Catania City Break - 3 Days

CATANIA CITY BREAK – 3 Days

Experience the amazing Catania on a thrilling 3-day group tour!

Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast. It sits at the foot of Mt. Etna, an active volcano with trails leading up to the summit. Today is the industrial, logistical, and commercial centre of Sicily. The central “old town” of Catania features exuberant late-baroque architecture, prompted after the 1693 earthquake, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience the lively local markets indulge in delicious Sicilian dishes that will make your getaway truly unforgettable.

The City is located on the foot of Mt. Etna, founded by Greeks in the 8th century BC, and has a rich history influenced by many cultures, including Romans, Arabs, and Normans. Despite being rebuilt multiple times after devastating earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, its current downtown is primarily a masterpiece of 18th-century Sicilian Baroque architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Key historical highlights include being the site of Sicily’s first university in 1434, serving as a major cultural and political center during the Renaissance, and its resilience symbolised by the motto “I rise stronger from the ashes”.

Begins Daily from Catania
Only land services
Provided with: minimum of 2 clients
Limited to maximum: 18 people

HIGHLIGHTS:
Catania: the baroque black and white town and street food tour
Etna Volcano: explore the volcano at sunset tour
Taormina: the world famous resort town of Sicily
Godfather Village: visit Savoca and Forza d’Agrò

MEETING POINT
Meeting Point will be set in Catania center 15 minutes before estimated departing time. The exact location will be provided at time of booking.

ADMISSION FEE
The price of this tour does not include the Admission Fees.

We also strictly recommend to give a look at the below pages:

See Catania: what to see and what to do!
The world famous resort town of Sicily. READ MORE>

Welcome to Catania City Break!
Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast. It sits at the foot of Mt. Etna, an active volcano with trails leading up to the summit. The city’s wide central square, Piazza del Duomo, features the whimsical Fontana dell’Elefante statue and richly decorated Catania Cathedral. In the southwest corner of the square, La Pescheria weekday fish market is a rowdy spectacle surrounded by seafood restaurants. Catania is known as the “Black City” due to the dark volcanic rock –basalt– from Mount Etna that dominates its architecture, often combined with white limestone for contrast. This characteristic black and white contrast is a defining feature of its UNESCO-recognized Sicilian Baroque architecture, rebuilt after devastating volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. READ MORE>

Category
Catania City Breaks, City Breaks
Location
Catania, Etna, Savoca, Taormina
Grade
Easy
Days
3
Nights
2
Duration
3 Days
Category
Multi Days
Tour Type
Small group
Season
Daily

Day 1

Etna Sunset Tour - half day

We’ll embark on our journey aboard our vehicles, heading towards the slopes of Mount Etna, where one of our knowledgeable guides will enlighten you about the region’s history and its volcanic activity.

Along our route, we’ll be surrounded by both ancient and recent lava flows, and our guide will share the stories behind their creation.

Continuing our adventure, we’ll make our way to the Acqua Vitale Cave, one of the many lava tube caves. We’ll provide you with all the necessary equipment, including helmets and torches. If weather conditions or excessive snow and ice at the entrance make descending into the cave unsafe, our guide will ensure we find an alternative route. After this, we’ll take a break to refresh ourselves.

Next, we’ll head towards the impressive cluster of extinct craters known as the Silvestri Craters, where we’ll embark on an easy trek offering breathtaking views (reaching an average altitude of around 2000 meters). We’ll then move to a panoramic spot to witness the beginning of the sunset.

Please note that participation in the hike is subject to evaluation by our guide based on the participants’ fitness levels and abilities.

We’ll then return to the meeting point or accommodation.

Day 2

Catania Street Food Tour - Half Day

Expect a full meal or even more! The food choice depends on season and availability. Be ready for an immersive food experience in a relaxing atmosphere! Here is a list of our Catania Street Food Tour possible tastings:

Arancini: famous throughout the world, they are made of a ball of rice stuffed with a variety of ingredients (meat, cooked ham, spinach, pistachios, aubergines and more) and then fried in the traditional way.

Sicilian Caponata: this is a mixture of fried vegetables (mostly aubergines), seasoned with tomato sauce, celery, onion, olives, capers, sugar and vinegar. There are numerous variations of it, as it is widespread throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Caponata is generally used today as a side dish or hors d’oeuvre, but since the 18th century it has been a main course.

Fried fish cone: a delicious cone filled with various types of fried fish, caught that day!

Catanese cipollina: a Sicilian rustic pastry made of puff pastry, filled with fried onions, cooked ham and stringy cheese. A classic piece of Catanese rotisserie, which you will love from the first bite. A crispy, flaky shell that encloses a warm, stringy, sweet filling inside.

Cartocciata: from Catania is a stuffed, fragrant and flavourful rustic pastry. A Sicilian rotisserie speciality, it is similar to a small baked calzone, from which it differs due to its higher and softer dough.

Sicilian Cannoli: the wafer, traditionally moulded around a hot metal bar, is filled with a sweet and creamy preparation made with ricotta cheese, candied fruit, crunchy pistachios or dark chocolate chips. An explosion of taste and colour!

Sicilian Granita: perfect for relaxing and cooling down on hot summer afternoons. It is served in a glass and is ideal to end a rich meal on a high note. Fresh fruit, sugar and ice are the necessary ingredients – simple, but incredibly tasty!

Day 3

Taormina and Godfather Experience - Full Day

Today you are greeted at Catania hotel and drive to enjoy this Private Tour to Godfather Villages and Taormina from Catania.

You will revival the scenes of The Godfather movie. From the coastal road, rich of villas, flowering gardens, and picturesque villages, leads to the historical artist town of Savoca. In a private house in the village, Bar Vitelli houses a collection of local artisans’ tools and photographs taken when Francis Ford Coppola shot scenes of The Godfather II. Stroll along the village’s main street past Santa Lucia and San Michele churches for a short view over the valley.

Driving away, we’ll find a charming little village over-looking the Arab-Norman castle of Capo Sant’Alessio. In 1990, Al Pacino and Sophia Coppola shot scenes here for The Godfather III. From the main square, a lane meets the circular steps that ascend to the Gothic-Catalan portal in front of the Church of San Agostino.

Later we will continue to Taormina, the resort town of Sicily. On arrival time at leisure to explore the town or independent visit to the Greek Roman Theatre (Admission fee: not included) from where we can admire an amazing view.

This afternoon back to Catania hotel.

Included

English speaking Tour Director/Driver (as per program)
Licensed tourist guide as per program if more than 6 people on the tour
One light lunch in a local winery-farmhouse with tasting of local dishes, wine and olive oil tastings
Pick-up at meeting point
VAT
Vehicle/coach with air conditioning - no toilet
Visit as per itinerary (independent without booking of guide)

Not Included