3-Hour Mount Etna and Catania Lava Discovery Walking Tour

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Visit the 1669 lava flow behind the Monastero dei Benedettini
• 02 See the lava flow surrounding Castello Ursino
• 03 Discover a hidden cave in Catania's city centre
• 04 Explore Gammazita's Well, linked to the 1669 eruption
• 05 Experience Catania's nightlife at the end of the tour

Discover how Mount Etna's eruptions shaped Catania on this fascinating walking tour through the city centre. Visit the Benedictine Monastery, where the 1669 eruption left towering lava blocks, explore the Roman Baths and Theatre, and learn about the hidden Amenano River. Continue to Castello Ursino, almost surrounded by lava flows, to see how this powerful natural phenomenon influenced the city's architecture. Depending on the time of day, you'll either uncover a hidden jewel at A putia dell'Ostello or hear the exciting legend of Gammazita's Well.

This historic site was one of the first to be damaged by the eruption of 1669, which left important remains, including huge blocks of lava several metres high that can still be seen today.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Catania, Mount Etna

Languages English, German, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Catania City Centre and the Lava Legacy of Mount Etna

• At the indicated time, we'll meet in front of the Church of San Nicolò, where we'll begin our tour focused on Mount Etna. We'll recall its eruptions and see their impact on the city of Catania as we discover some exciting places.
• First, we'll enter the courtyard of the Benedictine Monastery of Catania. This historic site was one of the first to be damaged by the eruption of 1669, which left important remains, including huge blocks of lava several metres high that can still be seen today.
• We'll continue our tour descending towards the Baths of the Rotonda and the Roman theatre while telling you the history of the Amenano River. Nowadays, this riverbed runs mainly underground, and we'll explain why.
• From here, we'll head towards Castello Ursino, a fortress almost surrounded by lava flows. There, we'll discover how this impressive natural phenomenon shaped the city's architecture.
• If you take the tour in the morning, we'll follow the course of the solidified lava flow and arrive at A putia dell'Ostello, where we'll show you a hidden jewel inside its small bar.
• If you take the tour in the afternoon, we'll take you to Gammazita's Well, linked to the eruption of 1669, along with an exciting legend that we'll tell you during the activity.
• Explore Catania's nightlife as we end the tour.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Private nature guide and tour leader Mirco Mannino
• Explanations about Catania and its relationship with Mt. Etna
• A talk about the strongest eruptions of Mt. Etna in modern times

What's Not Included

• Food and beverages
• Museum visits

What to bring

• Sneakers and lots of fun while discovering the city!

Know before you go

• This tour is designed to help you discover Catania from a different point of view. This is not a classic tour that crosses the most touristy attractions.
• For this reason, we'll visit areas of the city centre that are not crowded or busy, and we'll always have our space and comfort zone throughout the tour.
• If you don't like tours for the masses, this tour is a good fit for you.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Chiesa di San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante Alighieri, Catania, CT, Italia

Tour start

Catania, Metropolitan city of Catania, Italy

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.