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 Yachting Land Adventures for  Taormina, Sicily, Italy

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ASCENT OF MT ETNA
SICILIAN VILLA EXCLUSIVE LUNCHEON


Back to List of Tours    ASCENT OF MT ETNA
Duration: 5 hours
Departure: Announced Onboard

Depart from the port for a dramatic drive via air-conditioned motor coach to the slopes of Europe's largest active volcano. Winding your way through small villages, lemon groves, orchards, vineyards, chestnut and pinewoods, you gradually encounter the hardened lava fields scattered with volcanic cones. Enjoy the view from the Silvestri Craters located at an altitude of 6200 feet and surrounded by hardened lava flow. You're sure to appreciate this eerie, unique scenery as you travel to the next level by cable car. Finally, board 4x4 vans for the drive to the base of the crater, where Alpine guides will join you for the twenty-minute walk up as close as possible to the crater's edge. Then it's back down, winding through the fields and villages for a return to Taormina and SeaDream.
Notes:
Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, as some of the uphill walking will be on loosed volcanic shingle. And, bring a warm jacket, as the wind on top of the mountain can be strong and cold.

A minimum participation is required to operate all Yachting Land Adventures and some have limited capacity. This program is booked onboard only so please make your reservations as soon as possible after boarding to avoid disappointment. All adventures and prices in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are subject to change. The price is subject to increase based on the rapidly rising exchange rate between the Euro to the US Dollar. Not all of the adventures will be offered for all of the calls and departure times are subject to change. Final pricing will be published onboard.
Price : USD 178

Back to List of Tours    SICILIAN VILLA EXCLUSIVE LUNCHEON
Duration: 7 hours
Departure: Morning

Following a short transfer from the port, your morning commences with a lovely 75 to 90 minute guided stroll through the enchanting town of Taormina with its Greek theatre and its narrow little lanes.

Taormina is beautifully perched on a lofty terrace high above the Bay of Naxos and has been renowned since antiquity for its fine climate and calm beauty. The first modern hotel opened in 1874, and after a stay by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia, it became a popular vacation spot for European aristocracy and such families as the Rothchilds, Krupps and Vanderbilt’s.

Smart shops mix with elegant villas surrounded by gardens full of bougainvillea and jasmine. Pass the 15th- century Corvaja Palace en route to the well-preserved Greek-Roman Theater. A stunning view of Mt. Etna and the sparkling sea with your ship at anchor is your reward for the short climb up to the site.

After your guided orientation, there will be time to wander through the numerous narrow lanes and along the Corso Umberto independently to enjoy the ambiance and browse for typical local handicrafts in the charming shops and boutiques. Meet your guide at a designated spot for the 30-minute drive to a private villa for a delicious and exclusive Sicilian lunch at the “Godfather Villa” Castello degli Schiavi (Castle of the Slaves); first built as a country villa for the Prince of Palagoina and Fiumefreddo. Restored in 1750, the castle has a large courtyard surrounded by a privately owned house and small chapel dating to 1544. The villa was used as the home of Don Tomasino Corleone in the movie "The Godfather" and appeared on the cover of Life Magazine in 1970 in conjunction with the movie.

Enter the walled garden of the villa where your hosts greet you as local musicians play and cocktails are served. Your hosts will graciously guide you through their home decorated in the traditional Sicilian-style with family portraits hanging from the walls and tables covered with antique lace cloths. Enjoy a leisurely Sicilian Style lunch before returning to your yacht.



Notes:
A minimum participation is required to operate all Yachting Land Adventures and some have limited capacity. This program is booked onboard only so please make your reservations as soon as possible after boarding to avoid disappointment. All adventures and prices in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are subject to change. The price is subject to increase based on the rapidly rising exchange rate between the Euro to the US Dollar. Not all of the land adventures shown will be offered on all voyages and departure times are subject to change. Final pricing and departures times will be published onboard.
Price : USD 279

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