AEOLIAN ISLANDS
AEOLIAN ISLANDS: A LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE ON EARTH
A short stay to discover the wild beauty and the cobalt-blue sea of Sicily’s Volcanic Islands.
DAILY PROGRAM
Day 1: CATANIA - MILAZZO - LIPARI
Arrival at Catania airport, welcome by our English speaking tour leader and coach transfer to the port of Milazzo. Departure for the island of Lipari (approx. 1h30 sailing time). At the arrival a local transport service will transfer the luggage to the hotel (the clients will reach the hotel on foot). Accommodation in a 4* sup hotel, such as Hotel Gattopardo or similar. Welcome drink. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: LIPARI - PARANEA - STROMBOLI
Breakfast at the hotel, then departure on foot with our tour leader for a morning visit of Lipari. A whitewashed houses island, Lipari was once the obsidian trade center, glass of volcanic origin, and today the most important producer of pumice stone. Walk through the narrow streets and small squares of the centre, which offer several panoramic spots on breathtaking landscapes: the colours of a fishing village, the contrast between the blue of the sea and the two famous cliffs Pietra Longa and Pietra Menalda, and also the white pumice stone mountains. Discovery of the two bays that surround the port, Marina Lunga and Marina Corta, the “Belvedere" where the island's town hall stands, and finally the main street. Free time for lunch (not included). In the afternoon, walk to the port and departure by boat for an excursion to the islands of Panarea and Stromboli. Stop at the little port of San Pietro in Panarea, the smallest of the Aeolian Islands. Visit of the maritime village (approx. 1 hour). Then boarding for the islets journey: Lisca Bianca, Bottaro, Basiluzzo, Spinazzola. Continue to Stromboli, an island entirely made up of an active volcano, the Stromboli, which, at regular intervals, spits out incandescent jets of lapilli accompanied by noisy lava explosions, offering unforgettable shows, especially during its night eruptions. Stop and view from the sea of the picturesque village of Ginostra, a wild and famous place since it can only be reached by boat, thus remaining isolated from the rest of the island. Then sail along the coast and stop at the port of Scari (Stromboli), visit of the village until sunset. Back on board, and continue to the Sciara del Fuoco” (Sciara of fire, an impressive seaward flow) to enjoy from the sea the spectacular eruptions of the active volcano. Dinner on board (a "maccheronata", typical Sicilian pasta dish). Back to the hotel on foot, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: LIPARI
After breakfast, whole day dedicated to a complete visit of Lipari with our tour leader. In the morning, bus tour around the island, known for its beaches of intense blue water, including Canneto, enclosed in a suggestive bay, Acquacalda dominated by a majestic white pumice mountain, and the Spiaggia Bianca of Papesca, located between the cliffs of Pietra Lunga and Pietra Menalda. Departure by bus to the small village of Pianoconte, stop at the panoramic terrace of Quattrocchi, from where you can contemplate the cliffs Pietra Longa and Pietra Menalda, and the beautiful island of Vulcano with the crater and its sulphur fumaroles. Continue to the small village of Quattropani, and stop to enjoy a breathtaking view of the other islands of the archipelago: Salina, Alicudi and Filicudi. At the end of the visit, free time for lunch (not included). In the afternoon, guided visit of the small archaeological museum of the city, which keeps several collections of Aeolian Islands pieces since prehistory. The museum is located in the Lipari Castle complex, an imposing building on a promontory overlooking the sea, offering a magnificent view of the village and the two bays of Marina Lunga and Marina Corta. Afterwards, continue to the upper part of the city where you can admire from the outside the Norman Cloister and the Basilica of St. Bartholomew, the beating heart of the city, and finally return to Piazza del Municipio. In the late afternoon free time in the centre, to stroll or taste an aperitif (optional, not included) in the beautiful and typical cafés of the old centre, or to buy the typical products of the island, such as capperi, Malvasia wine, biscuits such as Sesamini, or the famous Cannolo Siciliano, the most famous Sicilian dessert. Back to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay
Day 4: LIPARI – VULCANO–TAORMINA
Breakfast at the hotel, luggage transfer to the port while clients will reach the port on foot, then boarding with our tour leader for a boat trip to Vulcano, “the forge of the God of Fire”. This islet has kept its wild appearance, with its plateaus crisscrossed by deep valleys of lava and tuff. The activity of the volcano is still intense, as evidenced by the presence of fumaroles that heat the sea of black sand beaches. Vulcano also offers unforgettable baths such as the Venus swimming pool and the the Grotta del Cavallo (Cave of the Horse). Visit of the village on foot. After that, boarding for Milazzo. At the arrival in Milazzo, departure by coach for Taormina. Free time for lunch (not included), then visit of Taormina, the pearl of the region and an internationally renowned tourist site. Discovery of the centre: the beautiful Piazza del IX Aprile dominated by the churches of San Giuseppe and Sant'Agostino, then the Clock Tower whose arch lead to the old town; the St. Nicholas Cathedral, characterized by a crenellated crown which earned it the nickname of cathedral-fortress (external view). Visit of the charming Greco-Roman Theater overlooking the bay of Naxos. Free time to stroll through the small roads and local craft shops. In the late afternoon, drive to the area of Taormina, accommodation in a 4* hotel such as Hotel Sporting Baia in Giardini Naxos, or similar. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel and coach transfer to Catania airport with our tour escort. Check-in assistance and end of our services.
The price includes:
• 4 nights accommodation on H/B basis in mentioned 4* hotels or similar, in double room
• All dinners excluding beverages
• Welcome drink on the day of arrival
• The dinner on board (day 2)
• The service of a professional English-speaking tour leader from/to the airport and for the whole duration of the tour, accommodation and meal costs included
• Transportation by air-conditioned G.T. bus according to the itinerary, including all city access fees as currently in force, and including meals and/or accommodation expenses necessary for the driver
• Sea crossings Milazzo/Lipari and Vulcano or Lipari/Milazzo, and the luggage transport port/hotel/port to the Aeolian Islands
• Boat excursions Panarea/Stromboli and Vulcano (not exclusive services)
• The tour of Lipari by coach
• VAT as currently in force 10% for hotels, 5% for maritime transport, 22% other services
• Our constant phone support
The price doesn't includes
• Air transport
• Tourist tax
• Luncheons
• Drinks at meals
• Entrance fees
• Headsets (not mandatory)
• Luggage transport service at the hotels
• All services not mentioned in our program and in "the price includes"
• The possible increase in VAT, access and parking costs for the bus, taxes in general
• Extras, optional visits, tips and personal expenses
CONTACT US
If you need more information, please feel free to contact us anytime, we will be happy to help you!
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