A sea of emotion
The ‘acese’ riviera is made up of a huge variety of habits, that go from basaltic rocks to pebble beaches, from Mediterranean beauty spots to lemon groves and man-made terraces that host vineyards and vegetable gardens. As well as the charm of the sweet-smelling sea, teeming with fish, the beautiful scenery, nature and sports activities around the sea of Etna offer many opportunities to relax and enjoy your free time.
All the Acireale hotels that are not directly on the seafront provide a shuttle-bus service to their private beaches and to the terraces near the sea.
Maritime villages
The seaside villages of Acireale still speak of ancient local maritime traditions and offer visitors the possibility of a peaceful stroll, of an invigorating bathe and to feast on the wonderful fish in the numerous seaside restaurants. ‘Santa Caterina’ (with an evocative terrace overlooking the ‘Timpa’, a nature reserve with unique vegetation, unseen in the rest of the world); ‘Pozzillo’ (a characteristic fisherman’s village built on volcanic rock and surrounded by the greenery of lemon trees); ‘Santa Tecla’ (a small sea-side village on the slopes of a verdant hill covered with the vegetation of the ‘Timpa’, lemon trees and olive groves); ‘Saint Maria La Scala’ (a picturesque fisherman’s village, that has maintained its original architecture); ‘Stazzo’ (a fascinating small village on a reef full of evocative coves); ‘Capomulini’ (Once a Greek and Roman trading port, this village is an aggregate on the gulf that embraces ‘Lachea’ island and the mythical ‘Faraglioni’ rocks).
The Etna tourist port
On the northern border of the ‘acese’ district, this is the largest tourist port in Sicily; it has a capacity of 370 moorings and is able to offer all the comforts a sailing tourist needs.
www.portodelletna.com
The seabed
The volcanic seabed of the area from the ‘Timpa’ reserve to the ‘Ciclopi’ marine reserve are environments of rare beauty and ideal habitats for numerous Octopuses, Moray ells and copious species of fish, also for approximately three hundred types of algae and for numerous types of mollusc. In this Mediterranean beauty spot you can also find fascinating coves, grottos, turrets, basaltic columns, islands and large rock formations. The area of sea in front of the ‘Timpa’ Nature Reserve offers numerous and interesting walks for those who enjoy this activity; in particular we recommend four praise worthy routes, important for their location and for their high natural-history value, they are ‘Il Relitto Terni’ of the Timpa 15-40 mins, ‘Il Faro’ of Capomulini to 18-40 mins, ‘La Secca di Santa Caterina’ 10-18 mins and ‘Il canyon di Capomulini’ 18-40 mins.
Numerous diving and snorkelling centres are on hand for lovers of this type of sport. Some can be found in the Aloha d' Oro, Saint Tecla Palace, Perla Ionica hotels. Highly specialised and qualified staff are ready to accompany you and to assist you through the splendid submarine landscapes.
Live the sea
Boat trips around the Ciclopi coast
Boarding/disembarkation: Acitrezza marina
Period: May 1st – September 30th
Glass-bottom Boat Excursions to the Islands and the Ciclopi Marine Reserve
