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- Type: group guided trekking
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Difficulty:
- Number of pax: minimum 20
- Price per student: from € 280
- Price for teacher: € 210,00
- Gratuity: 1 teacher free every 25 paying students
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A journey to discover the natural beauty, the splendid monuments and the remains of past rulers, who made Sicily a cradle of culture.
You will enter into the heart of the charm and magnificence of the island, nature and archeology where The Etna Mountain, the highest active volcano in Europe, will be a pleasant background. Through a medium difficult trekking you can admire the wide range of landscapes and their mixture of colors, smells and tastes, living unforgettable emotions. Five days to discover the history, traditions, the people from Sicily, an island alive and rich in myths and legends.
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Catania UNESCO heritage
- Etna the highest active volcano in Europe
- Taormina, pearl of the Mediterranean
- The Alcantara
- Simeto Oasis
You will be welcomed by a member of Mandala Tour, transfer to the hotel and check in. The all day will be dedicated to the visit of Catania, Greek colony founded in 729 A.C by Chalcis.
The route offers an educational approach to archeology, a science which through the study of artifacts, documents and other material of the past, attempts to reconstruct the history of people, a civilization and brought to light evidence buried over the centuries. So it was for Catania, buried by the rubble of earthquakes and lava flows. Knowledge of the history of Catania will build the site of the ancient Acropolis Katane Greek Hill Montevergine. The tour continues in the footsteps of Roman ruins, the magnificence of music and performance venues (Theatre el'Odéon) to those of social rather than for body care. We visit what remains of the Roman Amphitheatre, the third in size of Italy, where gladiators fought also against the beasts from distant Roman provinces. We will continue with a path that will wind through the buildings protagonists of Baroque revival of the city after the disastrous 1693 earthquake that struck the whole Val di Noto. Dinner and overnight stay in Catania.
In the morning, excursion of the South part of the volcano, just a few Kilometers away from Rifugio Sapienza, there is one of the most pleasant natural path in the Etna Park.
This excursion develops within the Park offering a fusion of some of the most unique areas: ancient and recent lava fields. hornitos, natural and artificial forest formations, isolates pines of exceptional beauty and grandeur.
The path gores through the beautiful botanic garden "Nuova Gussonea" which is one of most appreciated and developed gardens known. Here, thanks to the help of Catania University are grown and developed unique species. During the walk you will have the possibility to see how the landscape and vegetation have changed: pines, chestnuts and oaks. The walking carries on through the Pista Altamontana which is characterised by several kind of lavas and partial vision of the main crater. Packed lunch.
In the afternoon visit of a manufacturer of honey for a didactic approach to the world of honey and local products, the visit will be accompanied by tasting. After the tasting we visit The Lava Museum, here we will be accompanied by experienced guides who will explain how volcanoes are born. Particular attention will be devoted to volcanic and seismic risk education. Dinner and overnight stay in Catania.
After breakfast departure for Gravà, where our route will start: the Alcantara Gorge, one of Europe’s most spectacular natural. A place where geological and geothermal events of high intensity gave rise to these sculptures of nature. Thousand years ago, in fact, a strong eruption produced huge quantities of lava that covered most of the valley. Water erosion then carved these basalts. It is a path of great beauty here you will be able to admire the local vegetation, the various botanical gardens, born at the side of these wonderful gorges, and the basalt walls carved by the flowing river. During the walk there is an observation of nature.
Packed lunch. In the afternoon we'll move to Taormina, the pearl of the Mediterranean, founded as a resort town, as Sicilians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Saracens chose to stay there long, and not only for political reasons. We will go through the city visiting monuments, from the Roman/Greek theater to the cathedral, the Odeon and the building Corvaja and Naumachia. Back to Catania, dinner and overnight stay.
Alternative to visit Taormina: Giardini Naxos
Giardini Naxos, the first Greek colony founded in 735 BC from Chalcis in Euboea who were joined by the Nassi from the largest island of the Aegean, Naxos. Visit of the archaeological park: the archaeological evidence suggests that the first allocation around VilI century BC occupied a small area. The ancient town of Naxos occupies the peninsula of lava platform of Schisò. Back to Catania, dinner and overnight stay.
In the morning we will do a pleasant excursion of Simeto Oasis, established in 1984, important stopover for migratory birds. A walk through the various environments, from the coast and the edge of the dunes to the river bank Simeto. We will stop for observations of natural vegetation and birdlife. Packed lunch.
In the afternoon we move into the Cyclops Riviera, which stretches from Catania to Acireale, village made famous by Homer in the Odyssey and Verga's novel “I Malavoglia”.
The area which includes the municipalities of Aci Castello and Aci Trezza appear igneous formations underwater (ancient volcanic events). Pillows and ialoclastiti are clearly visible in the cliff of the Castle, but the magmatic activity in this area were not confined to the volcanic phenomena, a large mass of magma solidified slowly getting a characteristic columnar shape. The excursion includes a visit to the cliff of Aci and the attached museum, a look at the basalts of Acitrezza and the Faraglioni.Cena and overnight stay in Catania.
Departure after breakfast.
Important:
The above day-to-day schedule should be taken only as a general guide. Although we update our itineraries on a regular basis, to take into account such things as changes to trekking routes and changes in the routing or availability of local transport, it is not possible to guarantee that any of our trips will run exactly according to the proposed itinerary. A variety of factors, including adverse weather conditions and difficulties with transportation, can lead to enforced changes.
Gallery
Difficulty: suitable for secondary schools in the first and second grade. The proposed itinerary, easily accessible to all and dealt safely, includes visits to the crater of the volcano and the observation of the natural aspects of our most interesting volcanoes.
Departures dates 2011: from March to June and from September tp the end of October.
Accommodation: 4 nights in local hotels where the accommodation is based on twin/triple room sharing:
- 4 nights in hotel** in Catania with breakfast
Equipment: Hiking boots waterproof, waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen protection.
Luggage: We recommend a large bag with wheels and a shoulder bag (30 liters) for the days of trekking.
| Number of partecipants |
Price per person |
| 20 |
€ 340,00 |
from 21 to 30
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€ 310,00 |
| from 31 to 40 |
€ 300,00 |
| from 41 to 50
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€ 280,00 |
The price includes:
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- Transfers with private bus
- - Accommodation in hotels with breakfast included
- - Full board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 4 (packed lunch on midday)
- - Pached lunch (sandwich, fruit and half litre of water)
- - English speaking guide during the whole week
- - English speakig guide during the cultural visit
- - Ticket for admission to archaeological sites under plans
- - Gratuities for 1 teacher (in twin room). Fee every 25 payng
It is recommended to bring the list of pupils, teachers, and the school authorization to qualify for free admission at the archaeological sites where this is provided for.
The price does’t include:
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- Transfers from/to city of origin
- - Lunch of fist day
- Drinks and personal expenses
- - Although not specifically mentioned in "the price includes"
Info sul territorio: INGV Catania - Wikipedia Etna - La Sicilia - Arpa sicilia - Parco dell'Etna
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