Giarre, Catania

Giarre sits conveniently between Mount Etna, Catania and Taormina. It is a busy city.  Its bustling port of Riposto with its Marina and a small town-centre laced with restaurants, bars and a characteristic fish market hosts motorboats and and sailing boats. If you’re considering a boat tour or charter this is a popular starting point. It sits in the midst of lush and fertile land fed by the rich minerals of Mount Etna. The immediate area around is a popular destination for cycling, and the sea is only a 10 min drive away. Carrubba is a tiny village that sits just outside Giarre.

The second largest city of Sicily, Catania is 40 km away and worth a visit for its vibrant centre, excellent shopping and some extraordinary buildings like Palazzo Biscari and Castell’Ursino.

But you are also an hour’s drive from Taormina, one of the most picturesque hilltop towns. The town’s pride is the sparkling atmosphere of its main pedestrian street, and its magnificent Greek Theatre that hosts an array of arts events from June to September.

Mount Etna is another destination less than an hour away. Here you can choose to visit Europe’s largest active volcano in many different ways. Be guided, use the cable car to reach up to the level of 2.000 m or explore it first hand by trekking and cycling. In the winter you can ski and snowboard using the ski lifts, or just making the most of a day mountain climbing and enjoying the sea – all in the one day!