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The Treasures of Eastern SicilyBaroque towns, Greek temples & volcanoes
Nights: 8
Starting point: Villa Paradiso dell'Etna (4*), San Giovanni La Punta. Behind the handsome painted façade lies an equally elegant, Liberty-style hotel with individually decorated bedrooms furnished with Sicilian antiques. Some bedrooms overlook the garden (complete with ancient statues), while others look towards Mount Etna, a view shared by the second-floor breakfast room, a great place to start the day. The attention to detail throughout the hotel is excellent, while the facilities include a piano bar, sauna, gym and outdoor pool. Day 1: we suggest a walk (5km, grade 1-2, 35 minutes' drive from your hotel) along a nature trail across the north-eastern slopes of the Etna Park. Observation posts along the way allow you to view the volcanic craters of Mount Sartorius, dating from the eruption of 1865. If you don't wish to follow our suggested walk, the hotel can organise various activities (pay locally), including a gastronomic tour that introduces you to Sicily's honey, wine, olive oil, pistachios, almonds and cheeses, or a guided excursion up the slopes of towering Mount Etna (weather dependent). Accommodation: Villa Paradiso Dell'Etna as above Day 2: today you head north, your journey taking you around the impressive bulk of Mount Etna and along the coast. Your journey to Capri Leone, is via Taormina, a famous Grand Tour resort that balances above the sea, its medieval streets hiding a Greek theatre and a Norman mansion then, Messina in the northeast corner of the island and Milazzo. Accommodation: Albergo Antica Filanda (restaurant with rooms), Capri Leone. Owned by charming brothers Nunzio and Salvatore Campisi, the restaurant is the focal point here. So good is the food that Sicilians from as far away as Palermo come to dine. There are just sixteen spacious bedrooms, and a swimming pool to the rear of the hotel. Day 3: you have a choice of walks. Our easiest walk (7km, 25 minutes' drive from the hotel) through the pastoral landscapes of a tranquil river valley, past superbly preserved shepherds' dwellings with dry stone walls and a conical thatched roof, to a small waterfall. The second walk, is a circular route, (18km, 25 minutes' drive from the hotel). Particularly beautiful in spring and autumn, it explores majestic woodland of beech, holly, maple, ash and wild pear. You cross several clearings, some of which afford views of Etna, the sea and the Aeolian Islands. You then skirt the edge of Lake Biviere, a great spot to see a variety of migratory birds at the right time of year. The third walk (10km, 20 minutes' drive from the hotel) ascends along the ridge leading towards Rocca del Crasto's jagged peak (1,315 metres). You do not reach the summit itself, where golden eagles nest, but do get close to its crags. The views of the Nebrodi Park and Aeolian Islands are superb. Accommodation: Albergo Antica Filanda as above Day 4: your journey takes you south towards Siracusa, a 3 hour drive, giving you time en route for a walk to, the Necropolis di Pantalica, which explores the area around Sicily's most important Bronze Age settlement. Your path passes the foundations of a Bronze Age palace, numerous cave-tombs in the limestone, the necropolis itself and a 'village' of cave dwellings before passing through the Anapo Valley, characterised by orchards, willows and plane trees. After crossing the river, you ascend through almond and carob groves, passing close to more cave-tombs, only to descend once more into a small valley dotted with natural pools, on the other side of which is a cave that is home to hundreds of bats. Accommodation:Grand Hotel Villa Politi (4*), Siracusa. This grand villa in the Tyche district dates from the late 18th-century, with high ceilinged public rooms and elegant fin-de-siècle décor. The service is friendly and attentive, and the facilities excellent – they include a spa complex, swimming pool, attractive gardens and a terrace. You stay on a bed and breakfast basis, leaving you free to take your pick of the many restaurants (or the hotel's own). Day 5: we recommend you spend your day in Siracusa visiting its superbly preserved Greek threatre and Roman ampitheatre, conveniently located not too far from the hotel, and then exploring the intriguing streets of the old quarter on Ortigia Island. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Villa Politi (4*) as above. Day 6: today you take a short one hour drive south east, to Siracusa. We recommend stopping en route for a walk through Sicily's 'Grand Canyon' the Cava Grande. The walk (10km, grade 2-3) is full of interest too: following paths cut into the rock face, it explores the 'Grand Canyon of Sicily', a wild and dramatic gorge in which ancient burial chambers have been found in the limestone cliffs. Accommodation: Locanda Don Serafino (3*), Ragusa. Located in the Baroque part of the town, this is an intimate (and romantic) hotel that has been carefully converted from a 19th-century mansion. The exposed stonework, original archways, spiral staircase and other such features lend it great character, while the ten bedrooms are all very well-equipped. Day 7: there are several options for today. Explore Ragusa and nearby Scicli, the Baroque parts of which are now Unesco World Heritage Sites in recognition of the handsome architecture. Scicli was once an Arab stronghold and later a royal city under Norman rule, and boasts a ruined Arab castle and numerous mansions. Alternatively, we suggest an easy walk (10km) that starts in Ragusa itself then follows an old cobbled mule track through terraced carob and olive groves into a wooded valley, from where you return the same way. A third option is to relax by the sea: your hotel owns a seaside restaurant (complete with its own private beach) 20km away in Marina di Ragusa. Pay locally for sun loungers, cabin and parasol. Accommodation: Locanda Don Serafino (3*) as above. Recommendations for extra nights: all four hotels make great bases for further exploration and walking – we particularly recommend Capri Leone. Alternatively, you can extend your holiday by staying in Taormina and/or Catania. In Taormina we offer the 4-star Villa Carlotta, a striking and imposing villa on the edge of the town that has been restored to its former glory and converted into a wonderful hotel of great elegance and flair, complete with an outdoor pool. In Catania, you can stay at Il Principe, a stylish hotel of 4-star standard located right in the centre of the old town, just a couple of streets away from the cathedral. Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. Similar holidays: Highlights of Western Sicily (grade 2), Citrus Groves & Dramatic Coast (grades 1 & 2), Timeless Northern Extremadura, Andalucia & Southern Extremadura Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airport: Catania Extra night prices
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Having been ruled over by the Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Saracens and Normans, the Mediterranean’s largest island boasts a rich and fascinating history which further enhances its unique allure. Ancient monuments vie for your attention with Baroque towns, while the trails in the mountains and coastal regions beyond invite you on a discovery of rugged landscapes which bask in the hot sun, guarded by seemingly omnipresent Mount Etna. On this fly-drive holiday, with the freedom of a hire car, you can walk or visit places of interest as the mood takes you. You stay at some high-quality hotel which are as atmospheric as the towns themselves and can choose from a variet of walking options, including both easy strolls and more challenging routes which you access by car.
Villa Paradiso dell'Etna
