Welcome to Sicily!

Welcome in Sicily, to the Catania Airport! Please, keep your luggage and go to rent your car, a wonderful trip around the island is waiting for you!

Founded in 729 BC from the Calcidyan colonists of the nearby Naxos), the city of Catania boasts a thousand-year history. Its various dominations are testified by its stratified artistic, architectural and cultural heritage. It the past was so important, that under the Aragonese dynasty Catania was the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily, and since 1434 at the behest of King Alfonso V it is the seat of the oldest university on the island. In the course of its history it has been repeatedly affected by volcanic eruptions (the most impressive, in historical times, is that of 1669, which is testified by a beautiful fresco painting in the Cathedral, which you can see in a gigapixel image) and by earthquakes (the most catastrophic mentioned were those of 1169 and 1693).
The baroque of its historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, together with that of seven municipalities in the Val di Noto (Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa and Scicli), in 2002 .

In a greedy and refined city like Catania, Pasticceria Savia embodies the glories of sweetness, including inviting cannoli and colorful cassata, almond pastries and the explosion of colors of marzipan. As usual in the city, for more than a century, from coffee to aperitifs, from arancini to pastries, depending on the time and the schedule, the Pasticceria Savia is the favorite destination for young and old employees and managers in the break lunch. It was founded in 1897 by Angelo and Elisabetta Savia in the area formerly called Piano di Nicosia. For the few who do not know, the Pasticceria Savia is located at the corner between Via Etnea and Via Umberto, in what the very famous writer Federico de Roberto baptized with the prestigious name of "Salotto di Catania". In that illustrious corner, the confectionery tradition that finds its strengths in the excellent quality of raw materials, in the masterful professionalism and courtesy of its staff and in the packaging of always fresh and fragrant products. Finally, this pasticceria is a "must" for you and, on my opinion, one hour here is necessary before you continue your journey.

After your break, seated to the Pasticceria Savia tables, cross Via Etnea and walk for a little in the Villa Bellini, the biggest public garden in Catania, and one of the places that the people of Catania love most to spend some time relaxing, for a walk with the children or the dog, or where doing some sport! Its beautiful staircase and its music patios still recall the glories of the 1800s and 1900s, when Catania was a small capital of industry and culture!

Welcome to your very first stop of this tour! Patti, which is located in the center of the homonymous gulf that goes from Capo Milazzo to Capo Calavà. The city is the seat of the diocese of Patti, one of the oldest in Sicily, but the origin and history of Patti are closely linked to the ancient Greco-Roman city of Tindari, one of the most important archaeological and devotional sites in Sicily. A large historic center perched around two hills, close to the Cathedral (which is very famous because here is the sepulcher of Adelasia del Vasto, wife of the Norman King Roger I), on the highest hill, and to that of the Holy Family, once the Aragonese castle seat of the Capitania. The historic center is also dominated by the bishop's palace, the seminary and other historic buildings. It slopes down towards the coast until it reaches its seaside village called Marina di Patti, completely integrated into the urban fabric, where an important Roman villa decorated with mosaics was found. Over the centuries, the city suffered a lot of damage due to destruction by conquerors and pirates and due to the several earthquakes that affected eastern Sicily.

The B&B in Oliveri Marinello, is located in one of the most beautiful places in Sicily, offers its customers kindness and hospitality. You can choose between one of the four rooms, and the attic with independent kitchen. Here you can have a breakfast full of typical Sicilian sweet or savory products according to requests, you could consume on a private and furnished terrace with a breakfast place, looking at the sea panorama!

The Macc "Umberto Caleca" is located near the tourism building. Rossana Giacalone Caleca is the curator of Macc, a museum founded in 2007 in collaboration with the Regional Tourism Department and the Municipality of Patti. Rossana Caleca has promoted and set up numerous events related to the relationship between ceramics and contemporary art.

Here ceramics recall Sicily through the various decorations depicting pistachios, olives, oranges, prickly pears. The intent is to give you small works of art, all hand made and painted, as a result of creativity and a good solution for you to keep a piece of Sicily, wherever you are.

Have a fast dinner here! Here you can order a great pizza and drink a delicious coffee.

.... and after dinner, a relaxing walk along the seafront of Marina di Patti, wonderful, with boutiques, bars, restaurants, ice cream parlors and a bank!

.... and after a day full of interesting visits, which ended with a nice relaxing walk, it is appropriate to return to the hotel to rest.