Day Itinerary
10 Activities
Day 1
54 mi
From Catania to Randazzo
Welcome to Catania airport!
Firstly, take the car you rented and drive for thirty minutes to reach S. Giovanni Li Cuti, only twenty minutes away but you may find traffic, where you can admire the wonderful black beach produced by the eruptions of the Etna volcano.
Relax and think about the meaning of this tour between sea rivers and mountains just a few kilometers away from each other in an unrepeatable naturalistic context.
Another added value is the mild climate throughout the year.
Also good wine and good food - as you will begin to taste very soon in the Quaranta pastry shop, ten minutes from the black beach.
You can take an aperitif with finger food and raw or fried fish by mediterranean sea and Sicilian recipe, you can finish with Sicilian desserts and wines, all sitting looking at the cliff of Catania.
Then, take your car taking the A18 motor way towards Randazzo. Before arriving and going to the hotel, firstly enjoy a walk in the villages by sea or mountain you will meet on your way.
I recommend to have a couple of stops in Aci Castello e Acireale.
If you want to be at the hotel for dinner you should leave in the evening, driving toward Parco Statella in Randazzo. Enjoy yourself.
In the meantime, if you want to learn something about incredible myths coming from the Greek phase of Catania, here is a beautiful audiotour, which can tell you also the myth of the Cyclops and Ulysses.
Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) (Aeroporto di Catania Fontanarossa)
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Welcome in Catania airport!
I will be your guide specialist to make the most of your trip.
I advise you to rent a not so big car, to allow you juggling the traffic of Catania. Let's start and head to the "black city", which aspect has been created from the lava of the Etna volcano!
Catania
Welcome to the black city of Catania! A place where you can find traces from all the ancient phases and domination, from the Greeks to the Romans, from the Normans to the Spanish domination!
If you want to know something about the most important monuments of the city, her is a suggested izi.TRAVEL audiotour fo the city!
Piazza Del Duomo
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And here we are in the wonderful baroque Piazza Duomo, about the most important point of interest in the historic centre, which has been declared World Heritage UNESCO site for its unique baroque style, with all the monuments built after the 1693 earthquake!
I invite you to follow a second izi.TRAVEL audiotour, that could tell you all the stories about the myths of the city!
2.2 mi
10 min
Spiaggetta nera di San Giovanni Li Cuti
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And here we are, on the Beach where the eruption of the Etna Volcano, in the last millennia, created this coastline!
Here you can swim as the people of Catania do all year round, furthermore you can take a cocktail in one of the many bars nearby.
1.2 mi
10 min
Pasticceria Quaranta
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Staying in Catania, as a real catanese citizen, means enjoying life! And Quaranta is the right place for this! In this restaurant bar you can taste the fish, some very typical fried food, such as the arancini, or desserts and wines of the Catania tradition! Hera you can enjoy a fantastic view on the little harbor of Ognina, which was an ancient fishing village.
Now relax and enjoy.
3 mi
10 min
Aci Castello
The town of Aci Castello developed round the Castle that was built in lava stone by the Normans 1076, just on a rocky outcrop jutting out into the sea.
Originally the Castle was connected to the mainland by a draws bridge; now it is the place of the Civic Museum which hosts mineralogy, paleontology and archeology collections.
Originally the Castle was connected to the mainland by a draws bridge; now it is the place of the Civic Museum which hosts mineralogy, paleontology and archeology collections.
Castello di Aci
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The Castle was important to the development of its region during the middle ages. It was besieged more than once, and was briefly controlled by the Spanish.
4.5 mi
15 min
Acireale
A very beautiful city, on the east slopes of Mount Etna is Acireale, which name was given by Philip IV, king of Spain and Sicily.
After the 1693 earthquake, which destroyed a great part of the cities and villages in south-east Sicily, the town rebuilt according to the urbanist design of the Duke of Camastra, who also redesigned Catania.
41.2 mi
1 hr 20 min
Randazzo
You are on the nord face of Etna Mount, almost on the watershed between the rivers Alcantara) and Simeto. The town of Randazzo was founded in Byzantine times in a territory already settled by the Sicels. It was successively populated by Greek, Roman and Lombard immigrants, the last ones coming from northern Italy in medieval times. This is the reason why people living here until the 16th century spoke three distinct dialects.
2.2 mi
10 min
Agriturismo Parco Statella
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In a beautiful park you will find this agritourism, where you can eat a very traditional local cooking! You can also decide to take a room here, but I suggest to move, after dinner, to Quota mille and take you room there!