Along the Messina coast line: Tyndaris & Cefalù
(Pick up from Messina port)

To arrive in Sicily and only enjoy Taormina would be a crime. Whilst beautiful, the real Sicily is on your doorstep waiting to be discovered. We have chosen a magnificent drive along the northern coast line with wonderful roads overlooking the Ionian sea and over the Eolie's Islands.
We will stop first and visit Tyndaris, which began as a settlement back in the Bronze Age (about 1500 B.C). We will visit the amphitheatre, which was built in the 4th century BC. It has the ruins of simple temples and the so-called basilica, a fine example of Greco-Roman architecture begun in the 4th century B.C. and successively modified for use as a meeting place. We will also see the very important Christian Sanctuary that sits high on the hill above the city. It is famous for its black Madonna statue that draws visitors from afar, and gives it its name, the Sanctuary of the black Madonna.
We then take a drive to visit Cefalù, a charming unspoiled village with winding, narrow, medieval streets and delightful restaurants overlooking a rocky coast. The most important monument is the Duomo of Cefalù which was begun in 1131 by Roger II and it was intended as the principal religious seat in Sicily.
Also of interest is the museum "Mandralisca" which houses an "Antonello da Messina" painting and a collection of coins, ceramics, vases, minerals and shells.
Time permits, we may drive a little more along the coast line to get to the charming village of Santo Stefano di Camastra, filled of several ceramic shops and colored pottery.


OTHER TOURS:

Taormina walking tour & Its Amazing surrounding area
Etna Experience tour & the Highlights of Taormina
Local towns “Godfather”tour & the Highlights of Taormina
Unknown Sicily around Etna & the Highlights of Taormina
Messina day tour & the Greek colony of Tyndaris