Walking Under Mount Etna

On the same latitude as part of the North African coast and tempered by sea breezes, Sicily is the largest of the Mediterranean Islands and is steeped in history having been home to Greek, Roman, Arab and Norman civilisations. As Goethe said, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is to not have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.”

You will be based in Castiglione di Sicilia, a small Sicilian town nestled in a valley between Etna and the Alcantara Park. It’s a picturesque town with small houses and historical buildings perched upon a hill on the north side of Etna. Follow its winding streets and you'll discover Italian architecture and a central square made from lava stone. Its castles and churches make for an impressive backdrop against Etna. As a centre it offers some of the finest walking to be had. The ever-present outline of Mount Etna frames many of your walks. 

The holiday includes a varied walking programme, the walks take in fields and mountains, ancient tracks and villages, hilltop castles and peaceful paths. An impressive trail takes us down from Mount Venere, where you can capture panoramic views of the Dalmatian Coast and across the Alps, to the characterful town of Taormina. Its temptations of some cold refreshments, ice cream and sea views will put a spring in your step. Explore the magical Alcantara gorge, formed by cool crystallised lava from Mount Etna. 

Take a special excursion to Mount Etna. As the volcano is still active, you can never predict an exact programme but the higher you reach, the more spectacular the views across the island and to the Italian mainland across the straights of Messina.