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Cruise passengers exploring Mount Etna’s volcanic terrain and walking through Savoca’s historic village streets in Sicily.

Etna or Godfather Tour: Which Is Better for Cruise Passengers?

Sicily
Published on: 02/23/2026 - 21:27 Author: ivano

Cruise passengers docking in Messina or Catania often face the same question: should you visit Mount Etna or explore the iconic Godfather villages such as Savoca?...

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Mount Etna Eruption

Mount Etna Facts

Etna
Published on: 02/22/2026 - 18:33 Author: ivano

Mount Etna is a 600,000-year-old stratovolcano rising to approximately 3,340–3,350 meters above sea level. It is among the most active volcanoes on Earth, has produced...

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Giardini Naxos bay, mount etna on the background

How Far Is Mount Etna from Taormina Cruise Port? Real Timing Explained

Published on: 02/20/2026 - 14:44 Author: ivano

Cruise passengers stopping in Taormina often ask the same question: Is Mount Etna close enough to visit safely in one day? The answer depends on road conditions, tour...

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hikers on a Mount half day tour departing from Taormina

Full-Day vs Half-Day Etna Tours: What You Really Get

Etna
Published on: 02/16/2026 - 14:59 Author: ivano

Visiting Mount Etna is one of the most requested experiences in Eastern Sicily. But choosing between a half-day tour and a full-day tour that includes the Alcantara...

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Vertical basalt columns rising above the Alcantara River corridor,

Body Rafting vs River Trekking at the Alcantara Gorges

Alcantara Gorges
Published on: 02/13/2026 - 17:40 Author: ivano

Body rafting and river trekking at the Alcantara Gorges are often described as similar activities. They are not. Although both take place inside the same volcanic...

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giardini naxos Bay,

Giardini Naxos Cruise Port: Best Tours for a One-Day Stop

Sicily
Published on: 02/09/2026 - 14:22 Author: ivano

Many cruise itineraries refer to a “Taormina Cruise Port”, but the port is actually located in Giardini Naxos, just 5 km (3 miles) from Taormina. This detail is often...

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Taormina or Giardini Naxos: Which Is the Best Base for Etna Tours?

Etna
Published on: 02/06/2026 - 14:29 Author: ivano

When planning an Etna tour, choosing where to stay is not a secondary detail. Taormina and Giardini Naxos are close in distance, but they work very differently in terms...

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Mount Etna vineyards

Is an Etna Wine Tour Worth It? Honest Pros & Cons

Etna
Published on: 02/01/2026 - 17:31 Author: ivano

An Etna Wine Tour can be absolutely worth it—but only if it matches how you travel. Done well, it’s a high-efficiency day: volcanic landscapes, a real winery visit, and...

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Mount etna volcanic landscape

Etna North vs South: Which Side Should You Visit?

Etna
Published on: 01/30/2026 - 16:34 Author: ivano

Mount Etna is not a single “spot” you visit in one standard way. It’s a wide volcanic region with two main access areas: Etna North (Piano Provenzana) and Etna South (...

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View over Giardini Naxos bay, where cruise ships anchor for shore excursions to Taormina and nearby destinations such as Mount Etna and the Alcantara Valley. The image shows the real cruise gateway to Taormina along Sicily’s Ionian coast.

Shore Excursions from Taormina Cruise Port: Best Options Explained

Sicily
Published on: 01/26/2026 - 18:03 Author: ivano

Taormina is not a cruise port in the strict sense, but it is the destination most cruise passengers have in mind when docking along Sicily’s Ionian coast. In reality,...

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