Itinerary · Mon 17 – Sun 23 August 2026
Seven days between Etna and theIonian sea
A seven-day August itinerary from a flat on the Riviera dei Ciclopi — Catania, the Strait of Messina, Etna wine, the baroque towns of the Val di Noto, and a beach at the end of the street. Baroque towns rebuilt after an earthquake, Greek theatres with a volcano behind the stage, and a great deal of fish.
The itinerary
Each day has its own map and timeline.
Based in Aci Trezza, Mon 17 – Sun 23 August 2026
Day 1 · Mon 17 AugCatania
Landing day — black lava stone, baroque façades and the loudest fish market in Italy
- A Piscaria fish market
- Palazzo Biscari
- Teatro Romano
- Via Etnea
Day 2 · Tue 18 AugMessina, Taormina & Randazzo
The Strait at noon, a Greek theatre in the afternoon, and Etna wine at sunset
- Caravaggio at the MuMe
- The clock at noon
- Teatro Antico
- Etna DOC tasting
Day 3 · Wed 19 AugNoto & Marzamemi
The most coherent baroque town in Europe, a swim in a nature reserve, and sunset in a tuna village
- Cattedrale di San Nicolò
- Palazzo Nicolaci
- Calamosche
- Marzamemi at sunset
Day 4 · Thu 20 AugRagusa & Modica
Two towns rebuilt on their own rubble, one long lunch, and the oldest chocolate in Italy
- Ragusa Ibla
- Duomo di San Giorgio
- Modica chocolate
- San Giorgio’s staircase
Day 5 · Fri 21 AugSiracusa & Ortigia
The city that once rivalled Athens, and the island at the end of it
- Teatro Greco
- Orecchio di Dionisio
- Piazza Duomo
- A swim off the sea walls
Day 6 · Sat 22 AugAci Castello & Aci Trezza
The day the car stays parked — a black castle on the sea and the rocks Polyphemus threw
- A swim before breakfast
- Castello Normanno
- Boat to the Faraglioni
- The long afternoon in the water
Day 7 · Sun 23 AugBaroque Catania & home
A last swim, the city Vaccarini built out of the rubble, and a 21:00 flight
- Piazza del Duomo
- The Badia dome
- Via dei Crociferi
- Monastero dei Benedettini
Booked and confirmed
Mon 17 – Sun 23 August 2026 · based in Aci Trezza
- Map
Flights
Milan ↔ Catania Fontanarossa (CTA)
- Out
- Milan → Catania, Mon 17 Aug
- Lands
- 10:35
- Back
- Catania → Milan, Sun 23 Aug
- Departs
- 21:00
Landing at 10:35 means the rental desk at about 11:15 once bags are off — the car is booked from 10:00, so check how long they hold it.
- Map
Hire car
Picked up and dropped at the airport
- From
- Mon 17 Aug, 10:00
- Until
- Sun 23 Aug, evening
- Where
- Catania airport (CTA)
Extended past the original 10:00 drop-off, which is what makes Day 7 possible — check-out is at 10:00 but the flight is not until 21:00.
- Map
Where we sleep
Airbnb on Via Livorno, Aci Trezza — comune of Aci Castello
- Address
- Via Livorno 13, Aci Castello
- Check-in
- Mon 17 Aug, from 15:00
- Check-out
- Sun 23 Aug, by 10:00
The sea is at the end of the street and the Faraglioni are straight out in front of it — which is why Day 6 never gets in the car, and why every other day can start or finish with a swim.
From the door, by car
- The sea, end of the streeton foot
- Aci Castello & its castle5 min
- Catania centre20 min
- Catania airport25 min
- Taormina40 min
- Messina1 h 05
- Siracusa1 h 10
- Noto1 h 25
- Ragusa Ibla1 h 50