Catania

Small group

Embark on a trek of iconic Mount Etna with a naturalist guide. Take in outstanding views, learn local history from your guide, visit a lava cave, and see the southeastern crater, Etna's most active area. Enjoy included trekking poles, shoes, and warm clothing. Following your pickup, you will head in the direction of Etna. Passing off-road through Trazzere where you can see the lava flows of 1792, your guide will explain the fauna and flora of the volcano of Etna. Learn Mount Etna's history as you travel in the direction of the Bove Valley, which is an ancient caldera formed about 64,000 years ago due to the collapse of 2 major eruptive centers. You'll soon arrive at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, where your hike starts. Follow quiet trails away from the tourist paths. Pass recent lava flows and soak up views of the coastline. Throughout the trek you can stop to taste sandwiches and local products, and will visit inside a lava cave. At the conclusion of your experience, you will be returned back to your point of origin.

Following pick-up at a pre-arranged pick-up point, depart Taormina at about 08:30 and journey to the foothills of Mt. Etna. Travel in a small group of no more than 8 people for a more intimate and personalized experience. You will be accompanied by a guide trained in volcanology, biology or geology for your convenience. Upon arrival at the active volcano, hike for approximately 1.5 hours around the perimeters of some of its extinct craters. Walk through ancient woods and along paths covered with lava about 2,000 meters above sea level. Get a better appreciation of this emblem of Sicily and its surrounding landscape from a different perspective. Learn about the fascinating volcanic phenomenon, before heading underground to explore one of the lava caves. Then, head to a local café for a typical savory snack of a sandwich, wine, a dessert and a tasting of almond wine, which is a typical Sicilian sweet wine. Return to your hotel at around 14:30 at the end of the tour services.

Benefit from pick-up at your accommodation and journey with an authorized local guide through the typical villages of Sicily's west coast. Pass houses made from lava stone and marvel at groves of orange, olive and almond trees. Listen to tales of local traditions and learn about the food and wines produced in the volcanic landscape of Mount Etna. Stop at a family-run winery and get a glass of rosé prosecco as a welcome. Visit the cellars before a wine tasting with cold appetizers in a lava stone open-air amphitheater. Sample a glass of white and red wine with locally produced cheeses, salamis, artichokes and more. Continue to a farmhouse to savor more food and wine on an open-air terrace overlooking the vineyards. Try various dishes, including ricotta cheese with marmalade and 2 different pastas made with seasonal ingredients, such as black pork sauce.  Finish your tour, tasting a home made Limoncello and be dropped off at your accommodation.

Reach the summit area of Etna, ascending 2750 meters by either cableway or off-road vehicle on this tour from Taormina. Hike the base of the active craters with a naturalistic guide, experience the lunar landscapes, and savor a typical Sicilian lunch with local wine and drinks. Begin your tour with a pickup from your accommodation (or close vicinity in Taormina and the surrounding area). You'll travel in a small group of no more than 8 people for a more intimate and personalized experience. Drive to Mount Etna where you'll start the ascent to the summit area (2750-2800 meters of altitude). Depending on the availability and the circumstances, in order to guarantee an optimal service, the ascent can be carried out either by cableway or off-road vehicles only. Once at the summit area, enjoy light trekking with a volcanological guide and a naturalistic guide. Walk through a desert of black ashes and extinct craters, while admiring the lunar landscape and the spectacular view of the active craters from a close distance. Back at 2000 meters, you'll be given the proper equipment, such as helmets and torches, to visit one of the striking lava caves of the volcano. Then, enjoy a typical Sicilian light lunch with local wine and drinks during the midday break. Finally, you'll admire the Alcantara Gorges created when thick lava flows invaded the bed of the icy river Alcantara, giving rise to geometrically perfect rocks.

Experience the beauty of Sicily on a full-day tour from Catania. Explore the ancient ruins in Syracuse, the charming fishing village of Marzamemi, and the Island of Ortigia. Meet in the center of Catania and travel to Marzamemi, a small fishing village looking out over the Ionian Sea. Visit the ruins of the Tonnara, an ancient structure used to catch tuna. See an abundance of colors, flowers, and old buildings as you stroll down Piazza Regina Margherita. Take a break by the sea on the "Litorale Spinazza", which can be reached on foot from the Borghetto. Continue to Ortigia, a little island that contains the oldest part of the historic center of Syracuse, starting from the Greek period. Visit the wonderful Fountain of Arethusa, Piazza Duomo, as well as the Christian churches and the Baroque Palaces. Finally, go to the Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse. Discover an open-air museum containing evidence from various eras, from the protohistoric age to the late ancient and Byzantine periods.

TAORMINA FOOD & WINE WALKING TOUR: Available everyday at 7:00 PM  Follow Your Foodie Guise and hear about the old food traditions of Sicily on a 2.5-hour walking tour of Taormina. Meet local chefs and food heroes at 3 different venues and immerse yourself in the food scene. Try fresh seafood such as pepata di cozze (mussels in sauce) or alici alla beccafico con pesto trapanese (filled anchovies with pesto) paired with white wines from the region.  Try a variety of bruschetta and other appetizers including cold cuts, soups, cheese with honey and marmalade and caponata. Savor red wines such as Nero d’Avola and Cerasuolo di Vittoria, and end with a tasting of local pastries and liquors. Tour Ends at 9:30 PM.  GODFATHER TOUR AND SICILIAN LIGHT LUNCH: Available every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10.00 AM  Your licensed, native English speaking guide will meet you at 10:00 AM in the lobby of your accommodation in Taormina, Giardini Naxos or Letojanni. After 20 minutes driving in an 8-seat air-conditioned minivan, you will reach Savoca, a real and authentic small Sicilian village. Enjoy a walking tour of the old town and visit the places where The Godfather movie was filmed. While taking the walking tour, your guide will introduce you the real history of the Sicilian Mafia. After the visit to Savoca, you will reach Forza D'Agro, the second Sicilian small village where the movie was filmed. After a walking tour of the village with an explanation of authentic Sicilian culture, it's time for a delicious light lunch in a typical trattoria with Etna white wine. After lunch, you'll be dropped off back at your accommodation at 3:00 PM.  ETNA COUNTRYSIDE FOOD & WINE LOVERS TOUR: Available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10.00 AM Start your wonderful trip at 10:00 AM with a pick-up from your accommodation. Continue your trip driving through typical Sicilian villages and discover the breathtaking Etna territory. Here, you will enjoy views of the best Etna vineyards surrounded by frames of lava stones. After 45 minutes of driving, you will stop at the first venue, an antique family run winery, where you'll be welcomed by the owner with a glass of cool rose prosecco. After a guided visit of cellars, you'll start your 3 wine tasting with cold locally produced organic appetizers: cheeses, salami, artichokes, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil bruschetta.  Your second stop will be at an antique farmhouse. Here, you will continue your food and wine tour with 2 glasses of local Etna wines, ricotta cheese with marmalade, grilled mushrooms, grilled sweet pepper, vegetable omelete, fried cheese and 2 different tastings of pasta with seasonal local ingredients. Driving back, you will stop at a local patisserie for Etna liquors and pastries. Expected return will be 3:00 PM.

Meet your guide in the main historical square of Catania. Walk through the backstreets of the pescheria area and try some local street food at locations carefully selected by your Catanese guide. Enjoy baked cipollina before your guide takes you to a secret underground tunnel where you'll discover the unexpected. This tour is made for real foodies who will really enjoy the third stop at the butcher. Try horse meatballs, one of the most renowned street foods of Eastern Sicily. Enjoy a beer and explore the Civita area to learn about local daily life. Try some more fried street food before reaching the beautiful Opera Square. Take a seat and enjoy a delicious pistachio granita. Your guide will unveil more than just street food to you - they'll also share the most intimate secrets of city life, discussing controversial topics and significant historical facts. This is your chance to know and enjoy an unfiltered Catania while avoiding the tourist traps.

Meet your expert guide, then set off on your 3 hour tour around Catania. Visit some of the city’s most popular food spots, as well as hidden gems that only the locals know about.  Follow your guide as you walk through the atmospheric city streets, soaking up the sights and smells all around you. Then, pass by the famous Piazza Federico di Svevia and Castello Ursino. Along the way, sample a selection of traditional dishes and delicacies, and learn about the history of each dish. Highlights of the tour include a delicious arancini al ragu, spicy anchovies, and baked cipollina. You’ll also enjoy a fruit seltz drink and beer toast.  End the tour with a tasty brioche or ricotta minnuzza cake.

Discover the beautiful architecture and ancient history on this guided tour of Catania. Visit the Ursino Castle and the stunning Cathedral of Sant'Agata. Commence your guided tour of Catania from the iconic Ursino castle. Admire the grounds of this architecturally unique structure and learn about its role in Sicilian history.  Stroll to the Via Auteri, which is in front of the ruins of the Roman baths, and you will then reach the fish and food markets of Catania, often considered to be the city's beating heart.  Pass by the fish market and head to the del Duomo. Here, you can discover its numerous Baroque buildings and the Elephant Fountain.  Next, visit the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, built-in 1090. Marvel at the tomb of the famous composer Vincenzo Bellini. Continue to the famous Bellini Theater. After taking photos, you will pass the Roman Theater and continue along Via Vittorio Emanuele, where the tour will end at the Benedictine monastery and the church of San Nicolò.

To begin, take a walk with your native local guide who will reveal Taormina’s culture, architecture, natural and political history, and tell stories about the Sicilian people and their traditions. Conquered by the Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Byzantines, and Normans, Taormina boasts a rich and fascinating history and a robust mix of styles. Discover little streets and hidden corners that give Taormina a special charm. The next day involves a half-day trip to the small antique villages of Savoca and Forza d’Agro located on the mountains. See the places where the most famous scenes of the Godfather movies were made. Next, get a real taste of Taormina. Savor its delicious food, soak in its vibrant culture, and meet the people who keep so many wonderful food and wine traditions alive. Just follow your expert guide through the town and eat and drink like the locals. The next day involves an adventure to visit Mt. Etna. You will have free time to walk on the old lava flows before continuing your tour to a famous winery located on the slopes of Etna, famous for it’s unique vulcanic wines and organic food. You will then head to magnificent Noto. While walking around, taste a famous Modica chocolate and Sicilian ice-cream with extraordinary flavor. The next day will feature a 2-hour walking tour of Ortigia, Syracuse’s old town. Admire the majesty of the Apollo Temple before heading down Via Cavour, one of the most colorful streets in Ortigia, where local artists and aristocrats like to spend their evenings. It’s then time to say goodbye to Syracuse and move towards Palermo passing the ancient Temple Valley. The following day, sample the best Sicilian streetfood during a 3-hour walking tour of Palermo. This food tour, led by a local expert guide, explores the fascinating culinary world of Sicily’s capital and includes a visit of the famous and bustling Vucciria and Mercato del Capo outdoor markets.