Surroundings

They are 300.000 years old, the actual river flow has been given from the last lava path about 8.000 years ago. Most probably their presence is given by the Moio Hill close by the river side. Recent university studies can show that the first lava flow was coming from the craters in the Dolce Mountain area, quite recognizable from the left hand side of the river, the oldest is the one that has arrived to the Ionio sea close by Capo Schisò, while the most recent has created the canyon called in Italian Gole. The water flow gave to these canyons a very particular shapes and depth, they can easily reach the 30 meters.

Once you get in Savoca, after being nearly climbing from the bottom to the top, you can’ t stop to the most famous bar ever Bar Vitelli, got famous with the Godfather movie from F.F. Coppola, where Mr. Corleone (Al Pacino) propose to Apollonia, Vitelli’s daughter; there are lots of vintage articles and pictures reminding the movie scene. The bar offers to the guests lots of sicilian sweets such as granita, cakes and much more.

Is a magic place overlooking the Taormina coast. The main square in the city center has been builded with lavic stones composing a mosaic, all around trees close by the view point. The panorama is just breathless. Always on the main square there is the S. Antonio church, few steps away from it you can admire the Sterrantino’s House.

Castelmola is a cozy small village on top of the city of Taormina. Is a lovely medieval village, where time has stopped. Well kept in every single aspect and far away from contemporary style is a must see if you are visiting this area. It’s plenty of small alleys where you can get lost by the beauty and history of the surrounding buildings. If you visit around the end of April you can’t miss the Saint Giorgio ceremony on the 23th of April.

Taormina is located on the hill area of the east coast. Close by the Etna Mountain, the volcano is the highest in Europe and well know all over the world. The city has a greek-roman theater still in use, especially in summer time. A strip of sand links the tiny island called Isola Bella (one of the biggest attraction around) to the mainland.

Etna, the most active volcano in the entire world, called also Mongibello, is located in the middle of the east coast. The Vulcano has a diameter of 40 km and 3.300 meters height. The top has got 3 main craters. On the east side there are 3 valleys called Valle del Bove, Valle del Leone and Val Calanna. In 2013 has been declared world heritage, a must see.