Seeing these two craters will provide you with shorter hiking experience and the chance to admire the mountain from high up, but without the massive effort of hiking for hours or the expense of going up to the top. Fax: +39 095 7676 576 From here it is possible to start a trekking guided path, along the Parco dellEtna, or purchasing the Etna High-altitude option to hike up to 3000 mt with special vehicles and alpine guides. Free time to enjoy its lanes, doing shopping on the local handycraft shops or fashion stores. Following the road around the edge of town youll come to the Belvedere di Via Pirandello viewpoint which looks down to the idyllic island of Isola Bella. How to Get There From Catania: Drive 1h15m by car is the easiest and less time-consuming option. Duration: Full day. Copyright 2022 The Wandering Wanderluster | All Rights Reserved | Images & articles are copyrighted by The Wandering Wanderluster. Buses take about the same time but run even more frequently. Located 2 hours drive west of Catania, Agrigento is the furthest day trip option I have listed. I love hiking, mountains and road trips and I can't wait to show our beautiful world to my son. The daily tour ends with the visit of a famous winery for a delicious tasting of wines, cheese and cold cuts. With a thousand years of history, Siracusa was once one of the most powerful cities of the ancient Greek world. For views over Modica, find your way up to the Pizzo Belvedere and look out over the citys rooftops. Located on a hilltop, Ragusa is another of Sicilys baroque gems. Similar to Noto, the town was flattened by the terrible earthquake that hit most of Eastern Sicily in 1693, so most of the buildings you see were rebuilt after the quake. From here it is possible to start a trekking guided path, along the Parco dellEtna, or purchasing the Etna High-altitude option to hike up to 3000 mt with special vehicles and alpine guides. We highly suggest visiting the Baroque church of San Giorgio with its spectacular 18th-century. The towns top sight is without a doubt the Scala di Santa Maria del Monte, a huge 142 step staircase in which every step is decorated in hand-painted tiles. How to get there by Catania: Most beaches in Siracusa will require a car to reach them (Ortigia also has a beach which can be reached on foot from the city). The undeniable highlight of this masterfully preserved site is the extensive series of mosaics that cover the floors of rooms, corridors, and halls of the villa. First stop at 2000mt, to enjoy the beauty of Crateri Silvestri, small volcanic cones now inactive, surrounded by ancient lava flows. Another gorgeous baroque city well worth exploring from Catania is the hilltop city of Ragusa. Start your visit by entering through the Messina Gate and taking a walk through the streets of the town center which is full of restaurants and stores selling typical Sicilian produce. Entrance costs are to be confirmed. Sat on the eastern coast of Sicily, Catania is the islands second-largest city. One of the best things to see in Sicily outside of Catania is the incredible collection of mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale. Alternatively, take a fixed taxi ride for 15 from the train station. Taormina beach can be reached by train or bus from Catania as can Giardini Naxos. Begin your visit to this coastal city by exploring the archaeological park of Neapolis in the modern part of the city. Getting there from Catania: 1h10m by car or by train to Siracusa and then change to train to Gela (3-hour journey each way). Starting at the Temple of Juno, visitors follow ancient roads westward past multiple temples and tombs, including the incredible Temple of Concordia. Modern-day Siracusa houses a number of restaurants, bars, and high street shopping opportunities as well the Sanctuary of The Madonna of Tears, a giant spaceship looking monstrosity built to supposedly look like a tear. At 931 m (3,054 ft) above sea level, Enna is Italys highest provincial capital, standing proudly above the hills and valleys of central Sicily. Situated 1 hour 40 minutes from Catania, it is one of the least popular day trip options, as it is relatively unknown to the typical tourist visitors to the island.. Enjoy the quintessential image of Sicily and sit and soak in the ambience with a gelato late afternoon as the tune of the Godfather is played in the background by the local pianist! Due to the lack of shade and desert-like temperatures during the summer, we highly recommend arriving mid-afternoon, exploring the museum first and then walking the slope down the valley when the temperatures have dipped slightly late afternoon. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Villa Romana del Casala is one of the worlds finest remnants of the Roman Empire, known for its rich, vibrant and high quality mosaics that decorate the floor of every room of a historic Roman Villa estate., While the exact owner of the villa is unknown, it is said the owner must have had great wealth, and some speculate that it could have been a country retreat for a Roman experor (possibly Diocletian). Located just one hour by car to Etna Sud (Etna South), Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Dont forget to stop by the Fountain of Arethusa and at the far end of the island, the Maniace Castle, built for Emperor Frederick II. Taormina is without a doubt a must-visit day trip from Catania and one of the best-known spots in Sicily. The rates include: Pick-up h.8.30 AM at your hotel in Catania city centre or hinterland / Drop-off at the hotel / Multilingual travel escort. Your email address will not be published. The citys main drawing card is its top sight the large Neapolis Archaeological Park, home to some vast Greek remains that will give you a hint of the power the city once had at its peak back in the 5th-century BC. Etna from the south tend to go in stages as you make your way up to its summit of 3,326m. The trouble now is working out which of these destinations will best suit your trip and how many you want to explore. Departure:Tuesday Friday Sunday A true off the beaten path gem, Marzamemi is regarded as one among the most beautiful sea towns of Italy. A simpler option that will also show you other baroque towns is to visit with a guided tour. No worries, we have listed the best tour for each day trip (where available). Due to technical reasons, traffic and force majeure, time schedule of departures and arrivals may be subject to variation, for a maximum of 30 minutes, even without any notice. A visit to Ortigia (Ortygia) often goes hand in hand while visiting Siracusa, however, I would argue that Ortigia deserves its own spot as you can easily spend an entire day wandering around it side streets and exploring its boutique shops, churches, and ancient sights. As soon as you cross the bridge from the mainland, youll find the remains of the Greek Temple of Apollo. Admission fee to pay on spot: Taormina Greek Theatre 10,00 p.p. Etna and features the Alcantara River coursing through a canyon in the countryside. Movie fans will recognise locations from The Godfather, with scenes set in Corleone involving the young Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, filmed in this small medieval town. And dont forget to spend some time hanging out in the towns Piazza IX Aprile, with its checker board terrace. Duration: Full day, Programs and rates are subjected to reconfirmation due to Covid-19. Next, find your way to the impressive Teatro Antico to admire this ancient Greek theater and the sweeping views it offers. Its high concentration of ruins makes this the top archaeological sight in Sicily, and you can easily spend a whole day visiting its numerous temples. Everywhere you look youll see finely painted pottery pieces, and in certain shops you can watch local artisans at work, painting anything from small kitchen jars to large outdoor tables. Your own four wheels allow you to be in control of your time and schedule, and depending on how many people are in your group, renting a car might even work out cheaper than other forms of transportation. Free time to enjoy its lanes, doing shopping local handycraft shops or fashion stores. Getting there: Because its found in the countryside, there arent any viable public transport options to get from Catania to Alcantara Gorge. Right next to it is the farmers market, a must-visit for foodies and a taste of true Sicilian local life. This small elegant Baroque town sits on the coast of the Ionian Sea just a short 30 minute drive from Catania. If you want to take an organised tour check out this combined full day trip to Acrireale including Mount Etna and Acitrezza. Crystal clear and with an aqua color, the water beautifully contrasts against the worn and rippled walls of the gorge. Although if you have time (and the money) an overnight stay in Taormina would allow you to fully enjoy the evening scene where Taormina comes to life! Visits to Mt. The rates do not include: Admission fees to museum, local guides, lunch. Still sitting exactly in place, these are said to be the best, most complete in-site Romain mosaics in the world. Antica Dolceria Bonajuto has operated since 1880 and is the oldest chocolate factory in Sicily, while the town also has a Chocolate Museum dedicated to this sweet tradition. But it isnt the town people flock here to see. From there, you can either take the cable car or hike to reach the next stage at 2,500 meters in elevation. How to get there from Catania: 1h40m from Catania by car or 25 minutes from Ragusa. Getting there: To get from Catania to Noto, theres the option of taking a 1 hour bus ride or a 2 hour train ride via Syracuse, but neither option is very frequent. Born in Ye Old England, I am a travel writer, digital marketeer and Mother of one. Built over 200 years after the original Gothic cathedral burnt down in 1446, the current cathedral features a magnificent interior with a splendid wooden coffered roof and Baroque stuccoes. If youre looking for an easy place to escape for the day, then Syracuse is an ideal day trip. Sit in awe of its grand stage that perfectly frames Mount Etna in its background and take in the views over the bay of Naxos that sits below. Under the Arab rule, the town was nicknamed Qal at al Gharn meaning Fortress of Jars with reference to the processing of clay. It is heralded as one of the best places to visit in Sicily, known for its ancient Archaeological site, the Valley of the Temples. With an airport located just outside the city perimeters, and easy train and bus connections, Catania is the perfect base to explore the eastern and southern areas of Sicily. Learn how your comment data is processed. Do note that the Taormina train station sits down at the bottom of a considerable hill, while the bus station is up in town. Before long youll be standing between the Town Hall within the grand Palazzo Ducezio and the long staircase leading to the immense Noto Cathedral.
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