ETNA ET CETERA

Rising 3,320 metres above sea level, the tallest active volcano in Europe derives its name from the Greek term aithō, meaning “I burn”. It is here that the Greek god of fire and blacksmith Hephaestus was believed to have set up a foundry with his co-worker Cyclops, causing volcanic eruptions as he forged his metal tools. Other ancient legends claim that the giant Typhon lies beneath Mount Etna, making the earth tremble when he moves.

Perceived both as a constant threat by eastern Sicily’s inhabitants and, at the same time, as the very source of their livelihood, the volcano has deeply shaped the myths that have grown up around the island, its architecture and culture, and continues to impact life here even today. Devastating catastrophes have indeed caused death and destruction. But the volcano has also provided the conditions for a unique and varied vegetation, the benefit of fertile mineral-rich soil as well as a mine of plentiful building materials which has earned the city of Catania its World Heritage status.

Meet your private guide at your accommodation and hop on to your chauffeured jeep for a riveting ride up the slopes of mighty Mount Etna. Your vehicle will stop several times along the way so you may take in the volcano’s most remarkable features and enjoy a hike to the top of an extinct crater. You will drive through centuries-old forests, walk across fields strewn with the rocks stirred up by ancient eruptions and admire the amazing views of Mount Etna’s lunar-like landscape. Equipped with helmets and lamps you will also take a peek inside one of the volcanic caves that were created hundreds of years ago by molten lava flows. Your guide will enrich your experience by recounting the history of the volcano and the way of life of those who settled in its shadow, from the earliest recorded 475 BC eruption, through the calamitous 1669 outburst, up to the most recent volcanic activity.

After some free time for lunch set off for the island’s most fashionable and long-established summer resort. “Were a man to spend only one day in Sicily and ask, What must one see? I would answer him without hesitation, Taormina. It is only a landscape, but a landscape where you find everything on earth that seems made to seduce the eyes, the mind and the imagination”. Well over a hundred years have gone by but French author Guy de Maupassant’s words still ring true today, as you will have the chance to discover on a leisurely stroll through this delightful town.

Spectacularly perched on the slopes of Mount Tauro, high above the glittering Ionian Sea, Taormina couldn’t ask for a more striking setting. A chic, glamorous atmosphere pervades the town’s historic centre which is punctuated with graceful buildings, upscale boutiques and gift shops selling traditional trinkets and souvenirs. Ice cream parlours and pastry shops, full to the brim with a tempting assortment of cannoli, granite and gelato, contribute to making this the ideal spot for a true taste of Sicilian Dolce Vita. Unforgettable panoramas of Mount Etna and the eastern Sicilian coastline complete the picture.

Taormina’s web of medieval alleys sprawls out from the main thoroughfare of Corso Umberto. As you amble along this vibrant street, stretching between the two city gates of Porta Messina and Porta Catania, your guide will point out the town’s famous attractions. You will take a close look at the fantastical creatures that guard the Baroque-style fountain in Piazza del Duomo, inspect the splendid portals of the Cathedral of San Nicola and admire the marvellous seascapes from the terrace of Piazza IX Aprile. Another of Taormina’s treasures is Palazzo Corvaja, a true textbook of architectural history, blending different styles and bearing witness to the influence of successive Arab, Norman and Spanish invaders in Sicily. The municipal gardens of Villa Comunale, created by Florence Trevelyan, an Englishwoman who planted rare botanical species here and erected the fanciful Victorian stone follies, are also well worth a visit.

But Taormina’s best-loved landmark is undoubtedly its ancient theatre, carved directly out of the rock. Built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC as a venue for drama and music performances and later renovated by the Romans to host gladiator fights, the site still continues to stage shows and concerts in which internationally acclaimed stars take part. From here drink in the glorious scenery of the Bay of Naxos and the volcano smoking serenely against the azure sky, before returning to your accommodation in Catania.