TAORMINA and MOUNT ETNA

We have visited the Mediterranean island of Malta twice and had such a wonderful time there. The magnificent diving spots, visits to ancient places, beautiful beaches and the first time we tasted pastizzi – these are some of our best memories!

We will share some posts from this holiday with you soon.

But what about Sicily?

Sicily – depicted on a postcard

On our first trip to Malta, after three wonderful weeks on the island, we were very tired. There was just so much to see and experience that we slept little (and walked a lot). By the end of our holiday in Malta we were more than ready to go home to rest! You know how it is: You need a holiday to recover from your holiday.

That was until we heard about a day tour to the eastern part of Sicily. We booked a tour with Malta Tours in no time. We don’t usually do organised tours, but we were so close to Sicily and didn’t know if we would ever have the opportunity to visit the largest Mediterranean island again.

A Malta Tours representative picked us up in Senglea, Malta at 06:00 am and took us to the port of Valletta where we boarded the Virtu Ferries catamaran.

The catamaran is equipped with a very good cafeteria and a small boutique/gift shop. After buying cappuccinos, we found our seats and enjoyed the 90 minute ride to Port Pozzallo in Sicily.

In Port Pozzallo we bought water, cold drinks and baguettes to enjoy while the bus took us to the first attraction.

A very faint Mount Etna in the distance – taken from our bus on route in Sicily

Our first stop was at the small medieval town of Taormina which is built on a mountainside and is located 206m above sea level.

A small island and beautiful beach close to Taormina
The houses are almost built into the rocks at Taormina

Taormina was settled by the people of nearby Naxos, an older Greek settlement, around 395 BC. It was built on the remains of a Sicilian city and is known as the pearl of the Mediterranean.

Our walk into the town of Taormina

Taormina lives on tourism – their Greek-Roman theater with magnificent views and perfectly preserved medieval streets have made this town a tourist magnet. We heard it can be quite busy (especially with the arrival of cruise ships). And it was indeed filled with tourists, but not as busy as we expected. However, when we left just after lunch, it got very crowded.

The medieval streets and ancient buildings
Locals buying their fruit and veg fresh from a farmer

We were so intrigued with its multiple corridors and plenty of stairs that were leading to either houses or restaurants and cafés.

Stairs in narrow corridors can be seen everywhere in Taormina

My favourite shops were the ones where all the sweets and pasties were exhibited – it was exquisitely crafted!

Beautiful (and delicious) sweets and pasties
Even the fruit and vegetables shop was a feast for the eyes
Another beautifully decorated stairwell leading to a restaurant

After a couple of hours exploring this medieval city, we were ready to have lunch. Our choice fell on Bella Blu Restaurant. I can’t really remember the interior of the restaurant, but it had a great view of the turquoise waters of the Med. We both had pasta and a salad, which was close to be one of the best pasta and salad we’ve ever had! It was such a simple dish – pasta with tomato sauce and the salad consisted of only a few leaves and dressing – but the flavours were bursting in our mouths!

After this delicious lunch we had another hour to explore Taormina before it was time to leave.

More beautiful views of the cliffs at Taormina

The main thoroughfare in Taormina is Corso Umberto l. This street leads to the Piazza del Duomo, complete with a 13th century Cathedral and Baroque fountain.

The charming street of Corso Umberto l
The Cathedral and Baroque fountain

There was a wonderful atmosphere in the center of Taormina. Artists were busy painting beautiful pictures of their surroundings, while men sang songs we didn’t know (but sounded so good in Italian).

Entertainment by the locals of Taormina

By now, it was time to get back to the bus. We took a few last photos to remind us of this beautiful ancient town called Taormina – we wish we could stay longer.

Taormina – it was such a gem to visit

We were now on our way to Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna. The drive up the mountain slopes took us through picturesque villages and an ever-changing landscape.

Arriving at Mount Etna
People walking up the mountain

Our visit to Mount Etna took us 2000 meters above sea level and we’ve stopped at Silvester Craters, two inactive craters that were formed as a result of the Mount Etna eruption of 1892.

We had a nice walk around Silvester Craters with great views of Etna
Stunning rock formations at Silvester Craters

Unfortunately, our time was limited and we could not take the cable car all the way to the top of Mount Etna.

Views of the cable cars going to the top of Mount Etna

We spent some time walking around the foot of Mount Etna and enjoying the views over the valleys.

The winding road that leads to Mount Etna with the valley below

After a lovely sunny day in Taormina it was now quite cold on Mount Etna. We visited the souvenir shop where Berto bought a stone that came from the mountain (or so was the description on the box). Maybe we should have just picked one up off the ground on our earlier hikes.

Etna’s souvenir shop

(Since our visit, Mount Etna had summit eruptions that took place in 2012, 2018 and most recently in February 2021 and August 2023).

Our time in Sicily was running out and we were now on our way back to the port of Pozallo. However, we stopped one last time at a small café where we bought ice cream! Yummy, what better way to end our day trip in Sicily than with the taste of delicious gelato on our lips!

Unfortunately, no photo of the delicious gelato. But next to the ice cream cafe, was a house with the lovely flowers against the wall. It became the picture that will always remind us of our day trip to Sicily

We boarded the catamaran again at 21:30, bought two cappuccinos and sat down in our seats. On the way back we watched the Disney movie Ratatouille (to this day this movie reminds me of our trip to Sicily).

We arrived back in Malta just after 11pm, exhausted after a packed day filled with wonderful memories. What a day trip we had in Sicily!

We have done this trip in July 2011