Backpacking and hiking in Sicily

Usually travelers stay in Giardini-Naxos with the intention to spend most of the time in Taormina, so thought I. But within one week I went to Taormina twice and most of the time I spend at the beach in Giardini-Naxos. The beach is quite big and there is a river flowing into the sea. I did an excursion to the Alcantara River which was impressive and beautiful despite tourists. Big black stonewalls with an interesting disposition are enclosing the water. There is a small entrance fee which is worth it and I highly recommend going there. You can take a bus from Recanati Bus Terminal (10 mins from the hostel). Nearby there is a bit more expansive park around Alcantara River which I did not visit. Almost in front of the hostel the bus to Taormina departs. I advise to go on a weekday since the weekends are very busy. It is nice to just stroll through the old town. The other day I walked up the Salito Castello Trail for sunset. The view was beyond beautiful and at the top there is a little church built inside the rocks that you can visit.

Acireale is an authentic small city with a nice old town and a lot of churches. I saw weddings going on nearly every day. I visited the Villa Belvedere which offers a beautiful view of the horizon of the sea. You can walk around the little park too. For sunrise I did the Chiazzette Trail which leads to the sea. Another hike I did is called La Gazzena where you walk through the streets first and eventually you reach a proper trail through nature that leads down to big stones at the sea. There I took a rest. I wasn’t sure if the trail goes further. Anyway at this point I turned around and went the same way back. Both trails are part of a nature preserve. In Acireale I didn’t feel like a tourist which I like. You will not find a lot of foreign travelers either. I recommend this city and would totally visit again! Related: Favorite Hikes in Europe