Day trips
During the program, we often organize cultural excursions for students and teachers who would like to explore the beauty of Sicily and enjoy the most meaningful moments here with their groups. Moreover, they can taste different kinds of Italian foods thanks to local restaurants & street food. They are very tasty, and delicious and indeed, you will be addicted to them.
Please explore the exciting places here & enjoy the beautiful trips during your program.
Jalari Park And Museum
The Park Museum “Jalari” is situated on the Peloritan mountains a few kilometers from Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (ME) extended over 35 hectares (350,000 msq). Unlike traditional museums, „Jalari´s” 15,000 finds are placed in the 42 artisan shops with the aim to recreate faithfully the atmosphere and life of long time ago; in fact, they are positioned in their presumed original locations throughout the thousands of shops that once animated and filled the neighborhoods. “Jalari” originates from a dream and grows with perseverance and constancy due to 30 years of work from the Pietrini and Giorgianni families. It is difficult to synthesize in a few words what were the values, the culture and the spirit that animated the authors of the Park in these long, intensive and happy years of activity.
Castroreale
Castroreale is a very cute small town in the mountains near Barcellona, with less than 3000 inhabitants but over 80 churches, and parts of the city dating back to the early 13th century. Its name comes from Latin, meaning “royal fortress”, referring to the castle of unknown origin, reconstructed by Frederick II of Aragon in 1324 (although only one tower remains from the castle to present day).
Milazzo
Milazzo is a town and is the third-largest city in the province of Messina, and is one of the most important cities of Sicily. The city proper has a population of over 32,000 inhabitants, and is the point of reference for a vast territory, from Villafranca Tirrena to Patti (over 200 thousand inhabitants). It is also an important centre of the Metropolitan Area Stretto di Messina, with the city of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto nearby. Located at the base of a peninsula that juts into the Tyrrhenian Sea with a small promontory, it is 43 km (26.72 miles) from the capital city of Messina.
Aeolian Islands (Lipari & Vulcano Islands)
Milazzo with its port is a place to depart to the close Aeolian Islands which is a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea in the north of Milazzo which also can be seen from Barcellona P.G. it is a very popular tourist destination, especially in the summer. The complex consists of eight islands with Vulcano and Stromboli being still active.
Places to see:
Lipari is the largest of the islands as well as it is the name of the main town. Lipari consists of four main villages: Pianoconte, Quatropani, Acquacalda and Canneto. The island was created due to four volcanic movements. The volcanoes are still considered active. Interestingly, because of its volcanic origin, the island is covered by pumice and obsidian.
Vulcano, on the other hand, is the first you can reach when on the way from Milazzo. After reaching the island with a hydrofoil or by a ship, you are not far away from the place where you can fully enjoy a sulfur mud bath. Just sink into the salutary mud for 20 minutes and your skin will enjoy a healthy dosage of natural peeling. Afterwards, it is virtually ten steps to jump right into the sea to wash away the mud and enjoy the view of the volcanic centres, some of them you may also climb to: Monte Aria, Monte Saraceno, Monte Luccia or Gran Cratere at the top of Fossa cone are approximately 500m high stratovolcano cones which you can climb within hour or so.
Tip: If you decide to take a mud bath, which is strongly recommended, make sure you are wearing an older swimsuit since the scent of sulphur will probably follow you a couple of days after this unique experience.
Oliveri
Oliveri is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 150 km east of Palermo and about 45 km west of Messina and has about 2,076 inhabitants. The town is known as a tourist destination because of the seaside and local landscapes.
Oliveri was originally the name of both of the castle and the hamlet (which was no doubt built around the castle), situated on a low hill not far from the beach of the Tyrrhenian Sea and dominated by the promontory of Tindari. The main attractions of Olivieri follow the shores of “Marinello”, a natural bay with easy access. The fortress here is thought to be of Arab-Norman origin, originally built to control the coastal areas and to defend the Oliveri fishing fleet, which was very active at the time of Roger II.
Messina
Messina is the capital of Messina province of Italy. It has 250,000 inhabitants, which makes it the 3rd biggest city in Sicily. It is situated on the edge of Sicily, opposite of Reggio Calabria. It is the nearest point to the Italian peninsula – a bridge is being planned to build to connect the two cities. Messina has numerous monuments and attractions to offer as it has a very rich history in both religious and military way. It is assumed, that the black plague entered to Europe through the port of Messina – a merchant ship brought the disease from the Crimea.
Main attractions:
- The Galleria d´Arte Contemporanea di Messina, hosting notable paintings by Caravaggio and Antonello da Messina;
- The Botanical Garden Pietro Castelli of the University of Messina;
- The Cathedral (12th century), containing the remains of King Conrad, ruler of Germany and Sicily in the 13th century.
The largest mechanical clock in Europe.
Catania
Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the Province of Catania, and is the second-largest city in Sicily, the tenth in Italy, and the hundredth-largest city in the European Union. It sits at the foot of Mt. Etna, an active volcano with trails leading up to the summit. Catania is known for its seismic history, having been destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake in 1169, another in 1693, and several volcanic eruptions from the neighbouring Mount Etna volcano, the most violent of which was in 1669.
The city’s wide central square, Piazza del Duomo, features the whimsical Fontana dell’Elefante – the symbol of the city and the entrance to the elegant Via Etnea which is the main shopping avenue. It is also worthy to visit Cathedral (Duomo) that is really imposing.
Moreover, there is Piazza Stesicoro, the original centre containing ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre. It is also the entrance to the main market (Mercato de la Fiera). Another beautiful place is the Giardino Bellini (known as Villa Bellini) is the oldest urban park of Catania. Finally, teatro Massimo Bellini is an opera house and the creation took almost two hundred years, beginning with discussions following the disastrous 1693 earthquake which completely destroyed Catania. The construction of a public theatre was discussed, and a foundation stone was finally laid in 1812.
Palermo
Palermo is the capital of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is known for its rich history, culture, architecture and specific cuisine. Palermo counts approx. 2700 years and is located on the north-west coast of Sicily, next to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Palermo is Sicily’s most populous city with a population of 650,000 inhabitants. Palermo is the cultural, economic and tourist capital of Sicily. Many tourists come to the city because of the beautiful weather, famous restaurants, catering, and countless monuments of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque: churches, palaces and buildings. Palermo is famous for its nightlife and music. It is the main Sicilian industrial and commercial center: the main industrial sectors are tourism, services, trade and agriculture. The city through its continuous development aspires to be one of the most popular resorts of the Mediterranean.
Etna
The Rifugio Sapienza is the highest point you can reach on Etna by car, and then just simply walk from the parking area to the Silvestri Craters situated below the top of Mount Etna. The Silvestri Craters are formed of two main craters along with other few of a smaller size. They all originated from the massive eruption in 1892.
Mount Etna (in the Middle Ages called Mongibello) is the Sicily’s greatest natural attraction, its highest mountain and the most active stratovolcano in the world. To the ancient Greeks, Mount Etna was the realm of Vulcan, god of fire, and the home of the one-eyed monster known as the Cyclops. At approximately 3350 meters, it is Europe’s highest active volcano. The height of its summit changes with each eruption, and over the centuries few lava flows have reached the coast. Over 1200 square meters of Etna’s surface is covered with solidified lava. Etna offers skiing in the winter months and breathtaking hikes in the woods during the summer. There are also a number of smaller peaks on the slopes of Etna, and some interesting caverns. Since Etna is a strato volcano, with relatively cool lava temperatures and numerous openings (vents), nobody ever knows precisely where on its vast surface the next eruption will be. Etna’s long recorded history has proven invaluable to the world’s volcanologists.
Taormina
As soon as you will arrive in there, you will feel the magical, mythical atmosphere spread all around which has enchanted visitors from all over the world for years and years. Settled on a hill of the Monte Tauro, Taormina dominates two grand, sweeping bays below and on the southern side, the top of Mount Etna, the European highest active volcano, often capped with snow, offering to the visitors a breathtaking, dramatic and memorable view over… Taormina is a medieval village perched alongside the steep terrain jutting out of the ocean. While it has kept its Medieval character, it is now a shopper’s paradise. The main pedestrian shopping street is Corso Umberto I. loaded with shops, boutiques and specialty stores selling everything under the sun. Near the top of Taormina Village is a wonderfully preserved Greek Theater.
This pretty much sums up Taormina’s charm. There is something for everyone. Great shopping, wonderful restaurants, Roman Ruins, Medieval pedestrian streets and even stairs to a great beach. What more could anyone want? Plus it is all connected by one simple street and stairway.
Cefalù
Cefalù is a picturesque town on the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea and it is located about 125 km south from Barcellona P. G. Cefalu attracts many tourists because of its charming center, beautiful beach, along with the coastline, where the buildings rise above the water. The main attraction is the cathedral in the Sicilian-Norman Romanesque style filled with images of the famous mosaics. On the hill behind the town is a Saracen castle with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
Castelbuono
Castelbuono (Sicilian: Castiddubbuonu) is a town and comune in the province of Palermo, Sicily (southern Italy). This charming town developed in the 14th century around the castle built by the Ventimiglia noble family. This consists of a massive square building with square towers and has undergone many changes over the centuries. At the heart of the town lies Piazza Margherita, overlooked by the Chiesa della Madrice and the old Banca di Corte.
Savoca
The village of Savoca is in an attractive hillside setting and it is situated on the coast of north-east Sicily between Messina and Taormina. Savoca, whose name is derived unequivocally from the plant of the elder (savucu in Sicilian dialect), a shrub that still grows wild in the cracks between houses and which is represented in the medieval coat of arms of the village.
A ruined castle – Castello di Pentefur – stands above the village. Savaco itself contains numerous small churches, which “Chiesa di Santa Maria in Cielo Assunta”, Chiesa Madre di Savoca, is the most important.
It dates back to the Norman domination and it was smaller and with different architectural features than today.
Recently, during repairs, two mural paintings representing some saints and belonging to Byzantine iconography were brought to light.
The monument is consecrated to “S. Maria in Cielo Assunta” (S. Mary Taken up into Heaven). All other urban and rural churches of old Savoca’s territory were subject to its jurisdiction.
The Bar Vitelli – one of the oldest and most famous bar in Sicily and also known around the world. There were filmed some scenes of the movie “The Godfather” by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. The bar is located in an old aristocratic Sicilian neoclassical two elevation building (of the early 1700’s), the property of the Trimarchi family and restored in 1773.
Siracusa
Syracusa is situated on the south-eastern coastline of Sicily. This 2700 years old city has an exceptional history. It played an important role for the Greeks and the Romans as well. It is famous for being the birthplace of Archimedes. Notable for the amphitheaters and culture. It is part of the UNESCO world heritage.
Destinations and attractions:
- Roman and Greek amphitheatres;
- Temple of Apollo;
- Piazza Duomo.
Noto
Situated in the province of Syracuse and at the foot of the Iblean Mountains, Noto and its church also belong to UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its buildings from the early 18th century, the town is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the Sicilian baroque. It is the perfect mix of old and new architecture.
Destinations and attractions:
- Ducezio Palace which is the current town hall;
- Astuto Palace;
- Noto Cathedral;
- Church of St. Charles Borromeo.
Also, the city holds an annual flower festival every May called the Infiorata.