Eastern Sicily NAtour
An itinerary suitable for students or for those who are interested in discovering the history and the nature of eastern Sicily in few days
Program
6 days / 5 nights
from Catania to Catania
1st day - Arrival in Catania (morning)
Arrival in Catania, transfer to the holiday farm or hotel, free afternoon.
It is possible to participate to some didactic activities with animals if they are in the farm. The cost of such activities
2nd day - Etna and Taormina
Breakfast at the hotel and excursion on the mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, a real giant that towers above and “protects” Eastern Sicily. We will reach 2000 meters of height, by crossing ancient lava flows and we will follow one of the natural paths on the Northern side of Mount Etna: the Sartorius craters. In the afternoon transfer to Taormina “the pearl of the Ionic Sea”. The town was founded by the Siculi on the Mount Tauro in the IV century before Christ. The most famous monument is the theatre dating back to the III century before Christ whose archaeological value is priceless. From there you can enjoy a wonderful view of the landscape
3rd day - Nature reserve and then to the beach!!
Breakfast at the hotel and departure early in the morning for the visit of the Nature Reserve of Vendicari, a wonderful faunal oasis. There you can enjoy the view of flamingos, herons, stilt plovers, storks, but also robins, crows, turtle doves and so on. In the oasis also live foxes, hares, rabbits and logs. The faunal and botanic richness is of relevant importance for the South Eastern Sicily. Late in the morning (about 12 o’ clock) transfer to Catania to enjoy the Sicilian beaches!!
At your disposition on the beach: lifeguard, entrance to the shore, deckchairs and beach umbrellas
4th day - Piazza Armerina > Agrigento
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Piazza Armerina where we will visit the “Villa Romana del Casale”, famous for its 3500 square meters of fantastic polychrome mosaics, representing scenes of hunting and entertainments, mythological and historical episodes. Next stop Agrigento where we will visit the wonderful “Valle dei Templi” where, among hundreds of almond trees, the rests of the ancient Akragas rise. It was defined by Pindar “the most beautiful city of mortals”. You will see the “Temple of Juno Lacinia”, the “Temple of Concordia” and the “Temple of Heracles”.
5th day - Ragusa > Donnafugata > Modica
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Ragusa Ibla, , a XVIII century town with many wonderful buildings: the cathedral of San Giovanni, the Bertini and Cosentini palaces, the portal of San Giorgio which are all examples of the baroque architecture. Going on to Donnafugata for the visit of the castle. It was built in XIX century on a pre-existent old tower used by the Normans as a sightseeing. It was build according to baron Arezzo’s will who used it as summer estate, while in recent times it is often used as film set. In the afternoon we move to Modica, also called “the town of laces” because of its refined decorated buildings and its baroque churches. Its steep staircase with 250 steps and the wonderful front make the Saint George Church full of charm. Moreover the Saint Peter's Duomo, the Capuchin Monastery and the Mercedari Palace are worth to be visited, as well as the typical pastry shops famous for their good chocolate.
6th day - Acitrezza > Catania departure
Breakfast at the hotel and leaving for the visit of the fishing small villages of the Ionian coast of Catania. We will enjoy, especially, the wonderful view of faraglioni in Acitrezza. The legend tells that Polyphemus threw them to stop Ulysses' flight who had cheated him. We will observe also the columnar Basalts, typical volcanic rocks arising from the undersea lava flows. Acitrezza, is also the place that inspired the famous Giovanni Verga’s novel I Malavoglia.
If we are in time, we can spend the last moments in Sicily to visit the “heart” of Catania: the Cathedral, Piazza Duomo, the baroque via Crociferi, the Church of the Colleggiata, the typical fish market la Pescheria.
