Optional Excursion to Catania

Another option for our free day in Taormina on Thursday, October 30th, is a tour of Catania, Sicily's second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Although there is evidence that the area was populated by Greek colonists as far back as 700 BC, the city we see today is largely from the 18th century, rebuilt after the 1693 eruption of the volcano razed it to the ground.

Catania Cathedral di Sant'Agata

 
Our walking tour starts with the Cathedral square and church, after which we'll stroll along Via Crociferi to Piazza Stesicoro to see the ruins of the Roman theatre (an interesting contrast to the Greek theater we'll visit in Taormina), then back to the Cathedral square along Via Etnea, Catania's main street.

If we are there in the morning (timing is TBD) we'll also stop and see Catania's lively fish market.

The fee for this optional four-hour excursion is $45 per person.