Sicily holidays, Customized Sicily tours, Etna tour...by SicilyLife

Since the eighteenth century, Catania has been the second most important city of Sicily, supplanting Messina in that respect. Subjected to Etna's fickle temperament, Catania has been damaged by lava flows and earthquakes on several occasions. A particularly destructive volcanic eruption in 1669 was followed by a serious earthquake in 1693.

Our tour today will start, picking you up from your place at your most convenient time and driving to Catania which is the second largest city in Sicily by Population. Here you can enjoy a very special lively city which offers a taste of the antique and modern, order and chaos, excellent shopping and Art, History and Culture, Fountains and Squares. Catania was re-built in the Baroque style, and it was during this era that many of the town's finest buildings came into being. We will arrive at the Cathedral square, Piazza del Duomo, at the end of busy Via Etnea (named after the volcano), and most of the town's tourist attractions are close by. In the centre is a much-photographed eighteenth-century lava statue of an elephant, supporting an Egyptian obelisk. We will visit the Duomo which itself is one of Catania's grandest sights. The facade dates back to the Baroque rebuilding of the town, although some of the earlier church did survive the earthquake. We also have the chance to visit the famous open fish market and stroll the main street with its wonderful shopping.
Catania is also famous for its Roman ruins and we will also have the chance to see the few surviving structures of the Roman Amphitheatre, part of which can be seen in Piazza Stesicoro, and which date to the second century AD.

We move out of the city to the seaside towns of Aci Castello and Aci Trezza, two pretty coast line Sicilian villages.
Aci Castello boasts a rich production of citrus fruits, olives, grapes, almonds, cereals and amazing restaurants. Aci Trezza is a small but charming fishing village, with its small harbor full of fishing boats and typical fishing trattories.
Both of them have a backdrop the famous "Faraglioni" created by lava rock by an ancient sub-marine eruption.
The name Aci Castello derives from the homonymous Castle situated on a nearby hill of lava rock, built by the Normans in 1076. Approximately in 1170, it was completely destroyed by a devastating earthquake, and was repopulated no sooner than 1530. The most architecturally interesting monument is the Norman Castle, today home to a Museum, built with lava rock from Mount Etna. We then make our way to Acireale which is situated on a flat stretch of lava high above the Ionian Sea ..This city was probably founded in the mid 14th century by inhabitants of the Coastal Area who, seeking protection from Pirate Raids took refuge a little further inland and higher up on the flat extent of lava that dominates the Lemon Riviera, as it is known today.
We will arrive at the Duomo square with its wonderful Baroque palaces and churches, in particular, the Duomo itself and the church of St. Peter & St. Paul and San Sebastian.
We stroll the main street, arriving at the Public gardens with its beautiful view over the volcanic "Timpa" and the ionic sea.