Catania Shore Excursion

This Catania Shore trip combines a walking tour of the port city plus a walking tour of the resort town of Taormina with its famous Greek-Roman Theater. Some free time in each city is also included.

After meeting your guide in Catania you drive along the eastern edge of Sicily, with the sea on one side of you and Mt. Etna looming on the other, until you reach Taormina. The town is located on a hill overlooking the sea and boasts some of the best Sicilian scenery. The city was colonized by the Greeks in 403 BC and became a federated city of the Roman Empire in 34 BC. Today it is one the most chic resorts in Sicily.

Your first stop is the gorgeous Greek-Roman amphitheater, the second largest in Sicily. It was originally built by the Greeks and then renewed later by the Romans. Today it still boasts near perfect acoustics and is the setting for music, film and dance festivals.

Next you drive into the town where you enjoy a short walking tour and some free time to explore some of the chic shops or relax in one of the caf̩s before returning to Catania.

When you arrive back in Catania you have some free time for lunch (meal not included).

Catania dates back nearly three centuries and has been influenced by many cultures through a series of conquests by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and the Spanish. It has also been destroyed by Mt. Etna's volcano and rebuilt again.

Your walking tour focuses on Catania's main street, Via Etna, where you find most of the monuments and top sights including the Piazza Duomo which is dedicated to the Cathedral of Saint Agata. In the center of the square is the Elephant Fountain which was built of lava during ancient Roman times and today it is the symbol of this beautiful city. You will admire several impressive palaces and churches and one of the city gates which dates from 1695.

At the end of the tour you are returned to your hotel or the pier.

Mobility: Folding wheelchair OK, some sites may be inaccessible (advance notice required)