Ragusa Ibla
Greek-Roman theater of Taormina
Art and Hystory Towns
Fifteen minutes by car are enough to reach Taormina with its beaches, the intense nightlife and the many events that are organized there- It’s is a tourist destination throughout the year. The visit to the Greek-
Roman theater (3rd century BC) is obligatory. You can enjoy an incomparable view of the sea and of Etna from the theater. You can’t miss a dip in the sea at Isola Bella.
Catania is only 30 kilometers away. A lively city full of shops, ideal for shopping, it is home to an ancient university and offers a pleasant nightlife. Do not miss a visit to the fish market right next to Piazza Duomo and Via Etnea. A few hundred meters away there is Via Crociferi, pearl of the Sicilian baroque with its churches and cloistered convents. The Church of San Nicola and the Benedictine Cloister are worth a visit. If interested you can also visit the Roman, Christian and medieval Underground Catania, a parallel city that extends under the magnificent Baroque reconstruction after the 1669 eruption and the devastating earthquake of 1693.
Syracusecan be reached by car in a short time and is definitely worth a day trip. Rich in historical memories and archaeological sites, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. It has its historic center on the island of Ortigia.
Val di Noto preserves the greatest masterpieces of Sicilian Baroque, an architectural style imposed on the island after the earthquake of 1693. The churches of Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Scicli and Noto itself interpret the characteristics of the current unequaled. Many film and television productions set here have made the landscapes of the Val di Noto well known and a destination for tourists from all over the world. The area can be reached in just over an hour by car.
Etna
Mount Etna is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular sites to witness while traveling through Europe and is part of the world heritage of humanity protected by UNESCO.
Etna is the highest European volcano and, with its 3,330 m. above sea level, it is the highest peak in Sicily. Constantly putting on an exhilarating show of life with its many eruptions, it is known for attracting thrill-seekers of all kinds. Avid hikers and climbers, volcano enthusiasts, and history buffs from every ilk of life find this celebrated mountain to be a hub of life and activity. The volcano originated in the Quaternary. Over the millennia, with its eruptions it has helped shape the surrounding area. The territory is vast and varied: urban areas, wooded areas and vast desolate areas. The Etna volcano is associated with various myths related to its volcanic nature. It is said that the giants Enceladus and Typhon confined inside the volcano, are the cause of the frequent eruptions. Another legend associates the lava fire with the work of Hephaestus skilled in the art of metalworking with which he forged the weapons of the gods and heroes.
The slopes that can be visited are two. On the north-east side it’s possible to reach the Provenzana Plan at 1800 m. above sea level with the homonymous refuge. While on the south side the Rifugio Sapienza at 1923 m. They are the starting point for all excursions to the volcano. Both can be reached in about 30 minutes by car.
Having time and wanting to visit the Etna territory with less frenetic times, a valid alternative is the Circumetnea Railway. . The railway is born in Riposto, the station is 500 meters from our house, it goes all around the Etna up to Catania where the underground connects it to the central railway station.
Body rafting in the Alcantara
Alcantara gorges
Unique in the Italian and European natural landscape, the Alcantara Gorges are one of the must-see attractions of Sicily. Located about 20 km from Taormina, the gorges are real canyons made of black lava walls up to 50 meters high, in the typical shape of a prism that the rocks have taken during the cooling process. They can be reached by car in about 30 minutes.
Within the grooves, the toning and crystal clear waters of the river Alcantara run surrounded by an unspoiled landscape, with rare flora and fauna. The purity of the natural habitat has been facilitated by its hidden position, which has preserved its existence; until the fifties in fact this site was completely unknown. They are a very popular tourist destination. Various sports are practiced such as trekking, canyoning, body rafting.
Roman villa of Casale
It is a late ancient building (4th century AD) with the characteristics of the imperial urban palace. Since 1997 recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site, it preserves a heritage of Roman mosaics considered by far the most extensive and fascinating in the world. It is visited every year by hundreds of thousands of tourists. It can be easily reached in about two hours (motorways A18-A19)
Sicilian Arancini
Sicilian cannoli
Our table: appetizers
Sicilian regional cuisine and our menus
Sicilian cuisine is rich in meat and fish dishes and the delights of Sicilian pastries are known, first of all cannoli and cassata.
Guests who want to try authentic regional home cooking can stop for dinner with us. Among the most appreciated dishes we remember the pasta with sardines and the pasta alla Norma. Spectacular is a dish of rice with cuttlefish ink presented in the shape of a volcano with a sauce of tomato sauce on top and sprinkled with white salted ricotta. Aeolian stuffed squid, red Sicilian prawns in various preparations, spatula fish rolls, tuna with onion are some of our fish dishes. The so-called seasoned sausage, enriched with cheese, tomato and various spices, meatballs in lemon leaves, Messina-style rolls are among the second courses of meat that arouse greater enthusiasm in the guests. Our interpretation of the caponata and the salad of oranges or lemons are never missing.
We prepare home-made ice cream and desserts using jealously guarded family recipes. Even at breakfast you can often enjoy the pear cake, an exceptional chocolate cake, ricotta and fruit tarts, etc.
A unique experience is offered, when it is possible, for those who have pleasure, to participate in the preparation of ricotta cannoli or rice arancini.
