The diversity of the island’s offer allows for unique experiences for individuals, groups of friends and families. With such a varied tourist offer, we have selected five must-visit destinations in eastern Sicily.

Taormina

One of the most renowned and popular tourist destinations on the entire island, Taormina lies between the slopes of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, an enchanting location from which to admire a unique landscape. Percorrendo il bellissimo Corso Umberto è d’obbligo visitare il Teatro Greco, il Duomo di epoca Normanna e la natura incontaminata dell’Isola Bella a poca distanza dal centro cittadino. For those who would like to experience the pearl of the Ionian Sea in a new way, with the discovery of places that have stood the test of time, we recommend our tour Places of Escape: Around Taormina.

Nebrodi Protected Area

During the sultry summer months, some people prefer the cool of the mountains. In Sicily, too, it is possible to enjoy a bucolic holiday and immerse oneself in nature, art and history: the Nebrodi Protected Area is wonderful to visit, even for those who have already experienced the island’s beaches and wish to have a different experience. This is the largest protected area in the region, full of trails and paths through unique habitats. To make the most of the opportunities the park offers, we recommend our Tour Journey to Another Sicily to immerse yourself in the roots of the most authentic Sicily.

Catania

Catania is the second largest city on the island – after Palermo – and is certainly the easiest to reach thanks to the Fontanarossa Vincenzo Bellini International Airport, located a few kilometres from the heart of the city. Once in the centre of Catania, a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is nice to get lost among the Baroque buildings, the churches and the renowned Benedictine Monastery, the Roman amphitheatres, the Frederician Castle and much more. Catania also hosts the third largest religious festival in the world, dedicated to the cult of Saint Agatha. Of great interest is discovering the places that accompanied the life of the patron saint with the Catania and the gifts of Saint Agatha tour. For those wishing to sample the city’s gastronomic delicacies, don’t miss the Flavours, Colours, Lights and Shadows of Catania tour.

Etna

Those who visit Catania remain open-mouthed in front of the undisputed queen of the city: Mount Etna. “A’ Muntagna” with its 3323 metres is the largest active volcano in Europe, and an ideal place for anyone who enjoys hiking and trekking in fine weather, and who will be able to take advantage of the Magmasantissima tour: Etna. For those who prefer to discover the excellent wines produced on the majestic slopes of Etna, we recommend our Iter Vitis tour, a visit to a wine cellar on Etna.

Siracusa

A focal point of Magna Graecia, Syracuse is rich in artistic monuments ranging from Greek to Baroque and modern art. On the island of Ortigia, within the city, you can visit the Cathedral and the Maniace Castle, stroll along the new seafront promenade to admire a unique sunset and enjoy excellent seafood specialities. For those who would like to experience the city of Archimedes in a new way, we recommend the Gardens of Sicily tour, during which you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of one of the most magical gardens in eastern Sicily: Gardens of the Latomie, Villa Reinmann.

Want to discover the best of eastern Sicily in one trip? Contact us for a customised tour!

We are waiting for you in Sicily!

L'articolo 5 must-visit destinations in eastern Sicily proviene da Sicilytudine.

After all, Sicily is always an exclusive destination where leisure and business activities can be combined for the best possible experience.

Sicily attracts millions of tourists every year.

Sicily boasts many amazing sceneries for outdoor and indoor team building activities for companies that aim to improve their team performances.

Tailor made corporate event in Sicily

We offer to travel on a journey made just for you and your team. Travel on the footsteps of ancestors and build the best personal and meaningful memories.

There are 4 key elements for a successful incentive in Sicily:

1) Exclusive and unusual locations
Finding the perfect accommodation in one of the best Sicily destinations is just the first step.
2) Unforgettable gala dinners and parties
Great unconventional meeting venues, sometimes more interesting than the usual corporate hotels
3) Great ways to spend your leisure time
Let your trips be driven by deep emotions inspiring rare and wonderful experiences and confirm awareness of our great cultural legacy.
4) Exciting activities to improve group relationship and performance
Team building activities have a fundamental role for companies that aim to improve their own team performances.

“Every great journey starts from a wish… “

Contact us and tell about it and we will help you make your dreams come true.

Credits photo pantarheiwedding.it

L'articolo Why choose Sicily to plan your corporate events? proviene da Sicilytudine.

L'articolo Sicily is becoming a first-choice destination for grooms and brides proviene da Sicilytudine.

This part of Sicily is mostly a regional park where guests’ mind is often geared for small details while wandering an unspoiled upland, carpeted with cyclamen and asphodel, borage and wild orchids and covered by large forests,totally unexpected in a Mediterrenean island. Goatherds share the envinronment with foxes, deer and birds of prey and here, up on the Madonie, you can still hear sheepbells and the deeper clang of cowbells. while tasting a spread of local delicacies, bread and wine, salads and salami, cheese and fruit like sweet blood oranges,  during a picnic under some gnarled old holm oak.     

It is so easy to venture far of the beaten track and, through a gap in the hills ahead, see the Sea, blue and homeric, just as you have imagined it as well as the chief landmark Mount Etna covered in snow.         

Medieval towns and villages, like Gangi, Petralia Soprana, Castelbuono tell how Sicily was tossed down through centuries where cultural brilliance has alternated to exhaustion and decay, and such a past left its mark in castles, narrow streets and concealed courtyyards as well as in the rich interiors of churches and noble palaces. 

L'articolo Wild Flowers and Fresh Snow in Sicily proviene da Sicilytudine.

The sicilian spring usually begins in January, and it makes its appearance as a bouquet of colors worthy of a queen, in the garden of a wizard when everything has bloomed: the mint blossoms on the banks of streams, dead tree branches are encrusted with bushes of wild roses, and even the rough harsh cactus produces its tender shoots. April is the most cruel month: but not in here.
In Taormina is bright as the snow on Etna’s summit. Children playing are climbing along the slopes of mountains and fill their bags with flower petals for the festival remanbrance of a Christian saint, and the fishermen are passing with baskets filled with pearl coloured fish adorn themselves by wearing a geranium behind the ear.            

May, and spring has reached its twilight: the sun expands more wider, and one remembers that the African continent is just 80 miles away. In June the wheat is ready for the harvest. With a definite melancholy we listen to the rusting of scythes operating in the gold coloured fields”

T. Capote paints a surreal picture of Fontana Vecchia, “…it is very like living in an airplane, or a ship trembling on the peak of a tidal wave. There is a momentaneous feeling each time one looks from the windows, steps onto the terrace, a feeling of being suspended, like the white reeling doves, between the mountains and above the sea. If we do not go to the beach, there is only one other reason for leaving the house: to shop in Taormina, and have an aperitif in the piazza at Wunderbar. Taormina is as scenically extravagant as Goethe claims.”             

T. Capote shared his villa with his lover, dancer Jack Dunphy for 13 months. If the villa’s old walls could speak, what a story they could tell. There was a day at Fontana Vecchia when Capote is said to have swapped lovers with Tenessee Williams, though it is uncertain if Williams and Capote ever engaged in sex. Williams was often seen sipping drinks with Capote at the famous Wunderbar.

” We do not have many visitors at Fontana Vecchia; its too far a walk for casual callers, and days go by when no one knocks at the door except the ice boy.”             

At their departure in mid September 1951, Truman and Jack stuffed their belongings into the little Renault, they said farewell for the last time to Taormina, whose appeal had depended, more than they had thought, on the charms of Fontana Vecchia and good fortune must have smiled on Capote for he went on to become the most photographed writer of his generation. 

L'articolo Taormina and Fontana Vecchia House proviene da Sicilytudine.

Inserted for some time in a protected area called “Etna Park”, the volcano and the surrounding area that hosts it are the destination of numerous excursions, which give tourists unforgettable emotions.

There are several activities that can be practiced on the paths of the volcano: walking enthusiasts can choose trekking with an excursion assisted by mountain and volcanological guides; these paths give the opportunity to admire the summit craters of the volcano, after a splendid climb.

For those who love to drive on rough paths and experience the thrill of a fast climb, among breathtaking views, an exciting Quad tour is ideal, always assisted by authorized guides.

Those with a passion for two wheels might think of a mountain bike excursion with pedal assistance.

The most famous destination – regardless of the means used – is the Valle del Bove: a very wide valley, about 18 km in perimeter with mountainous edges, which in some sections exceed 1,000 meters in height. Here you can admire the lava from the 2017 eruption up close.

For those looking for an unforgettable moment, at sunset the excursions are even more romantic and engaging, especially when the volcano is in full eruption: the spectacle of the lapilli silhouetted against the sky illuminated by the colors of the sunset is a unique emotion.

Etna is also the place where mushroom hunters find paradise: the typical destination for those in search of mushrooms is an area called Giarrita, located in area B of the Park. Area B identifies the part of the reserve defined as “General”, where historically man diligently follows the laws of nature, respecting all types of biodiversity. It is the beating heart of the Etna Park.

Etna mushrooms are tasty and full-bodied, they are found at an altitude between 500 and 600 meters, generally they are born and grow after a heavy rain followed by a splendid sunny day. The “muntagna”, as Etna is friendlyly called, is filled with mushrooms of all kinds, starting from the end of August. During the excursions it will therefore be possible to meet not only the tasty porcini but also the chiodini, the ovolo, the drumstick, the pineroli, the black puddings and the cockerels.

Obviously it is also frequent to come across poisonous or inedible mushrooms, which is why knowing how to recognize them is of vital importance: looking for mushrooms requires the possession of the “mushroom picking” card, which is obtained after a course, with relative examination.

L'articolo Etna, mushrooms and excursions. proviene da Sicilytudine.

Known as the harvest period, autumn in Sicily will allow us surprising tours and food and wine discoveries, thanks also to the wine routes that offer visitors the opportunity to visit ancient cellars, typical regional dishes and experience the atmosphere of the past.

Starting from the center of the island, an extremely interesting route is that of the Wine and Flavors route of the Nisseni Castles. We are in the heart of Sicily, where time seems to have stopped, far from the mass tourist spots.

The “Nisseno” – this is the name of the area – offers a fascinating panorama, full of castles such as those of Butera, Falconara, Caltanissetta and Mazzarino; for the monuments of the past we mention the archaeological areas of Gibil-Gabib or the abandoned sulfur mines of Caltanissetta.

In this splendid area the Riesi DOC wine is born, a Nero d’Avola that is deliciously accompanied with other local products, such as almonds and honey, or traditional dishes, such as the “muffolette” of golden bread or the “mbruliata” of stuffed bread. All strictly seasoned with Dop oil produced on site.

An ideal destination for lovers of unusual places is the “Fortress of Wine”, also known as the Solicchiata Castle. The Castle is located in Adrano, a small town located in the heart of the Etna Park and, due to its particular activity, is an example of a unique company of its kind: it is the only castle in Italy used as an oenological establishment.

The fortress, in the past, was the only Italian winery to receive the authorization from the Royal House of Italy to raise the flag with the Royal emblem on the plant, thanks to the excellent quality of a particular supply of wines donated to the rulers of the weather. In this enchanted place the first “Etna Rosso” was born, to be tasted with delicious local products. A jewel of Sicily that is the most awarded Italian winery in the world.

Going down towards Catania, don’t miss the Sagra della Mostarda e del Ficodindia. This event, organized for several years, leaves visitors with the delicious scent and unparalleled taste of hot mustard, served in the typical terracotta bowls.

In the cool autumn, Sicily is a riot of festivals, parties and occasions for tasting the food and wine of the region. It is possible to take a ride on board the Etna wine train or on the carriages of the train of taste, which from Messina reaches Caltagirone; also known are the train of cheese – which leads from Syracuse to Ragusa – and that of ancient grains, which from Palermo reaches San Cataldo. The latter is a real vintage train, with carriages called “centoporte” and original electric locomotive.

An important Sicilian event – which every year receives particular success and great participation – is the Ottobrata Zafferanese, which takes place in Zafferana Etnea. Here the flavors of the Sicilian food and wine tradition blend harmoniously with music, art and crafts. Every weekend in October between Piazza Umberto, the Villa Comunale and in other corners of the town, producers and stalls of grapes, wine, honey, mustard, prickly pears, pomegranates, walnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts, pistachios, nougats and fine oil give life to an incomparable show dedicated to the exaltation of taste.

L'articolo Traveling to Sicily in winter proviene da Sicilytudine.

“You call it Sicily, people, but Eternu Patri is lu diamonds!”

The central plateau of Sicily is an irregular plateau that slopes gently towards the Sea of Africa, with imprecise borders that bear the deep imprint of human work and hide the precious sulfur, the gypsum – which sometimes shines in the sun – and the volcanos of mud called “maccalube”.

“At the top of the mountain, between tamarisk and sparse cork trees, the appearance of the vera reappeared

Sicily, the one in which the baroque cities and citrus groves are only f

negligible frills. The aspect of an infinitely undulating dryness, a rump

over croups of which the mind could not grasp the main lines conceived in

delusional moment of creation: a sea that had suddenly become petrified

the moment a change in the wind made the waves demented. “

( G. Tomasi di Lampedusa, the Leopard)

The heights are grouped in an extraordinarily confused complex: isolated mountains and mountains, similar to huge breakers of a stormy sea, follow one another intertwined in a twisted and disordered system. Here, too, the climate is different from the rest of the island: “innaru capu di stato, austu capu d’vernu, while autumn is simply“ quannu arrifrisca u tempu ”; it is spring that offers the best spectacle, while in summer the lands appear yellow and brown, sunburned and deserted.

“Here, where the enchantment is reached and complete abandonment, you can rediscover the myth of a Sicily sacred to the goddess Ceres, Rome’s granary, a land enslaved by its own beauty. The green expanse of wheat which in spring reduces every other color to a simple shade and carries within itself the wonder of the mirage, is the clearest and most authentic sign of life in this fertile desert “

(W. Goethe, Journey to Sicily)

The intense agrarian colonization and the canalization and water conservation works carried out by the Arabs gave way to the feudal cereal large estates: numerous fortresses remain as evidence of the power of the nobility on earth and men.

In the rural centers, the church and the baronial palace are located in the heart of the town, the peasant houses are arranged around them – following an orthogonal grid – with the blocks arranged in a comb according to the maximum slope lines to facilitate the flow of water, creating a undifferentiated urban fabric inhabited by a single social class. The streets are narrow, not only to shelter from the sun but also because the street is considered almost a continuation of the house, a place to be together with the other inhabitants of the “village”.

L'articolo At the “Roots” of the Island proviene da Sicilytudine.