Taormina and Mt Etna: discovering a Sicilian pearl and its shell

Taormina
Taormina is one of the top and most beautiful destinations in Sicily.
The town has a rich history, prestigious writers, artists and important personalities have travelled or stayed here.
Among them: Goethe, D.H. Lawrence, Guy de Maupassant, Oscaf Wilde, Brahms, Liz Taylor and more recently many movie stars due to the Film Festival which takes place every year in town.
Stunning cityscape, public gardens, theatre, aristocratic buildings, piazzas and side streets, beaches and seascapes attract you and offer uncountable itineraries if you just choose to stay in town or visit the surroundings for a day trip.
The town is divided in two parts: the upper part good for visits anytime of the year on the slopes of a mountain and the beach side, great for the good season time.
A stroll along the main street “Corso Umberto” is a must for shopping lovers, while food and wine conosserurs will be captivated by the many gourmet or family style restaurants. Luxury hotels, among the best in Sicily, the vicinity of Mt Etna and the good connection with Catania and Siracusa, makes Taormina one of the most convenient places to stay if you want to explore the eastern side in Sicily.
The town dates back to the Greek time thanks to a group of refugees from the nearby Greek colony of Naxos which build the base of the world famous Greek-Roman theatre today. Several cultural experiences through its invaders, later on, will make the place a beautiful blend of monuments, buildings, palaces and churches which today are quite evident anywhere in town.
The nice weather all the year round, the great views and stunning landscape and the fame spread by the prestigious many visitors make Taormina one of the most popular destination for wealthy people starting from the mid fifties until today.
The main square and the many little medieval backdrops are framed between the shape of Mt Etna and the blue water of the Ionian sea.
The Greek theatre is one of the iconic attractions in town as well as Palazzo Corvaja, Piazza IX Aprile, the Duomo and the public gardens. Isolabella bay and the other beaches of Mazzarò and Mazzeo down below along the coast. These places are a must if you like swimming or just enjoy heavenly views.

Etna
Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. Its elevation is roughly 3350 meters and it actually changes often due to any new baby volcano arising on top. The wide variety of the many known phenomena connected to volcanism makes it a living laboratory and a sort of school for geologists and volcanologists coming from worldwide. The volcano is also one of the seven world heritage sites of Sicily, the first natural park and protected area created in Sicily since 1987 and the largest since it covers almost one twentieth of the total extension of the island.
The Etna National Park is divided in two main areas. The lower part charachterized by human activities, villages, fields and vineyards while the upper part has flora and fauna which do not compete with any human beeing activity.
Chestnut trees, larches, firs, Oaks, poplars, beaches and endemic shrubs that grow on the bare lava rock are the most notable elements of local flora, while the fauna has foxes, wild boars, snakes, hedgehogs and sky hawks, owls and nocturnal animals and even the golden sea eagle.
Botanists say that about 70% of the species in the Mediterranean live on the slopes of Mt Etna thanks to the latitude of the volcano and to the different climatic areas, about seven, ranging from subarctic to subtropical, from summer to winter, from the bottom to the top.
Perhaps the real surprising value of ascending the slopes of this volcano is the drive up and down along its sides: South coming from Catania, eastward from the Ionian riviera and North side of the medieval city of Randazzo along Linguaglossa.
When you cross the many typical villages of Etna you share the simple life of peasants on street corners still selling products which are cultivated here all year round that also characterize different types of Mediterranean flora: olive trees, figs, fruit trees (apples, peaches, pears), prickly pears, oranges and lemons. The grapes here produced in its best variety is called Nerello Mascalese small, rich and juicy.
Any product cultivated here is enriched by the nutritious of the volcanic sand, highly productive natural fertilizers that make this land very fertile and really blessed. The proximity of the sea and salt moisture brought by the salt water, the typical volcanic soils, exposure of the vineyards combined all together make one of the best red wines of Etna in Sicily and give high credit to quality constantly increasing from year to year in Italy.
Although the territory was characterized in the past by several volcanic eruptions as witnessed by about 135 historical eruptions, the inhabitants always get benefits from a volcano they consider good natured and often associated with the most reassuring female figure of a mother, reason why local people give it the nickname of Mama Etna today.
Most of the eruptions that occur often flow into a large natural Valley called valle del bove (for its arched shape resembling the horns of a cow) which does not concern the local population.
The history and economy of Catania have always been connected in a close inseparable relationship with Mama Etna or Muntagna or even Idda (simply She…) to describe the female character of the volcano which makes fertile flat lands and provides extensive neighboring abundant stone to rebuild the places covered by lava flows.
The volcano is one of the few in the world that allows you to ski in the morning and possibly an afternoon at sea in spring or early fall . The Summit of the volcano has two different sides exploited by touristic activities: south and north. The southern side offers views of Catania and his plain, but also the possibility of travel by funicular railway and continue by Jeep 4 x 4 wheels up to a maximum height of 2800 meters.
The southern side receives most of the tourists since it offers more facilities with shops and restaurants.
The northern slope is less known by tourists. Here you can combine a visit to the delightful and authentic medieval village of Randazzo and a scenic drive through an old wood of centenary forest of pines which is unique in Europe. Beyond the forest lies the lunar landscape and overwhelming 2004 eruption lava fields where you see huge pines surfacing as broken pencils from the black lava sea that seems to still move around.
The entire circumference of the volcano is crossed halfway up by a narrow railroad track that connects and passes through cultivated fields and all the villages area of a full circle around Etna. In a few hours, departing from Catania, the train ferrovia circumetnea railway completes a tour offering breathtaking views and the exclusive meeting with locals, simple farmers or young students.

• Private Sedan car or Mercedes Viano up to seven seats
• Private driver speaking your language
• Fuel, motorway toll and parking fee
• Half day service with private driver and car UP TO 4 HOURS
• Full day service with private car and driver UP TO 8 HOURS
• Water bottle onboard
• Visits, stops and panoramic driving tours described on the itinerary

     NOT INCLUDED:

• Archeological sites, monuments and churches entrance fees
• Local products and wine tasting or culinary experiences unless included
• Driver and local guides gratuities (we suggest 10% if services meets or exceeds your expectations)

• Local Sicilian regional licensed guide
• Alpine guide
• Meals, wine tasting or culinary experiences if not already included in the itinerary
• Yachts, helicopter or private plane rental linked to our ground transportation service

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