Tour Etna e Taormina

Departures from: Modica, Scicli, Pozzallo, Sampieri, Donnalucata, Ragusa, Ispica, Marzamemi, Portopalo

Duration of the tour: about 11 hours

On request tour guide for a guided tour on Etna and / or for visiting the cities of Taormina with Siciliataxi

On request, lunch in restaurant or trattoria typical of Etna with Sicily taxi.

Etna: Etna: With its 3343 meters is Europe's largest volcano in activity. Also known as Mongibello, Etna is distinguished by the variety of tree and plant species that cover its hips and change due to the altitude progression, leaving space for a landscape of obvious desert connotations. The many eruptive manifestations that have occurred over the centuries have repeatedly modified and altered the profile of Etna, leading to the formation of new eruptive mouths.

First stop: after passing the city of Catania by car we will start climbing to the 1900mt sea level. Passing through the town of Gravina di Catania, Mascalucia and Nicolosi until reaching the Rifugio Sapienza. After Nicolosi we will see clearly changing the landscape. We will see, in fact, the consequences of many lava flows, some houses are still destroyed or littered by lava stone.

At the Rifugio Sapienza the promenade begins on the Etna volcano. Meanwhile from the parking lot you can admire the beautiful panorama on the plain of Catania up to Syracuse. Here on foot we can reach the Silvestri Craters. It is merely two calm craters that have been extinguished for over a century at 2000 meters of altitude, far from the 3350 meters of the summit.

Starting from the south crater and walking along the edge you will look at the landscape south, east and north. Some tourists inside the crater will tell you the real dimensions of these crags. Crossing the road and starting the short climb to the north crater, you will look at the Montagnola to the north and the south crater from above, with the tiny people above it. The overall route is very simple, about one kilometer long and with a difference of about 50 meters.

Wanting to go back to the Etna volcano thanks to the service of Etna Cable Car. The Etna Cableway is the only company on the Etna Sud to make excursions to the authorized crater areas, allowing you to reach the summit areas of the highest volcano in Europe with the telecabin and special off-road vehicles.

At an altitude of 2000 meters you can choose to take a walk around the Etna Bar or go on board the special off-road vehicles that, conducted by experienced drivers, go up to the quota allowed by the competent authorities. You will find yourself in front of an incomparable sea-facing setting from which you will admire the imposing central crater, the south-east crater and the lava, historical and recent lava flows that characterize the landscape. The excursion continues with the Etna guides who, in compliance with the regulations in force, will accompany you in the places where the vitality of the volcano emerges.

Second stage.. Taormina. After lunch we will begin the descent of the Etna volcano crossing the characteristic town of Zafferana Etnea and Santa Venerina. Once you arrive in Taormina, you will begin visiting the city from Porta Messina, taking Corso Umberto I, the main street of Taormina. Delimited north of Porta Messina and south of Porta Catania, the ancient Greek-Roman road axis crosses the historic center of the beautiful Sicilian town.

Characterized by the succession of shops, fashion and souvenir shops, gastronomy and cafés, today the narrow street called the King of Italy Umberto I of Savoy, is a lively pedestrian walkway where thousands of visitors from all over the world travel to it every day . Apart from being an elegant shopping street, the Course is rich in architectural and artistic testimonies of different ages.

Once at Largo Santa Caterina on the left you will see Via Teatro Greco who will take you to the Teatro Greco di Taormina.

The construction of the theater probably begins with the Greeks around the 3rd century. BC, at the time of Gerone II. To allow construction, it was necessary to manually remove from the mountain over 100,000 cubic meters of rock. The plant was then restructured and enlarged by the Romans, who inserted columns, statues and ingenious covers. The Greek Theater of Taormina is by far the second largest theater in Sicily after that of Syracuse, but it is also the most known in the world and the most admired. The break that time has opened has enriched it with the magnificent view of the Gulf of Schisò and of Etna's greatness, magnificent with its whitewashed plume for much of the season.

Going back up to Santa Caterina you can admire the beauty of the Corvaja Palace. Several architectural styles, a sign of the various domination over the centuries, characterize the Corvaja Palace, a splendid villa which is located in the center of Taormina, in the square that once was the ancient Roman Forum and before the agora of the Greek Tauromenion

Continuing on Corso Umberto I will arrive at Piazza IX Aprile the charming panoramic terrace overlooking the sea, a delightful meeting place, the famous center of the Taormina world. The most famous square in Taormina opens onto the main street of the town, with its numerous open-air cafés, religious buildings and historic buildings that make it the frame, the characteristic portraits. Here you will be enchanted by the spectacular views of the Gulf and Mount Etna. The square overlooks the Baroque church of San Giuseppe, the former Gothic church of Sant'Agostino and the Clock Tower, or Porta di Mezzo, whose arch gives access to the old town.

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