Private tours from port of Naxos/Taormina
We provide Shore tours and shore excursions from Naxos/Taormina to some of the most beautiful places of Sicily such as Taormina, Castelmola, Savoca, Siracusa and Mount Etna. The remains of ancient Naxos are located on Cape Schisò: excavations have brought to light much interesting information about the fifth century BC city. Its urban layout was very regimented, straight lines and traverses intersecting each other, forming small blocks where the houses of the settlers stood. Part of the original walls of the Naxos town has been uncovered with large lava blocks running a length of 600 meters.
There is also an area where an important sanctuary was found, probably dedicated to Aphrodite, in which there was discovered the foundation of an even earlier construction. Due to the furnaces utilized for the production of ceramics, Giardini Naxos was apparently a small center of skilled artisans. The fine sandy beach of Giardini Naxos practically covers the long bay, with Hill Tauro behind it, from which Taormina seems to observe the coast. The water is usually very clean, although the sandy bottom does not grant great diving spectacles.The beach is well equipped and alternates its diverse stretches of public beaches with private clubs. At night, the twinkling lights of the bay reflect on the water, giving the scenic bay an almost magical look.
Make the most of your time in Taormina while ashore, take a private shore tour to discover the landmarks of Sicily.
Godfather and Taormina tour
We will pick you up and drive first to the medieval village of Savoca, a little tiny place full of history and Sicilian culture. This town is known for being the main spot on Eastern Sicily chosen by the famous film director Francis Ford Coppola,in fact, some famous scenes of the godfather movie as the between Al Pacino and Apollonia was filmed here. Then, onto Castelmola, a small village from which you will enjoy a breathtaking views over the Mediterranean sea. The rest of your day is to be spent in Taormina where you will be on your own and have some free time to shop and grab food before we head back to port of Giardini Naxos.
- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR: Savoca village, Castelmola village, Taormina town, Isola Bella.
- Estimated time duration approx. 5/6 hours.
- This tour is provided with an English speaking driver and Mercedes van for a maximum of 7 participants.
- Upon request we can add the visit of Forza D’Agrò village where other scenes of the Godfather part 2 and 3 were filmed.
- Once in Taormina you will be on your own.
Etna and Taormina tour
We will pick up from port of Giardini Naxos and drive first to a small town called Zafferana, located a the bottom of the volcano. Our first stop will be at a local honey farm where you will taste some typical Sicilian products as Honey, olive oil, cappers and different kinds of Sicilian pesto. We then start to ascend the volcano, along the way different types of vegetations can be admired along with old lava fields created by ancient lava eruptions. We will reach the end of the road (2000 Mt, 6000 Feet), here, you may walk around some old extinct craters. On the way back, we will stop to Taormina where you will be on your own and have some free time to shop and grab food before we head back to port of Giardini Naxos.
- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR: Savoca village, Castelmola village, Taormina town, Isola Bella.
- Upon request we can add the visit of Forza D’Agrò village where other scenes of the Godfather part 2 and 3 were filmed.
- This tour is provided with an English speaking driver and Mercedes van for a maximum of 7 participants.
- Estimated time duration approx. 5/6 hours.
- Once in Taormina you will be on your own.
Castelmola and Taormina
Will pick you up from port of Giardini Naxos and drive to the nedieval village of Castelmola from which you can enjoy a stunning view over the strait of Messina and Taormina as well. On the way to Castelmola the 11° Century Saracens fortress is a must. During our scenic drive we can also admire the famous Isola Bella, once home of Florence Travelyan. The rest of your time is to be spent in Taormina on your own and have some free time to shop and grab some food before we head back to port of Giardini Naxos.
- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR: Castelmola village, Taormina town, Giardini Naxos town, Isola Bella.
- Estimated time duration approx. 5 hours
- This tour is provided with an English speaking driver and Mercedes van for a maximum of 7 participants.
- Once in Taormina you will be on your own.
Enogastronomic tour
This is the perfect solution for wine lovers; we will pick you up from port of Giardini Naxos and first take you to Zafferana to visit a local family honey farm to taste some local honey: (orange, lemon, eucalyptus, strawberry.), almond pastries, olives, etc. Then a scenic drive through the Etna’s park with its lush orchards and vegetation, and stop to visit two of the Sicilian top rated Etna wine cellars and tasting their wines, as Murgo and Barone di Villagrande which will be accompanied by some local delicacies like dried tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, salame, dry and fresh pepato cheese, provola cheese and ricotta cheese.
- Our quotation for this tour doesn’t include either of the two winery fees which you can pay directly on spot.
- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR: Murgo property, Barone di Villagrande property, Zafferana town, Giardini Naxos town.
- Estimated time duration approx. 6/7 hours.
- please note: it is required to reserve the two wineries with at least one day in advance).
- This tour is provided with an English speaking driver and Mercedes van for a maximum of 7 participants.
Etna and winery visit
We will pick you up from port of Giardini Naxos and first drive through the beach town of Giardini Naxos (first Greek colony in Sicily), then, on request we can stop to a local honey farm to taste some typical Sicilian products. We then start to ascend the volcano, along the way different types of vegetations can be admired along with old lava fields created by ancient lava eruptions. We will reach the end of the road (2000 Mt, 6000 Feet), here, you may walk around some old extinct craters. After, a scenic drive down at the bottom to reach one of the most known winery of Eastern Sicily Barone di Villagrande, where you will enjoy their wines and have some lunch. Back to port of Giardini Naxos.
- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR: Etna volcano, Giardini Naxos, Barone di Villagrande vineyards.
- Estimated time duration approx. 7 hours.
- Our quotation for this tour doesn’t include the winery fee which you can pay directly on spot.
- This tour is provided with an English speaking driver and Mercedes van for a maximum of 7 participants.
Alcantara gorges and Taormina tour
We will pick you up from port of Giardini Naxos and first drive through the beach town (first Greek colony in Sicily), Then, a scenic drive through the famous Valley of Alcantara to visit this incredible canyon naturally made thousands years ago. Several thousand years ago, the river bed was blocked by a lava flow from Mount Etna. As the lava was cooled much more quickly by the water than it would have done otherwise, it crystallised in the form of columns. It has its source on the south side of Monti Nebrodi and its mouth in the Ionian Sea at Giardini-Naxos. The river is 52 kilometresn long. this gorge has a special place in the geography of Sicily, as the river that created it is one of the very few streams on the island that has water flowing along its course all year round. The rest of your time is to be spent in Taormina on your own and have some free time to shop and grab some food before we head back to port of Giardini Naxos.
- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR: Giardini Naxos, Alcantara gorges, Taormina.
- Estimated time duration approx. 5/6 hours.
- This tour is provided with an English speaking driver and Mercedes van for a maximum of 7 participants.
- Once in Taormina you will be on your own.
Cyclope riviera and Catania tour
For the better or for the worse, the development of the city has been conditioned by its proximity to Mount Etna. It has benefited from the fertile of the soil on its slopes, succumbed to the lava flows and turned lava into material for building houses. The people here have never wanted to leave their land so have come to terms with living with a daily risk of eruptions and earthquakes. Arrived to the Duomo square, we will stroll to the colorful fishing and vegetables market and visit the main cathedral dedicated to Saint Agatha. Back to the car and driving along the charming Cyclops Riviera where we will stop to the first old small town of Aci Castello, which lies north of Catania. Aci Castello. The town of Aci Castello developed around the castle, which was built in 1076 by the Normans upon the foundations of a 7th-century Byzantine fortification. In 1169, Aci Castello started to expand after an eruption of Mount Etna made the towns in its vicinity uninhabitable.
- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR: AciTrezza village, AciCastello village, Catania city market
- tour duration: 6/7 hours.
- This tour is provided with an English speaking driver and Mercedes van for a maximum of 7 participants.
- Upon request we can add a guided service in the City.
Syracuse and Ortygia tour
More than any other modern city in Sicily, Syracuse manifests a visible continuity from its ancient Greek past, both historical and mythological. We will stroll upon our arrival, the open local fish and fruits market situated in the historical centre. Then visit the archaeological area of Neapolis with is Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre and Latomia del Paradiso. Arrived at the ‘Ortigia Island’, the heart of the city and we will walk along the narrow streets, which still keep the Medieval influence, before arriving at the Duomo square, one of the city’s highlights. This Duomo was built above a Greek Temple, which holds more than 2.500 years of history. It is possible to visit one of the more charming spot of Ortigia, the “Arethusa fountain” with its Papyrus plants, overlooking the Ionic sea.
- HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR: Syracuse market, the Duomo, the Aercaeological area, Ortygia island
- tour duration 6/7 hours.
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Please note that the driver cannot take you inside the archeological area or inside churches, if you have particular interesting in archaeology and history and wish to enjoy a walking tour with a licensed guide in Syracuse, we can reserve it as extra.
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This tour is provided with an English speaking driver and Mercedes van for a maximum of 7 participants.
- Our quote doesn’t include tickets fees for sites or museums.