3-Hour Mount Etna and Catania Lava Discovery Walking Tour
About This Tour
Discover how Mount Etna's eruptions shaped Catania on this fascinating walking tour through the city centre. Visit the Benedictine Monastery, where the 1669 eru...
Duration: 3 Hours · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Easy · Accommodation: Not included · Transport: Not included · Wheelchair access: No · Cities: Catania, Mount Etna · Languages: English, German, Spanish
Know before you go: This tour is designed to help you discover Catania from a different point of view. This is not a classic tour that crosses the most touristy attractions.; For this reason, we'll visit areas of the city centre that are not crowded or busy, and we'll always have our space and comfort zone throughout the tour.; If you don't like tours for the masses, this tour is a good fit for you.
About Catania
Catania
Etna towering overhead, Catania pulses with a distinct Sicilian energy; a place where Norman churches sit next to sun-splashed piazzas and local guides show off layers of Greek, Byzantine and Roman heritage.
What's Included
- Private nature guide and tour leader Mirco Mannino
- Explanations about Catania and its relationship with Mt. Etna
- A talk about the strongest eruptions of Mt. Etna in modern times
Not Included
- Food and beverages
- Museum visits
Itinerary
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1Day 01
Catania City Centre and the Lava Legacy of Mount Etna
At the indicated time, we'll meet in front of the Church of San Nicolò, where we'll begin our tour focused on Mount Etna. We'll recall its eruptions and see their impact on the city of Catania as we discover some exciting places. First, we'll enter the courtyard of the Benedictine Monastery of Catania. This historic site was one of the first to be damaged by the eruption of 1669, which left important remains, including huge blocks of lava several metres high that can still be seen today. We'll continue our tour descending towards the Baths of the Rotonda and the Roman theatre while telling you the history of the Amenano River. Nowadays, this riverbed runs mainly underground, and we'll explain why. From here, we'll head towards Castello Ursino, a fortress almost surrounded by lava flows. There, we'll discover how this impressive natural phenomenon shaped the city's architecture. If you take the tour in the morning, we'll follow the course of the solidified lava flow and arrive at A putia dell'Ostello, where we'll show you a hidden jewel inside its small bar. If you take the tour in the afternoon, we'll take you to Gammazita's Well, linked to the eruption of 1669, along with an exciting legend that we'll tell you during the activity. Explore Catania's nightlife as we end the tour.
Meeting Point
Meeting point: Chiesa di San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante Alighieri, Catania, CT, Italia · Tour start: Catania, Metropolitan city of Catania, Italy — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
