Taormina, Lava River & Wine Tasting

Enjoy free time in medieval Taormina, and then see the aftermath of Mount Etna’s eruptions by stopping at a hardened lava flow and sampling wines grown in volcanic soil.

After departing from the pier, you will drive through the center of Messina, which will offer a brief but enlightening introduction to this historical city on the northernmost point of Sicily’s Ionian coast. To the south lies the medieval village of Taormina, where you will enjoy free time to explore its narrow, cobblestone streets.

History buffs might visit the Arabian-influenced Palazzo Corvaja or the ruins of the 2nd-century Greek theater. It sits on a seaside hilltop with a view of Mount Etna that is so inspiring that it can detract from the entertainers that still perform there. Or you may prefer to shop for designer fashions and exquisite jewelry along boutique-lined Corso Umberto.

Rejoining your coach, you’ll travel into the countryside and before long, come upon a hardened wall of lava, the result of Mount Etna’s violent eruption in 1992. The lava came dangerously close to several villages, as you will see when pausing for photos.

While lava can be devastating, on the positive side, it contains nutrients that enrich the soil and lend a distinct flavor to the grapes grown in it, as you will discover at an estate wine tasting. You will sample several Etna-certified Sicilian wines that may include a classic red made from local nerello mascalese grapes. Then after browsing the gift shop, you will return to the pier.