Sicily suggested itineraries

We travel along the E45, the road which traverses the whole of Sicily, from Messina to Gela, so as to reach Taormina, one of the most famous Italian seafront cities. Writers of the caliber of Goethe, Maupassant, Lawrence and Wilde, stylists such as Dior, and a whole string of kings, princes and noblewomen have all spent at least one holiday in Taormina.

The town's fashionable beaches are reason enough to choose Taormina as perfect seaside holiday destination, to which we should add the various traces of the city's Hellenic origins and, in particular, its magnificent Greek theater complete with two impressive Corinthian columns. Not far away, lie the ruins of a tiny Greek temple and the so-called Antiquarium: a small museum in which treasures of ancient Taormina are conserved. More than just a few hours could be spent admiring the beautiful churches and elegant patrician town houses lining the streets of the historic center. The most famous of the city's palazzi is the medieval Palazzo Corvaja, constructed so as to resemble a castle, and offering an eclectic display of Arabian, Norman and Gothic architectural styles. The 14th century Cathedral is, arguably, the most impressive of all the city's splendid houses of worship.

Just a few kilometers from Taormina, lies Naxos, also known as Giardini-Naxos, famous for its glorious sea and impressive Archaeological Area. The tombs dating back to the bronze age and the ruins of a temple built in 5th century B.C, indicate the ancient importance of the town (it was in fact once much larger than neighboring Taormina). The historic center of Giardini Naxos is home to both the Church of Santa Maria Raccomandata and the imposing Schisò Castle. Another reason why so many tourists come to Giardini Naxos is the town's vicinity to the Gole dell'Alcantara, a spectacular gorge through which the Alcantara river flows.

On the road to Catania, there are two towns which more than deserve a visit: Arcireale and Acicastello. The towns Aci prefix refers to a figure of Greek mythology, the beautiful Sicilian shepherd Acis and lover of the Nereid Galatea, brutally murdered by his rival, the cyclops Polyphemus. Arcireale is famous for its sulfurous thermal waters but also for its historic center, where to admire numerous baroque masterpieces, from the Cathedral to the Palazzo Musmeci. The Norman Castle, built entirely with black volcanic rock, is the symbol of Acicastello, a hill top town boasting spectacular views of the Cyclops Riviera.

Mount Etna, Sicily's constantly active, 3300m high volcano, dominates the bay of Catania. The Mount Etna National Park, created so as to protect the unique natural environment surrounding the crater, provides amazing trekking and biking terrain. Those visiting the park in wintertime, can hitch a ride by cable car, passing above the snow covered mountain side, all the way to the black tip of the crater, from where to experience the thrill of skiing down the slopes of the volcano.

The historic center of Catania merits a detailed tour. The city's most famous landmark has to be the volcanic stone elephant supporting an Egyptian obelisk, situated in the central Piazza Duomo, directly opposite one of Catania's most interesting churches: the majestic baroque cathedral dedicated to Saint Agata. Via dei Crocefissi, street around which great part of the city's most important buildings are centered, is located within steps of the piazza. Here, the edifices are predominantly baroque, all built after the devastating earthquake and 10m high tsunami of 1693 which razed Catania to the ground and caused the death of 60,000 inhabitants. Frederick II of Swabia's 13th century Ursino Castle was one of the very few constructions to survive the violent tremors. Today the massif, four-towered fortress houses Catania's Civic Museum, in which to observe numerous archaeological exhibits. Catania is home to a number of impressive Roman ruins including an amphitheater, theater and baths.