TAO002

ACIREALE, CATANIA & CYCLOPS RIVIERA

One of our english speaking drivers will be waiting for your group at the gangway of your cruise ship in the port of Taormina holding a sign with your group name on it.

This shared shore excursion will start with a visit to Acireale, a beautiful ancient town whose foundation was lost in time but remains rich in legend. According to greek mythology, the name Acireale in fact comes from the shephard Aci who Galatea fell in love with. Jealous of Aci, Cyclope kills him and a river formed in the place where he was murdered. Acireale is the modern name given to this city by the King of Spain in 1642.

Many monuments you will be admiring during your vist of Acireale date back to the Baroque perios, such as the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, a beautiful Baroque church first built in 1550, that contains many important works of art, the Basilica Collegiata of Saint Sebastian and The Cathedral which is a must if you want to admire many works of art by the native artist Pietro Paolo Vasta. We also raccomend you take a walk along the Corso Umberto, the most important street in the city, where you can admire many prominent palaces and of course taste the famous granita.

You will then continue your tour going south to Catania, a well known city in Italy due to the variations of landscape within its borders: coastline, plains, and mountains. Situated at the base of Mount Etna, Catania has been destroyed seven times by the volcano and earthquakes in the course of written history. This is the reason why there are very few remaining traces of the Greek and Roman periods in the city of Catania. Nevertheless, you will be able to see the remains of the 2nd century Roman Theater and Amphitheater, the Odeon from the 3rd century, and the thermal baths, as well as the acqueduct.

At this point you will visit Aci Castello and its Cathedral of Saint Agatha. Although the main part of the church was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, it is still a rare example of the Sicilian Baroque style that can be seen in Catania.

Via Dei Crociferi is definetely one of the most beautiful streets in Catania and will be your last stop in town before moving on to your next and last stop: The Cyclop's Riviera.

This legendary coast, made up of lava stone from Etna's numerous eruptions, is picturesque with its contrast to the deep, limpid sea. This shore excursion will take you to the important towns along the way, like Acireale with its beautiful historic buildings and the quaint fishing village of Aci Castello, or Acitrezza and Acicatena.

After an unforgattable drive along the Riviera your driver will take you and the group back to the Port of Messina to board your ship.

We reserve the right to change the order in which we visit the sites. This tour may be shortened depending on your ship's in port hours