Mount Etna, city streets and Sicilian flavours: your journey starts here
The volcano on the horizon, a walk through Catania, a pause for granita and brioche. EtnaCircle explores eastern Sicily through its landscapes, traditions and the small discoveries that make a journey memorable.
Start with what interests you: Mount Etna and its surroundings, or the flavours of Sicilian food. Find inspiration for your next stop and give each place the time it deserves.
Explore: Etna and its surroundings · Catania and nearby places · Food and flavours
Etna and its surroundings
Get to know the mountain
Etna offers many different landscapes: dark rock, woodland, slopes and towns. To plan a visit, start with information from Etna Regional Park and read our guide to an Etna excursion up to 3,000 metres (in Italian), covering routes, equipment, transfers and access conditions.
Catania, from its squares to its details
Begin in Piazza Duomo, look at the Cathedral façade and the Elephant Fountain, then continue along Via Etnea and through the architecture of Via Crociferi. For a compact route through the ancient city and its buildings, read Catania on foot: from the Duomo to the Roman Theatre and Via Crociferi (in Italian), with suggested stops and sources to consult.
The coast and other places to explore
La Playa beach, the landscape of Aci Trezza, Isola Bella and Taormina’s Ancient Theatre offer different reasons to continue your journey. Choose your stops around your interests and travel time: a day by the sea and a cultural visit call for different rhythms.
Caltagirone adds another theme: ceramics. Its staircase, decorations and workshops offer a route through the town and its craftsmanship.
Sicilian food and flavours
Discover the region at the table
Granita and brioche for breakfast, an arancino during a walk, the colours of prickly pears. Exploring local flavours begins with simple moments and continues through the stories of recipes, ingredients and the people who work with them.
Catania’s drinks kiosks can also be part of the journey: ask which fruit drinks are available and discover soda water with lemon and salt. Always check the ingredients and preparation of what is actually being served.
A first read: pistachios
Pistachios are a starting point for discovering local produce. Our guide introduces the Pistacchio Verde di Bronte PDO designation, what to check on the label and two ideas for cooking.
Read the guide to Pistacchio Verde di Bronte PDO (in Italian)
Short on time? Choose a starting point
One day: focus on one theme, such as a walk through Catania or a visit to Etna planned around current conditions.
Two or three days: combine the city, the volcano and a stop on the coast, allowing time for travel and breaks. These are ideas to adapt, rather than a bookable travel package.
A longer stay: explore the area further and consider a day in Caltagirone to discover its ceramic traditions.
Before an Etna excursion, check the official access rules and confirm the route, weather and equipment with your organiser.
A project for discovery and sharing
EtnaCircle is an editorial project about the region and its flavours. Would you like to suggest a place, share a tradition or point out information that needs correcting? Send a description with references and sources so we can look into it.