07
Gole dell’ Alcantara
This is the deep gorge of the river Alcantara (you can take a lift down if feeling lazy), with an icy limpid river in which to paddle if you are brave enough. Or you can rent waders and you can walk along the river and discover little caves. Lovely place to spend the day, sunbathing, wading through the river and having a picnic.
Catania
Fantastic market Monday-Saturday, very close to the train station. Lots of baroque churches, a Greek amphitheatre, Castello Ursino built at the request of Federico II di Svevia in the 13th century, the large garden of Villa Bellini and the University’s botanical garden. Also fabulous shops and bars (there are very good pre-prandial snacks like arancini, pate di riso, pizzette, etc). Via Etnea, is a fantastic road for shopping or window shopping.
Very easy to walk to Giarre-Riposto railway station and go to Catania in 25 minutes, without having to worry about finding a parking space once you get there.
To quench your thirst have a fresh almond milk, granitas, seltzer drinks, or cuore di cane (lemon granita and iced tea).
From Catania, you need a car though, you penetrate the ancient heart of Sicily. The countryside is a perfumed citrus plantation: the famous Sicilian blood oranges with their unmistakeable, very sweet red flesh, prosper here.
Etna
More than 1400 plants species live on the slopes of Etna, the highest volcano in Europe (3346metres). At the summit there are four main erupting craters. The lava is destructive initially then years later becomes the most fertile soil on the planet from which everything that grows tastes good.
Day trip up Etna (South side)
Drive up to the Rifugio Sapienza where you meet your guide, get into a cable car. At the top your guide takes you in an off road vehicle up to the top- torre del filosofo at 3000m. This takes 2 hours.
Day trip up Etna (North side)
Meet the guide in Linguaglossa- Piano Provenzana. He will drive you in an off-road car up to Piano concazze (2800m). It takes 2 1/2 hours.
If you feel hungry after such an exciting trip, have a lovely meal at the Rifugio Sapienza or Piano Provenzana, or later on you could have a hot chocolate in the café before deciding to go slowly back down.
Or on foot
With a guide you spend all day from 9am-5pm on a guided tour. For this you need to take a packed lunch with you.
The Circumetnea Railway
The spectacular route of the Circumetnea railway goes from Catania to Riposto, one of the best ways to see the slopes of the volcano. Very fascinating to see how the various areas at the foot of the volcano, have been shaped year after year by the lava flows. You can sit comfortably in your little train, and enjoy the views, perhaps while having a packed lunch.
Taormina & Castelmola (30/45 mins by car)
From the Greek for “Bull mountain” this town is a jewel. There is a 14th century church, a Greek amphitheatre and an air of serenity even in the height of summer when full of tourists. The 2 main gates are on each side of the historical centre of the town; between them there is a main street with views down to the sea, one’s eye passing over lemon and olive groves. There are very stylish shops and cafes where you can sit and enjoy the world passing by. There are also quiet little alley ways going up from that street which take you to interesting buildings and views. There is an annual film/dance/cinema/art festival here, a delicious garden and many other beautiful buildings.
South of Taormina you can make wonderful boat trip to the Grotta Azzurra.
The ruins of the most ancient Greek colony in the whole of Sicily (8th century BC) can be seen in Giardini Naxos (4km south of Taormina) where a Museum has the finds discovered in the great excavations on the seashore.
Going up from Taormina you will find Castelmola with views to die for. Have a rest in esoteric Bar Turrisi and while you sip your almond wine cast your eye over the… details!
There is a splendid beach near Taormina called Isola Bella where you can enjoy sunbathing and swimming and catch ricci.
Zafferana Etnea it is half way between sea level and Etna. Pleasant temperature in the summer, you find a multitude of honies (pistachio, chestnut, hazelnut etc), excellent the “pizza siciliana”. There is a very beautiful clothes shop with a good range for children, men and women.
Sant’Alfio
Very close to Zafferana, at 500 metres above sea level. There is a beautiful church with a fa ade in lava stone. Just outside the village is the chestnut tree of the Cento Cavalli (100 horses) perhaps the largest and oldest tree in Europe. Ask the locals to tell you the legend of the English Queen.
ACireale & Acitrezza & Acicastello
Acireale (about 20/30 mins away). To see: some valuable baroque buildings and churches, Villa Belvedere with a view over Mount Etna and the sea. Also the neoclassical Terme di S.Venera on the ruins of the Roman thermal bath complex.
What many consider to be the most enchanting carnival in Sicily is held in Acireale. In the city, amongst the scented gardens of lemon trees and the Romanesque Gothic Duomo, with fish dishes you can taste almond pastries, nougats, rice fritters, Sicilian cakes and a wonderful pistachio (but not only!) ice cream.
Beautiful at night too, and so also Acicastello and Acitrezza.
Acicastello. To see: the impressive Norman Castle, built in the 11th century on a rock overlooking the sea. Inside it is the Museo Civico organised into three sections –mineralogy, palaeontology, archaeology- as well as a lovely Mediterranean aquarium. This is a traditional fishing village, with a little picturesque harbour.
Acitrezza legend is that when Odysseus fled the Cyclops, Polyphemus, the rocks (I Faraglioni) thrown after Odysseus remain standing upright in the water
Go on a boat trip from Acitrezza and discover Isola Lachea, I Faraglioni, il Castello di Aci, le Grotte di Ulisse, La Baia di Ognina
Other nice beaches
Letojanni, Santa Teresa and Sant’Alessio (white sand, faraglione and 18th century castle) beaches are just a short distance from the railway stations, which it makes it easy from Sant’Anna, just to walk to the station, and go to a different beach (but still very close) for the day.
