Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»
UNA Hotel Palace (
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)
»
Hotel Villa Belvedere (
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)
»
Isoco Guest House (
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)
»
Il Principe (
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)
THREE PERFECT DAYS
King of the Ionian Resorts
Wake up in Taormina, where you can admire the stunning setting of the Teatro Greco (
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)
and its memor-
able views to Mt Etna. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the town's medieval streets, browsing among the
delis on Corso Umberto I (
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) and thrilling to the verdant delights of Villa Comunale (
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)
. After
lunch head down to Isola Bella (
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)
for some seaside fun.
Mount Etna
You'll have seen it looming in the distance and now is the time to explore Mt Etna. You can take a tour from
Taormina or Catania or, better still, pick up a car and go it alone. The easiest approach is the southern ascent via
Rifugio Sapienza (
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) and a cable car, which takes you up to 2500m. From there you can follow with a
guide or venture into the black wilderness on your own. Once back safely, decamp to Nicolosi for a comfortable
and convenient overnight stay.
Catania
Head to Catania for a shot of urban energy and gastronomic exercise. Start off by admiring the baroque churches
on Via Crociferi (
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) and the grand
palazzi
(palaces or mansions) of Piazza del Duomo (
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)
be-
fore ducking down to La Pescheria (
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)
fish market and an unforgettable seafood lunch at Osteria Antica
Marina (
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). Set the rest of the day aside for strolling along Via Etnea (
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)
followed by a night
out around Piazza Bellini.
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Getting Around
Driving around the Ionian Coast and inland provides for some wonderful scenery. Take
the SS114 from Catania down the Riviera dei Ciclopi and wind through the town streets
and taking a peak at the beaches, towards Taormina. Several buses take this route from
Catania throughout the day. There are decent roads surrounding Etna.
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