Taormina (Naxos), Sicily

Sicilian cuisine, like all regional cooking in Italy, begins with fresh, seasonal ingredients, so this tour starts with a drive south to the town of Giarre and its bustling, colorful market. Follow your guide down the aisles lined with the morning’s catch, mounds of vegetables and fragrant fruit and herbs whose sellers supply many of the area’s restaurants and hotels. From here you’ll turn inland to the village of Zafferana Etnea, between the volcano and the sea.

Perched on mountain overlooking the sea, the ancient town of Taormina has been enchanting visitors since the 19th century. The excursion begins with the scenic drive from the coast to the elevator that will transports you up Monte Tauro to the center of the town. From there your guide will lead you along the cobblestone streets, sharing the history of the peoples and civilizations – the ancient Sicels, Greeks and Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans, among them – who have played a part here.

The mighty – and still very active -- volcano of Mt. Etna dominates Sicily’s eastern coast and has life here, as you’ll see passing through landscapes transformed by past eruptions on the drive the cable-car station on the southern slopes. In 15 minutes, you’ll be whisked up to 2,504 meters, where you’ll then transfer to four-wheel-drive vehicles whose expert drivers deftly navigate the rugged terrain up to 2,900 meters high. From here, the hiking adventure begins as you follow your guide along foot paths and narrow trails to the old lava flows that characterize the upper slopes.

Drive up from the coast to Castelmora, one of the most scenic villages in Sicily, perched high on a mountainside and crowned by the ruins of a castle. With your guide, stroll down the narrow medieval alleys that are rarely visited by non-Sicilians, soaking up the ambience and admiring its well-preserved churches and buildings. You’ll then drive to nearby Taormina, the resort town that has been a destination for well-heeled travelers since the 19th century. Enjoy a leisurely guided stroll through the medieval Old Town, stopping at key landmarks such as the 15th-century Corvaja Palace.

Sicily’s most famous and dramatic landmark, Mt. Etna, is best viewed from the area. It’s a short drive from the yacht to the helipad near Taormina where you’ll take to the skies for a thrilling aerial tour over the towering volcano. The helicopter will fly over the top, which stands at more than 3,300 meters. From above, you’ll have an unparalleled view of the many craters, some of which may be smoking, and the Valle del Bove, the horseshoe-shaped depression carved some 5 kilometers across and 1,000 meters deep into the volcano’s eastern flank.