Etna : the most active volcano in Europe
by GUYON
Climb at the top of Etna.
The vulcano is still active and it has an eruption each year or each two years. But, fortunatly, there is no recent big eruption able to reach Catania, which is at only 50 Kilometers, as it occurred in the past.
There were, here and there, sulphur smokes (not a pleasant perfume).
Very impressive landscape.
You can climb alone or with a guide but it is better to pay the coach to go to the mid-slope. It is dangerous to go to the crater without guide. The Etna is 3350 m ca high and the temperature is low even in Summer. More to see in the Travelogue
Try to have a night in...
by davidcross
Try to have a night in Selinunte/Marinella but at least plan to get some hours there as there is so much to see. It is a superb area of Greek remains. On a lovely day in february I only saw about 20 people in the whole area and the wild flowers were wonderful to see and smell.
I htink it was the extent and sense of freedom which gave it much of its appeal. the acropolis area has several ruined temples and sites of streets and houses and the other area includes one brilliantly restored temple and if its naff to enjoy anything restored then I enjoyed being naff. So what?
SueMuffy's Sicily Page
by SueMuffy
Although I had read a lot about Sicily, I knew virtually nothing about it's resorts. I chose Giardini Naxos as it seemed a good base for visiting Etna, Syracuse, Messina and Taormina. It is a long, narrow town stretched along a wide bay with a harbour at one end and a main-line railway station at the other with a wide, sandy beach in between. The road along the seafront is one way with the return road behind the buildings. There is no promenade; the pavement is only just wide enough for two people to walk side by side (be warned locals do not give way, be prepared to be forced into the road!) The opposite side of the road is lined with small hotels and guest houses, tacky souvenir shops, ice cream parlours and a few bars and cafes, however the traffic is heavy and the constant stream of buses and other vehicles is liberally scattered with weaving mopeds and scooters. Scooters seem exempt from one-way streets, they regularly use the pavement! There is no such thing as a zebra crossing, to the Sicilian these black and white striped and other road markings are for parking, as are bus stops, corners and any space of 4ft or more, even if your car is 2ft longer, fine just stick the nose in to allow pedestrians to fall over your battle-scarred bumper and leave the back end for the traffic to negotiate. All vehicles have dents and bits hanging off, wing mirrors are optional, on the hairpin bends to Taormina the coach was regularly undertaken.
A better choice of restaurants can be found towards the harbour, seafood is plentiful and of good quality.
Our hotel was situated in Recanati, a new development, separated from the town by a tongue of ancient lava on which stood the original Greek settlement of Naxos in 8thC BC (now an archaeological site and small museum). Although a pleasant enough 1km walk it is well served by local buses and all tour buses call there. The area consists of a few good quality hotels, two supermarkets and an assortment of shops and bars (note NO banks). Entertainment is limited, fine if you enjoy listening to a singer and organist every evening in one's hotel bar but we preferred to cross the road to a local bar Sikella where Anthony and Salvo catered with gusto for our every need. Nightlife is certainly low-key, only background music in the bars, the few disco type clubs were yet to open but no doubt the area would be much more lively in the summer months.
Recanati has a lovely long stretch of sandy beach (nice to walk along to the river and back via the orange and lemon groves) with just enough colourful pebbles to keep you alert spotting pieces of lava and marble to bring back as souvenirs.
A 15 minute bus ride to Taormina is a must, narrow traffic free streets with good quality shops, wide choice of restaurants and bars, a Greek amphitheatre, interesting churches, a pretty park all with lovely views of Etna and the coast. A busy tourist town yet within 5 minutes we were walking up the wild flower scattered hillside on an ancient mule path to the spectacular hilltop village of Castelmola (worth it for the panoramic view alone) or down the steps to the beach by the scenic Isola Bella.
Fast trains to Catania, Syracuse, Messina and beyond were comfortable and very reasonable. A coach trip to magnificent Etna is well worth £16, up to higher craters by jeep if you want but it will cost around £28 extra. Would advise taking the local bus to the Alcantara Gorge rather than a set excursion, it gives time to walk along the river, wade across and explore the lower reaches of the gorge alovely, peaceful close to nature experience.
In all would definitely recommend staying in this area of Sicily, a good base and never at loss for something to do.
Chapel of Sant’Agata
Via Etna, Catania
