The Territory
What to Visit
Borgopetra is an excellent base. From here, you can embark on excursions to Europe’s highest active volcano, Mount Etna, which boasts an immense and surprisingly diverse and fascinating territory.
Visit Catania with its Baroque architecture, the splendid and very “theatrical” fish market, and the nightlife that makes it one of Italy’s most lively cities. Explore the entire Ionian coast (Acicastello, Acitrezza, Acireale, the small fishing villages nestled among the basalt rocks, and the beaches of Fiumefreddo) up to Taormina (40 minutes by highway). Head south and be enchanted by the changing landscape, from the white limestone of the province of Syracuse, a city full of treasures just 45 minutes from Catania, to magical places like the necropolis of Pantalica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, the spectacular beaches of the Vendicari reserve, the delightful Marzamemi, and beyond into the ancient countryside of the Ragusa area, reaching as far as Modica and Ibla.
Places and Itineraries
Borgopetra is the starting point for discovering a territory rich in impressions, breathtaking
landscapes, art, nature, culture, and beauty
The Sea
The mythical sea, the basaltic lava coast of the Riviera dei Ciclopi north of Catania, is less than half an hour’s drive from Borgopetra. Starting from Aci Castello, continue north through Aci Trezza and Capomulini, and further up towards Acireale, the coast retains its Ionian charm. Visit the beautiful Timpa di Acireale nature reserve, a lava cliff overlooking the sea (reachable only on foot with long walks) whose geovolcanic phenomena summarize the history of Etna: like the Lachea island in front of “Aci Trezza”, it is considered a natural laboratory. Along the “Riviera dei Limoni”, you’ll find the rocky sea loved by the people of Catania, with small fishing villages such as “Santa Maria La Scala”, “Santa Tecla”, “Stazzo”, and “Pozzillo”. Further north, the coastline becomes sandy: visit the wide beach of the “Fiumefreddo” nature reserve at “Marina di Cottone”. For those who appreciate organization and convenience, at the foot of “Taormina”, in the bays of “Spisone” and “Mazzarò”, the beaches are equipped with bathing facilities. The highway to Syracuse and beyond to Noto allows you to reach the beautiful sea of the Southeast. Visit the “Marchesa beach” near “Cassibile” and the five coves of the splendid Vendicari reserve below “Noto”, where autumn swims and winter and spring walks are wonderful. Further south, beyond Portopalo, you can reach the windy beach facing the “Isola delle Correnti” in front of “Capo Passero” (the southernmost tip of Sicily and all of Europe), extending into the long beaches of Carratois and Punto Rio.
Etna Volcano
For Pindar, it was the “pillar of heaven,” for Maupassant, “the monster with its necklace of volcanoes,” and for the inhabitants of the surrounding towns, it is simply “a muntagna” (the mountain). With 350 secondary cones, Mount Etna is a gigantic territory and a different “vision” depending on the side you view it from.
Splendid and powerful to the north, where it connects to the Nebrodi and Peloritani mountains. Gentle on the eastern flank, extremely fertile, benefiting from its proximity to the sea. Wild on the western side. And a cone, a “Sicilian Fuji,” for the people of Catania living on the southern side. A variable vision, moreover, like the morphology and height of the volcano: explosive activity causes collapses and upheavals. You can wake up in the morning and see it differently; geologists will have to correct its height figures once again.
Mount Etna is a small “Grand Tour.” From the beautiful wine regions (Italy’s “little Burgundy” with exquisite reds nourished by the sun and minerals of the volcanic soil) to the lava stone architecture, from car tourism on hundreds of splendid roads to the “Great Crossing of Etna” (80 kilometers on foot in 5 days), from exotic skiing to the delicacies of a very prosperous territory. For off-the-beaten-path Etna, we recommend half- day or full-day guided excursions in 4×4 vehicles; excursions can include a visit to a volcanic tunnel, a walk to see the Valle del Bove, longer treks, or even night tours of the lava flows.
World Heritage Sites
Several UNESCO World Heritage sites can be visited from Borgopetra. Mount Etna joined this special list in 2013 as Europe’s highest active volcano and one of the most important geologically, but also for its cultural, landscape, and scientific value. Other nearby sites include the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Palazzolo Acreide, Noto, Modica, Ragusa, and Scicli). The more distant ones include Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica and the Villa Romana del Casale (the Villa of the Mosaics) near Piazza Armerina, but many of our guests who choose longer stays and enjoy alternating challenging excursions with leisurely days also undertake day trips to see the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (two and a half hours by car) and even the Aeolian Islands. We will be at your complete disposal throughout your stay to provide suggestions and useful information on places to visit, restaurants, specialty shops, and delicacies to buy, and if you wish, we will be happy to organize picnics, dinners, or aperitifs for you! Borgopetra can also be rented entirely, becoming the ideal place for your ceremonies, celebrations, or family and friend gatherings!