SICILY

LINGUAGLOSSA

Village at the Northern bottom of the Etna Volcano

 

Stay:

  • Agriturismo Valle Galfina. Wine hotel set between the Etna volcano and vineyards. It is owned by the familiy Scilio and offers great dinner menus. You can book it here.

Eat:

  • Pino azurro, Piazza Matrice, 10. A nice place to have a Sicilian breakfast with granita and warm brioches. It is open all week except on Tuesdays and offers tasty sweets and dark espresso.
  • Pasticceria L Alhambra. For coffee and souvenir sweets.
  • Rifugio Ragabo. Delicious food at the Etna volcano.

Do & See:

  • Fiumefreddo: Lido Pennino, a beach where seats and umbrellas are provided.
  • Hiking around the Etna, e.g. on Monte Sartorio where you can see the contrast from black ash grounds to white birch trees. It can be reached best from Rifugio Citelli.  

GIARDINI NAXOS

Comune at the coast of the Ionian Sea

 

Stay:

  • Hotel Tysandros. Hotel at the sea. Do take the rooms on the top floor, they are spacious and have a beautiful terrace. You can book it here.

Eat:

  • La Sirena, Via Schisò, 36.
  • Lanterna 
  • Garden da Nino, Via Tysandros, 74. Try Pasta Palermitana with fennel herb and raisins.

CATANIA

Second largest city on Sicily

 

Eat:

Do & See:

  • Colorful market South of Piazza del Duomo with fresh fruits, artichokes and many kinds of  fish.
  • Take a walk through the city built out of dark lava stone.

RANDAZZO

Small city at the bottom of Etna

 

Stay:

  • Hotel Scrivano. 3* hotel on the main road – funnily with a gas station on the parking lot. You can book it here.

See:

  • Visit the old town and its churches like Chiesa di Santa Maria (neo-gothic facade), Chiesa San Nicolà (baroque) or Chiesa San Martino (said to have the most beautiful Campanile – bell tower – of Sicily).



Other places to visit:

  • TAORMINA. Since the 19th century this has been a popular city, which authors like e.g. Tennessee Williams visited.
  • GIARRE/RIPOSTO. The streets of Giarre are a little like the setting of a theatre. You can do some shopping or visit nearby Riposto at the sea. They are famous for their fish market.
  • CASTIGLIONE DI SICILIA. A picturesque village with an impressive rock castle. Views on Castiglione are memorable.
  • NOTO. A honey colored small city and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • SYRACUSA. Historic city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is said to be the birthplace of Archimedes. Visit the strangely-shaped cave known as the Ear of Dionysos.
  • PANTALICA. Experience the wonderful landscape while hiking around the Necropole in the Anapo canyon. The walls with dozens of grave holes give an impressive image.