Small Group Tour to Taormina, Giardini Naxos and Castelmola from Catania

Small Group Tour
Depart 8:30AM/Return 1:30PM  (approx)

Today pick-up at Catania hotel and departure to the fishing town of Giardini Naxos, the first greek colony in Sicily, founded in 734 b.C. After driving along the seafront and enjoying the beautifull Naxos bay, we will then move towards Castelmola, but first we will stop at the wonderful “Isola Bella”, a Wildlife Reserve considered the “pearl of the Ionian sea”  for  its natural beauty, connected to the mainland by a thin strip of sand. From here it is possible to admire the bay, and the promontories of Capo S. Andrea, that hosts the renowned Grotta Azzurra (The Blue Cave), and of Capo Taormina. It is possible to bathe in these marvellous crystal clear waters.

In Castelmola, the balcony over Taormina, we will walk along the characteristics streets of the town, and stop to see the ruins of the imposing Norman walls and the main square (Duomo) with the Mother Church, rebuilt between 1934 and 1935 on the existing cathedral and dedicated to St. Nicholas of Bari.

The last part of the excursion will be dedicated for visiting the picturesque town of Taormina. We will walk along the main road of this town, Corso Umberto, with the Messina Gate below and the Catania Gate on the mountain side, and you will have the chance to admire the most important monuments: Palazzo Corvaja (The Corvaja Palace) (Museum of Arts and Folk Traditions*), the Teatro Antico* (The Old Theatre), Piazza IX Aprile, the Torre dell’orologio (The Clock Tower), the Cattedrale Fortezza (The Fortress Cathedral), the Badia Vecchia (The Old Abbey), and the Palazzo Duca di Santo Stefano (The Duke of Saint Stephen Palace), and much more. It will also be possible to go shopping in the exclusive shops among the shops selling handicrafts. Later back to the hotel.

*OPTIONAL VISIT IN TAORMINA:
The visit of the Greek Theatre and of the Museum of Arts and Folk Traditions is not included.
-Greek Theatre entrance fee: Euro 8,00 per person to be paid directly on the spot.
-Museum of Arts and Folk Traditions entrance fee: Euro 2,60 per person to be paid directly on the spot.

TOUR DETAILS & BOOKING INFORMATION

IMPORTANT:
This tour is guaranteed with minimum 2 people and will be operated with maximum 8 people per each vehicle. Number of vehicles per each day is subject to availability.

PICK-UP DETAILS:
Please be ready from 8:15am at your Hotel Lobby. Pick-up may be around 8:30am.

LANGUAGE:
This is a multilanguage tour (Italian/English/French/Spanish/German).

AS REGARDS THE VISIT TO TAORMINA, IT IS A WALKING TOUR:
Taormina is a hill-village with a glossy sheen of glamour. Taormina has two important gates: Porta Messina (Messina Gate) & Porta Catania (Catania Gate). Between the two gates there is an important street under the name of CORSO UMBERTO STREET. The two gates are far away each other less than one mile (approx. 700 meters). Corso Umberto is pedestrian and ideal for strolling and window-shopping. Walking in this street, that is the core of the town rich of bar, shops, pottery and more, indulge you in the Taormina atmosphere. A drink at the tables of Caffè Wunderbar (or similar) in Piazza IX Aprile may set you back a few euros, but you’ll be basking here Tennessee Williams and Elizabeth Taylor basked before you. Given its compact size, Taormina has a huge range of bars, cafes and restaurants where you can while away pleasant hours while admiring the views. Picturesque lanes above and below the Corso are interesting to explore, while, if you are interested in archaeological sites, we suggest you to visit the famed Greek-Roman Theatre.

OPERATED BY:
This tour will be operated by a local supplier (all details after Confirmation).
The supplier reserves the right to cancel trips under exceptional circumstances or for insufficient number of participants even after Confirmation. In such cases passengers will be promptly informed and offered an alternative tour and if the tour is a lower or higher cash value passengers will be take care to pay difference or will receive a refund. If passengers will refuse the alternative tour, the full amount paid will be refunded.

TOUR CODE: TRIBETAO