One week itinerary in Sicily, south east coast

DAY 1 - Catania

Catania Airport is the best way to reach the east coast of Sicily. When you arrive in Catania visit Piazza del Duomo, the heart of the city, the Elephant Fountain, the Cathedral of Catania, and continue your visit to Catania along the 2 main roads: the via Etnea which starts from the Piazza del Duomo and via Crociferi. The attraction to see here is the former Benedictine monastery.

DAY 2, 3, 4 - Siracusa

Syracuse, is 1 hour's drive south of Catania and will be the second stop. Syracuse itself is a large modern city of little interest, so I recommend you find a much more beautiful and typical accommodation on the island of Ortigia. Spend your days visiting Siracusa and the archaeological park of Neapolis and l’Orecchio di Dionisio, then head to the island of Ortigia. The best things to see on the island of Ortigia: The market, the port, the cathedral square, the Maniace Castle, the Fountain of Arethusa, the best place in Ortigia to see the sunset! After doing all this, enjoy a nice refreshing swim or a good coffee on the shaded terrace of one of the many restaurants on the island.

Noto, Ragusa, Modica

Take your car to visit the Baroque cities around Syracuse. The 3 best known are Noto, Ragusa and Modica. They are all listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their architecture and historic centres, and compete with each other in terms of beauty. Noto: The baroque palaces and churches along Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Ragusa: The Cathedral of San Giorgio in Piazza del Duomo. Modica: Its medieval historic center, its magnificent Baroque cathedral and its ancient chocolate recipe

DAY 5, 6, 7 - Taormina

Start your first day discovering Corso Umberto, the main street of the city. You will find yourself in the place where all the craft, clothing, grocery stores and restaurants are concentrated. In the meantime, you can also see and visit places of interest in Taormina such as the Church of San Giuseppe or the Cathedral of San Nicola. This will also be the perfect opportunity to see the views of the valley, the sea and of course Etna. Piazza IX Aprile is the perfect place to take photos during sunset, thanks to its huge panoramic terrace.

In addition, you can also visit the only ancient monument in Taormina, its Greek theatre which has been extraordinarily preserved to this day. To end the morning with a little exercise before lunch, take a trip to via Circonvallazione and climb its 300 steps that will take you to the upper part of Taormina. It will take about twenty minutes to reach the top. From there, you can enjoy an eagle-eye view of the whole city and its Greek theatre.

In the afternoon, go down to Isola Bella and its beautiful pebble beach. You can enjoy a half day of tranquility and swimming, immersing yourself in its crystal clear waters or take a boat trip.

Mount Etna

The next day head to the Mount Etna, the tallest active vulcano in Europe. The easiest option to reach Etna is to book an excursion from Taormina. You won't have to worry about anything: transportation, tour guide, cable car, 4-wheel drive vehicle and equipment: everything will be well organised and provided. You can enjoy this exceptional place in total safety.

Alcantara Gorges

You can now continue with your itinerary by visiting the famous Alcantara Gorges. Located 50 minutes by car from Taormina, this site is a real geological curiosity. The gorges have walls more than 25 meters high and only 2 to 4 meters wide. The peculiarity of this narrow canyon lies in the formation of its walls born from a series of lava flows coming from the northern slope of Etna.

After this whole day, return to Taormina for the last evening of your week-long tour in Sicily. Maybe for a last swim in Isola Bella or for an aperitif on a terrace, followed by a tasty dinner.