Le Dune Sicily Hotel

CATANIA AND SURROUNDINGS

"Sicily is the land of oranges, of the flowering soil whose air, in spring, is all a fragrance... But what makes it a necessary land to see and unique in the world, is the fact that from one end to the other, it can be defined as a strange and divine museum of architecture."

(Guy de Maupassant)

Catania

Catania is the most lively city in Sicily: modern, avant-garde, and always full of vitality; it is a sparkling and lively city.

The black and white of its Baroque-style buildings vividly contrasts with the blue of the sky, and at night, its squares and avenues are filled with young people who love to have fun among the hundreds of venues that fill the historic center.

The city of Catania is also the commercial capital of the island, hosting the main Sicilian airport and being home to the most important artisanal and manufacturing activities in the region. It rises at the foot of the highest volcano in Europe, Mount Etna, and its privileged geographical position allows for enjoying a mild climate and a crystal-clear sea in all seasons, promoting a lifestyle with a tranquil rhythm, yet always pleasant and stimulating.

Etna

Il vulcano Etna è il più grande vulcano attivo in Europa. A “muntagna” figura tra i vulcani più alti al mondo e nel 2013 è stato inserito nella world heritage list dell’Unesco.
È da ben 2700 anni che si scrive dell’Etna, ciò rappresenta per l’Unesco “uno dei più documentati record nel campo dei vulcani.” È possibile organizzare delle escursioni per visitare uno tra i vulcani più attivi di Europa.
Chi visita l’Etna non può perdersi il favoloso spettacolo della Valle del Bove (depressione vulcanica), un’enorme conca sul versante orientale del vulcano, le cui pareti, alte fino a 1000 metri, sono incise da profondi canyon e la Grotta del Gelo, una imponente cavità vulcanica in cui si è formato un ghiacciaio perenne. Se vuoi organizzare la tua escursione sull’Etna, chiedi alla reception, il nostro staff sarà in grado di organizzare insieme a te una giornata indimenticabile.

Taormina

Taormina is among the most beautiful places to visit in the world, an enchanting village from the Norman period with a medieval urban layout, it is considered the Pearl of the Ionian Sea. Thanks to its favorable climate, it deserves to be visited at any time of the year. Not far from Porta Messina (the gateway to the medieval heart of the city), you reach Palazzo Corvaia and the 17th-century Church of San Pancrazio, which stands on the remains of a Greek temple. Piazza IX Aprile is a large terrace overlooking the sea, offering a breathtaking view of the sea and the mountain, while the Porta di Mezzo, opened in the 17th-century Clock Tower, leads to the medieval quarter of Taormina, with its characteristic buildings featuring Romanesque and Gothic ornaments and architectural elements. In Taormina, there is also a famous shopping street where you can find the best brands and many artisans ready to create unique creations.

Aci Trezza

Acitrezza is a small village overlooking the islets commonly known as Faraglioni, described by Homer in his Odyssey. The village is known for the famous novel I Malavoglia, written by Giovanni Verga, which tells the story of a local fishing family, and for the film “La terra trema”. Near the main church, the "Casa del Nespolo" described in the novel has been identified, and a charming museum has been set up.

Its beaches, half made of sand and half of volcanic gravel, give it a particular charm. For lovers of ancient traditions and fresh fish, the fish market, open from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM, offers a show full of folklore, taking the tourist back to the pages of Verga's work.

Gole dell’Alcantara

The Alcantara Gorges (or Larderia) are volcanic walls located in the Alcantara valley near Francavilla, Messina. Formed as a result of seismic events that split old basaltic lakes in two, allowing the water of the Alcantara river to seep inside, the gorges can reach up to 25 meters in height.

The structure of the walls (similar in some points to "stacks of wood" or "organ pipes") appears intact and angular. Accessible on foot, thanks to a steep staircase (or via an elevator whose construction has destroyed and altered the appearance of the rock face), the most imposing and famous gorge in the valley is certainly the one near Fondaco Motta, over 6 km long and walkable for more than 3.