Catania & Etna Volcano Tour

Catania and Etna Volcano, history and nature, baroque and eruptions...

We offer unique travel experiences in Sicily with personalized and tailor-made tours. Let’s explore Catania & Etna Volcano together, local friendly staff and comfortable vehicles at your disposal.

Catania is an ancient city both medieval and baroque often destroyed by earthquakes, by the Etna eruptions and by different wars. For this reason, here there are very few historical constructions: in the Catania cathedral, you can see the ancient ruins of a Roman amphitheatre, of some Roman spas and of some Arab-Norman palaces. The Architect Gian Battista Vaccarini redesigned Catania during the XVIII century. Catania is located at the bottom of the Etna volcano on the Ionic coast. It is an important industrial centre and its territory developed on agriculture. Catania historical center is crossed by two main streets: the first one is Via dei Crociferi where you can admire ancient palaces and baroque churches; the second one is Via Etnea that ends with a wonderful view of the Etna. Here there is the Catania University that dates back to the 1434 including the Volcanology l Institute with its museum and the Astronomy Institute. The Dome Square (Piazza Duomo), this is the main square in Catania characterized by harmonious XVIII century palaces and by its central monument representing the symbol of the city: the Fountain with the Elephant. This is a Roman monument made up by stone formed by lava. Always in this square, you can admire the Cathedral with the Sant’Agata Chapel where there is the very precious Sant’Agata treasure and the Palace of the Elephants (Palazzo degli Elefanti) that is the seat of the Catania municipality. From this square, you can arrive to the most important street of this city: Via Etnea where there are wonderful baroque buildings with their lava powder façades and many shops and pastry stores. The Ursino Castle this is the unique medieval construction visible today in Catania. Built in 1240 to protect this city from the sea, used as a royal residence and as a prison. In 1934 it became the seat of the Civic Museum where you can admire various ancient paintings, sculptures and ceramics.

CATANIA HIGHLIGHTS

Scenic drive through Acireale and visit the fisherman towns of Acicastello and the Cyclops Bay of Acitrezza
Drive to Catania rich of beautiful example of baroque art
Visit and drive to Duomo square, Fish market, Amenano’s fountain, Roman amphitheater
Etna Volcano – It is almost unbelievable to think where today is located 3335meters high volcano once was only water basin circa 500, 000 years ago. The phenomenal clash between African and Eurasian shelves made the huge impact between them and caused the compression of magma, deep below the sea causing Etna volcano to rise up violently. Depending on the time of the year arriving to the top of the volcano Etna by the road called Mareneve you will find yourself rising from summer to spring or from autumn to winter, because the temperature between Catania and Etna changes more than 20° C. The road is named “Mareneve” (Sea- snow) with the reason that one way of the road opens the landscape of the sea and on the other side, you will see the snow on the top of Etna. You will be able to see the rich vegetation of mountain and the intensity of the colors. The most widely spread plant of Etna is Ginestra and you should not forget to visit the oldest and biggest European chestnut-tree – the Chestnut Tree of Hundred Horses in Sant’Alfio. We will rise until 2000meters where are the well-known Crateri Silvestri born after the eruption in 1892. Nearby you will find the restaurant Cantoniera, destroyed during 20 minutes by lava in 1983 and two years later again rebuilt. Etna area is not famous only for eruptions; the towns located on the slopes of the volcano are beautiful, Zafferana is popular for good honey famous for its excellent quality. In wintertime is possible to ski in Etna, during that time nearby villages Nicolosi, Linguaglossa, Rifugio Sapienza and Piano Provenzano change into skiing paradises. It is impossible to predict which kind of face the volcano is going to show but you can be sure it will be a different and astonishing experience to remember all your life.

ETNA VOLCANO HIGHLIGHTS

Scenic drive to Mount Etna the highest active volcano in Europe
Stop and visit Zafferana Etnea town on Etna valley, where was placed one of the most recent lava eruption on year 1991
Scenic drive to Rifugio Sapienza on Etna Regional Parkand visit the Silvestri Craters born on year 1892
What to wear on Etna volcano

From May to October, a jacket or/and a jumper, comfortable shoes and sunglasses on a sunny day.

From November to April, a waterproof jacket and warm clothes.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR TOUR!

In case none of the above excursions suit your need and you wish to customize something for you, kindly write us specifying: - Your Group Size (and average age); - Your interests; - Port of Call and Cruise schedule. Our local staff will be pleased to work together with you to find something that fit your needs.

YOUR DESTINATION, OUR GOAL


Cars with license, The goal of our drivers is to satisfy you.

All our prices are per Vehicle and not per Person

No tax or extra cost

Insurance in good standing for the transport of persons and in compliance with the law in force

We accept cash payments, with major credit and debit cards or by bank transfer

CANCELLATION POLICY


If your cruise ship will not be able to enter the port, we will refund the entire deposit

If you cancel the reservation 7 days before the date of your excursion, we will refund 50% of the deposit

If you cancel the reservation 6 days before the date of your excursion or in case of no presence on your part, the deposit will not be refunded

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