Duration : 8 Hours
Starting From:Our private shore excursion from Messina mixes
the active volcano of Mt. Etna with the resort town of Taormina into a full-day
tour of wonder and beauty. Don't let Taormina's sophisticated reputation fool you; this is a place steeped in legend, where Greek mythology is still very much alive! The Greek theatre in Taormina is one of the most impressive remains of Greek civilization in Sicily.
Features of this day trip to Etna Volcano & Taormina:
After driving south along the coast from
Messina, the road will curve around the slopes of the volcano, passing the town
of Giarre and the village of Zafferana before reaching the Silvestri crater,
around 6.000 feet above sea level.
MT. ETNA
To the ancient Greeks, Mount Etna was the realm
of Hephaestus, god of fire, Vulcan to the Romans. Towering above the island of Sicily at almost
11,000 feet, Etna is Europe's highest volcano and one of the
world's most active, being pretty much in a constant state of activity. Like
any fashionable volcano, she is noted for her wide variety of
eruption styles.
Written records of eruptions go back to the 5th
Century BC, when the Greeks occupied this part of Sicily, which means of course
that there are loads of entertaining Greek myths associated with Etna. Man’s attempt to understand the volcano has
changed a bit over the millennia; gods, nymphs and monsters have been replaced
with seismic activity stations and satellite surveillance.
The volcanic soil around the volcano is
gloriously fertile, and the area is renowned for its excellent honey, which is
produced with infinite Sicilian pride.
TAORMINA
Taormina is one of Sicily's most picturesque towns and It's the best-known resort.
The Greeks were here almost eight centuries before
Christ, and their flair for building public structures in locations of
breathtaking beauty can still be seen, particularly at the Greek theatre. In more modern times, Taormina has become a world-famous
international resort thanks to its charming atmosphere, natural beauty, great
climate, rich culture, varied architecture, and ancient history.
One of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily, the
amphitheater built by the ancient Greeks and expanded by the Romans is the attraction in
Taormina, absolutely not to be missed if you love architecture or ancient history. Even if you don’t care about
ruins, you will be wowed by the stunning coastal view with Mount Etna rising in the
distance. Palazzo Corvaja is another
interesting architectural point of interest.
The most important medieval mansion in the city, it is a mixture of
Arab, Gothic and Norman influences, and houses a museum of Sicilian arts and
crafts.
If you prefer shopping to architecture and
ancient history, take a stroll on Corso Umberto, where the shopping is complemented
by the handsome buildings and vine-covered balconies. But don’t shop until you drop; you’ll want to
save some energy for Piazza IX Aprile, the giant checkerboard terrace that is
Taormina’s main square. The surroundings
are so gorgeous you may tire yourself out taking selfies.
NOT INCLUDED
1. Is this tour private?
The tour is private just for your party; however, you can look for other travel companions to share the costs of the tour with.
2. Is the driver also a guide?
Our English-speaking drivers are NOT licensed guides. In order to provide you with the best-in-class service, our English-speaking driving guides have been trained to offer our clients a nice overview with information regarding the major highlights avoiding the expensive charges of hiring a private guide. Due to strict Italian laws & regulations that protect officially licensed guides, our driving guides can comment and explain the sights only from inside the vehicle but are not allowed to do so once they are outside the vehicle. They are regularly licensed instead to chauffeur the public. We highly recommend that you never book with any touring company that does not make this clear.
3. Does the driver go with us inside the monuments?
No, only a licensed guide is authorized to accompany you during the visit of sights. Our driver will drop you off close to the sights but will stay with the vehicle for the duration of your visit.
4. Does this tour include lunch and admission fees to sites?
No tickets or lunch are included in the rate. Please contact our office for pricing and reservations.
5. Does it include a guide?
A guide is not included either. Please contact our office for pricing and reservations.
6. What is the duration of the tour?
The duration of the tour is 7/9 hours, including pickup and drop off at the ship.
7. Is the itinerary flexible?
Our itineraries are completely flexible, and we will be happy to operate any changes to the original itinerary (within reason). Please contact our office with all the requests you may have so that we can better organize your day.
8. Do you guarantee the return to the ship on time?
In almost 30 years of business, we have never missed the ship that is why we have organized all itineraries to guarantee your return on time.
9. Is gratuity included in the price?
Tips are never included in our quotes. We think that a tip shouldn’t be included in the rate otherwise it would be a tax!!! Once in Italy do not feel as though you have to tip everyone because someone told you to. Tip only if you really liked the service. Tips are a personal gesture and are given whenever the client feels it is necessary. Tips are generally: 10% not bad 15 % great 20 % best tour in my life. Please report any abuse.
There will be a full charge for bookings canceled with less than 72-hour notice for any service required. In this case, a full charge will be made on your credit card. If you miss your flight or if your airline decides to cancel the flight due to bad weather or if your flight is directed to another airport on arrival, please advise us on time (as soon as you know) or a full charge will be made.
Please give us enough time so we can accept other reservations and allocate them to our chauffeurs. If the ship does not make it to the pier for bad weather, you will not be considered responsible so NO CHARGE will be made to your credit card. A full charge will be made for a no-show-up.
Only pre-purchased skip-the-line tickets (if requested) are not refundable under the circumstance and will be charged to your card.
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