EASTERN SICILY

1° Day Catania - Siracusa - Noto

Your group arrives in Catania in the morning, then you will leave for Siracusa where you will visit the Archaeology Park rich in historical remains of the past: the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Orecchio of Dionisio, the Grotto of the Cordari, the Latomia del Paradiso. A visit to the Island of Ortigia, once the heart of the city, with its Fonte Aretusa and the Cathedral, once an acient temple of Athens. Lunch in a restaurant, then on to Noto, the Baroque capital of Sicily, that has been almost completely rebuilt after the terrible earthquake in 1693. Arrival at hotel for evening meal and accommodation.

2° Day Piazza Armerina - Caltagirone

Departure for Caltagirone after breakfast, the famous ceramics production centre. Tour of the town, with its attractive stairway decorated with colourful majolicas, then lunch in a restaurant. Next stop the Roman Villa in the Casale of Piazza Armerina, the largest example of Roman mosaic art in Sicily. In the evening you will head for your hotel on the Ionic coast for your evening meal and accommodation.

3° Day Catania - Etna

Tour of the old part of Catania after breakfast. Although the city was seriously damaged in the 1693 earthquake, it was later rebuilt, and still has numerous examples of Baroque architecture: the religious buildings in Via dei Crociferi, Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral, Piazza Università, the buildings and churches along Via Etnea made of lava. Lunch in a restaurant then you will head for Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, as far as the Silvestri craters at a height of 1.900 metres (you can reach 2.900 metres by jeep or cable car). Return to hotel for evening meal and accommodation.

4° Day Gole dell'Alcantara - Taorminia

After breakfast a trip to the spectacular, 40 metres high, Gole of black basaltic rock, along the bootom of which the river Alcantara flows, sometimes calm, other times rushing. Return to hotel for lunch, and then a tour of Taormina, the beautiful “Jewel of the Ionio”, in the afternoon: Palazzo Corvaia, the scenic Teatro Antico, symbol of the town, the Odeon, the Giardini Pubblici and the unique “Pagode”. In the evening return to starting point (Catania).