed where it is possible to take a swim. Access to the park is located near to Motta Camastra at Fondaco Motta and from this point it is possible to descend into the gorge to the riverbank on foot via a long pathway or, upon payment, via a series of private lifts. In the summer the Circumetnea railway offers a tourist package which includes a guided tour of the Alcantara Gorges. Another feature worthy of a visit are the so-called "Gurne" of small lakes which are formed by the river near to Francavilla di Sicilia.

Distance from Taormina Km. 50 | h. 01:00 | SS

Nebrodi National Park

The National Park of the Nebrodi mountains, stretching for around 70 kilometres, together with the Madonie mountains to the west and the Peloritani mountains to the east, form the siculan Appenines. The Park faces the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north and is bordered to the east by Etna, the Alcantara river and the upper reaches of the Simeto river. The natural features which most strongly characterize the landscape of the Nebrodi mountains include the diversity in the shape of the landscape itself, the rich vegetation and the moist, humid atmosphere. Their peaks, which reach a maximum height of 1,847 metres above sea level with Monte Soro, have round flanks which open out into wide valleys that have been sculpted by numerous rivers which flow into the Tyrrhenian Sea. In some parts their features resemble the Dolomites with irregular profiles and jagged forms. Good examples of this are the spectacular and impervious limestone rock formations of Monte San Fratello and, above all, the Rocche del Crasto in the region of Alcara Li Fusi and S. Marco D'Alunzio. The Nebrodi mountains are characterized by dense woods, high, verdant pastures, peaceful lakes and fast-flowing streams which contrast with the popular view of Sicily as an arid land parched by the sun. The Park has numerous destinations of interest for visitors such as the Castello dell’Impallaccionata or Pietratagliata, the Maulazzo lake at an altitude of 1,400 metres set in the middle of the Solazzo Verde plantation of beech trees and the Biviere lake near Cesarò which is the most important moist, mountain habitat for nature in Sicily. The Zerbetto, Malo Passo, Fossa del Lupo, Mangalaviti and Serra del Re woods between Longi and Bronte, accessible from Galati Mamertino, represent an area of extraordinary beauty and fascination for its dense vegetation and numerous streams. In total there are 23 municipalities inside the Nebrodi National Park: Acquedolci, Alcara Li Fusi, Capizzi, Caronia, Cesarò, Floresta, Galati Mamertino, Longi, Militello Rosmarino, Mistretta, Sant’Agata Militello, Santa Domenica Vittoria, San Fratello, San Marco d'Alunzio, Santo Stefano di Camastra, San Teodoro, Tortorici, Ucria, Bronte, Maniace, Randazzo, Cerami and Troina.

Distance from Taormina Km. 52 | h. 01:00 | SS

Novara di Sicilia

Distance from Taormina Km. 72 | h. 01:00 | SS

Tindari

The town of Tindari was founded on 396 B.C. by Dionysius of Syracuse. Its name, Tyndaris, was attributed to the town in honour of Tyndareus, king of Sparta. Destroyed by a landslide and two earthquakes, Tindari saw the light again thanks to some archaeological excavations started in 1838 and resumed later on between 1960 and 1998. During these excavations Roman mosaics, sculptures and ceramics were found, which are now displayed in the local museum. At present,, dating back to Greek-Roman times, the remains of the ancient town walls are visible, as well as the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna.
The ancient town walls, restored during the late imperial and Byzantine era, extended originally for around 3 km over two parallel lines separated by a gap from which two square towers rose that conducted to the walls summit (a section of these stairs is still visible today). The main gate, on the south-west side, was sided by two towers and protected by a semi-circular pincer-style gate, the inner area of which was paved with pebbles. Other narrow passages opened up beside the main gate towers which were used for the defenders' exit.
The Greek theatre, which was restored later in Roman times, is situated on a promontory from which there are magnificent views over the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Aeolian islands and the small lakes of Marinello. After years of neglect, today the theatre is the seat of musical shows and theatrical events during summertime.
The small lakes of Marinello, or "dried sea," are a spectacular and curious sand formation that contains at its centre small stretches of water. According to one amongst various legends, a beach would miraculously form following the fall of a little girl from the Sanctuary's terrace, who was later found safe and sound on the beach which had just been created. Following the miracle, the child's mother, a pilgrim coming from a far-away land, would have changed her mind about the true nature of the scuplture, about which she had doubts because of the Virgin's black colour. Another legend tells of the death of Pope Eusebio on this very beach, on 17th August 310, a few months after his election, on 18th April. The Pope had supposedly been exiled to Sicily from Massenzio. Furthermore, next to the beach a small cave opens up. According to a local legend, this cave was inhabited by a witch who attracted sailors with her singing to then devour them. When some of her baits renounced to continue because of the difficulty of reaching the cave entrance the witch unburdened her feelings by plunging her fingers into the cave walls: the numerous holes in the rock would originate from this.
The Sanctuary of the Black Madonna is situated at the very edge of the promontory. There lies a statue carved in cedar wood, that probably reached this coast due to Iconoclasm (a political-religious movement that developped during the Byzantine Empire arounf the first half of the VIII century). The church was destroyed by Algerian pirates in 1544 and was rebuilt a few decades later to be permanently enlarged in 1979. The Sanctuary festival occurs every year on 7th September.

How to reach Tindari:
Tindari rises over a promontory on the north-east coast of Sicily which dominates over the Tyrrhenian Sea in front of the Aeolian islands, between Capo Calavà and Milazzo, about 60 km to the west of Messina. From the A20 motorway (Palermo-Messina) exit at Falcone and then proceed on the SS 143 towards Palermo for about 7 km. Then follow the directions to Tindari.

Distance from Taormina Km. 120 | h. 01:00 | A

Syracuse

Syracuse is the fourth largest city in Sicily by population. Its name is derived from the siculan word "Syraka" which means city rich in water due to its numerous waterways and marshy area. Described by Cicero as "the most beautiful of all the Greek cities" in 2005 it was declared, together with the nearby necropolis of Pantalica, a UNESCO world heritage site. Both in Greek and in Latin, the city's name was expressed in the plural form, "Siracusae", because the city founded by Archia, a Corinthian noble, in 734 B.C. soon became a "pentapolis" or grouping of five cities after the addition of a further four centres to the original centre located on the island of Ortigia: Acradina, Tiche, Neàpolis ed Epipolis. The reputation of Syracuse is directly related to its Greek history and at that time the city was surrounded by a fortified wall with the castle of Eurialo as its apex, a unique example of a Greek fortress which was never conquered and is still in existence. Stone used to construct the castle and temples in the surrounding area was excavated from underground quarries or "latomie" during the Greek occupation. The most famous of these "latomie" is the Latomia dei Cappuccini which was used to hold prisoners of war during the war with Athens where they were left to die of starvation and privation. A number of temples remain partially intact at Syracuse, the most famous of which is the Temple of Apollo. The temple is the oldest in Sicily and is located on the small island of Ortigia which contains the original part of the city. During the Roman period the city grew noticeably both in splendour and importance. A number of works of significant importance remain today such as the Roman Amphitheatre, one of the largest in Italy used for gladiatorial contests, the Roman Gymnasium and the Catacombs. Syracuse then endured a series of occupations by various powers including the Byzantines (when it became a Byzantine imperial court), the Muslims and subsequently the Normans. After the earthquake of 1693, the city underwent a new architectural renaissance and numerous churches and Baroque buildings are still standing today as evidence of the splendour of this period. The illustrious history of Syracuse is demonstrated by the fact that the city possesses the first Christian church in Europe (the Cathedral), the largest theatre in the Greek world (and the best preserved in Europe), the Orsi museum which is the largest archeological museum in Europe and the Roman Catacombs which are the largest of their kind in Europe outside Rome. Inside the Archeological Park which covers an area of 240,000 square metres you can find the above-mentioned Latomie, quarries where the Greeks excavated stone for construction projects and which were subsequently used as prisons, the Ear of Dionysius, an artificial grotto with an entrance on the form of an auricle whose internal acoustic features amplify sounds as featured in the legend of the tyrant Dionysius who imprisoned his enemies here and heard their amplified words from afar. Also inside the Archeological Park you can find the Roman Amphitheatre from the third century A.D., the Greek Theatre constructed in the fourth century B.C. but which has been modified periodically over time, the Roman Gymnasium from the first century B.C. which comprised a portico, a "quadriportico" (an open space surrounded by a portico on each side), a temple and Roman Burial Grounds stretching for a distance of around 150 metres. A number of important nature reserves are located in the area around Syracuse, including the Cavagrande del fiume Cassibile and the Vendicari Nature Reserve.

Distance from Taormina Km. 44 | h. 00:00 | A

Santa Maria la Scala

At the foot of the “Timpa Nature Reserve” in the territory of Acireale, along the Ionian coast, lies the seaside fishing village of  Santa Maria La Scala. The village gathers around an attractive little harbour, called “Scalo Grande,” edged on the south side by an old yet functioning Water Mill. Like in the past, the mill is still powered today by the water of the Miuccio spring coming from the Timpa region. On the north side of the village is a wonder of nature which is reachable by sea: the “Grotta delle Colombe,” a natural but unfortunately weather-beaten molten rock grotto. The exisiting church was built after the 1963 earthquake. Inside the church are beautiful paintings by Giacinto Platania and Michele Vecchio. Strolling along the seafront on the pier of this small village, you are likely to meet old and experienced fishermen - their faces marked by the sea - busy with their usual daily activity: the mending of their fishing nets. The ones who wish to can reach Santa Maria La Scala through a narrow seventeenth-century road called “Le Chiazzette:” an interesting nature trail amidst the quiet atmosphere of the Timpa Nature Reserve. Santa Maria La Scala is also a popular seaside resort thanks to its natural cliffs of molten rocks that have been gradually polished by the waves. The village is as well a preferred and customary location for both Sicilians and tourists who wish to eat fresh fish or savour a delicious almond granita (“slush”).