Category: Sicily Holiday Tips

What to do in Catania If you come to Sicily you have to visit Catania, the second most important city in the area after the capital Palermo. Like Palermo, you can get here easily by plane, or by train, a slower method of transport but more interesting as there are many colorful sights along the way. It is well connected to the other parts of the island by a good public transport system. It lies on the east coast facing the Ionic sea and behind it looms Mount Etna with a majestic height of 3,323 meters above sea level. It remains snow-covered for many months of the year and often blows out a dark puff of smoke to remind us that it is still an active volcano, and taking a walk through the streets of Catania it can seem both protective and threatening at the same time… The urbanistic aspect of the city is dominated by 18th-century Baroque which takes its origins from a tragic event. As a matter of fact if the earthquake of 1669 saved the old city protected by a wall, the earthquake of 1693 brought more death and destruction, but gave the architect Vaccarini the opportunity to reconstruct Catania with main roads, squares, churches, palaces and monuments, that we can admire today. Best time to visit Catania The center, and symbol, of Catania is the fountain with the elephant that the local people call “U Liotru” from the Byzantine name Eliodoro, and the obelisk. The elephant is from the Roman era and is made from the dark lava of Mount Etna, the obelisk is Egyptian. Both decorate the beautiful square of the cathedral, which needs time to visit as it contains many treasures. The cathedral was built in Medieval times, even though it was rebuilt after

Places to visit in Taormina Today we would like to propose a visit to Taormina and the surrounding areas, giving advice on the best places and the necessary time for a full and unforgettable tour of the coast. Corso Umberto, Taormina Corso Umberto is the main street of the town with its remarkable gallery of shops steeped in art and culture. From Corso Umberto, it is possible to get to the Greek-Roman amphitheater and admire- until 3000 years of history. Continuing from the Corso Umberto, you will come to Piazza IX Aprile, with a breathtaking view of the overhanging shoreline, and the very charming town Villa, with its abundant vegetation of plants, palms, and flowers. Additionally to all of this, you can visit many buildings and small churches containing strong historical and cultural origins. In Taormina, there are no shortages of meeting places and entertainment.  In fact, the town has been able to meet the requirements of tourists by offering many types of services.  It is advisable to make good use of the many restaurants and pubs that offer good Sicilian food, but be careful not to end up in some place with a menu too touristic. Excursions to Mount Etna from Taormina Are you ready for an excursion to Mount Etna? Normally the tour agencies offer a pick-up service directly from your hotel or a place of choice, and by 8.00/9.00 in the morning you should be on the move with comfortable transport taking you towards the volcano. After having traveled for about 25 km you will find yourself inside the protected park area.  Initially made up of lush Mediterranean shrubbery which then gives way to a tree-covered landscape. The guide on Mount Etna will certainly propose to visit the pine wood and old craters situated at high altitudes,

How to visit the Isola Bella This time let’s speak about Isola Bella, Taormina, a characteristic rocky island sheltered by the coast, inside the city of Taormina in the bay of Mazzarò.  Nowadays Isola Bella is a protected marine reserve and appears in the UNESCO Tentative list. Characterised by views of rocky mountains which drop into the sea and crystal clear water that stems it, Isola Bella has become famous through time. The bonus is certainly a submerged strip of beach a small distance from the coast which becomes peninsular at low tide. Its name was given by the German baron Wilhelm Gloeden inspired by the artistic silhouette of the place. Isola Bella through time has had various owners: nobles, businessmen and celebrities of great importance. There was also a villa built inside with a swimming pool set between its rocks. Nowadays Isola Bella safeguards the Centre for Environmental Protection of the University of Catania, the CUTGANA. Tours to Isola Bella of Taormina Every year tens of thousands of tourists flock down the stairs to go and admire the island from its interior. With its pebbly beach, it doesn’t leave much space for anything other than the need to enjoy a day by the sea in harmony with nature.  But the island doesn’t finish here, you can go on an excursion by boat, visiting all the areas bordering the inside of the protected marine reserve and admiring all of the Taormina coastline. The excursions usually go towards the Blue Grotto, passing the bay of Mermaids and the island of figs, browsing slowly northwards, including all of the marine reserve. You can admire the fauna and flora on the mountains overhanging the sea, in particular, some dry plants and nesting birds, like the Pellegrino falcon and the commorants. Other recommended tours

Best places to see in Sicily Let's see the best places to visit in Sicily, which is the region in southern Italy and is the biggest island in the Mediterranean and Italy.  There are some groups of islands formed around it:  the Aeolian islands that face north in the province of Messina, the Pelagie islands in the province of Agrigento in the south, and the Egadi in the west in the province of Trapani. Its territory stretches for 25,832 km and it is the largest region in Italy and is subdivided into 390 districts. The capital of Sicily is Palermo, the other cities are Agrigento, Catania, Messina, Enna, Trapani, Ragusa, Syracuse, and Caltanissetta. Mountains, reserves, and Sicilian beaches Sicily is surrounded in the north by the Tyrrhenian sea, to the east by the Ionian sea, and to the south by the Sicilian Channel and is separated from the Italian peninsular by the straits of Messina.  Sicily boasts a crystal clear sea that flows onto its almost tropical beaches where protected marine parks of great beauty have grown. As for mountain ranges, it has the Nebrodi, a mountainous range in northern Sicily, that together with the Peloritani mountains to the east and the Madonie mountains to the west, form a good part of the Sicilian Apennines. On these mountain ranges, you can find organized areas, nature parks, and reserves of undeniable beauty that capture the attention of millions of tourists every year, especially lovers of the outdoors. In the southeast, we have the Iblei mountains and between Agrigento and Palermo, there are the Sicani mountains. But the highest overall peak is that of Mount Etna, a good 3343 m., and situated in the province of Catania. Mount Etna is an active volcano and the last eruption resulted in 2018.  Nowadays Etna