Italian Volcanoes Tour 8 days / 7 nts

Arrival at Napoli Capodichino Airport and transfer to hotel.

Full day with   local guide for the visit of the Archaeological Museum , Santa Chiara ,Piazza Plebiscito, Palazzo Reale, San Carlo Theatre  and The Gallery Umberto I.

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant at Borgo Marinaro. Dinner and overnight.

 

After breakfast visit   with local guide/archaeologist  of  Monte Somma /Vulcano complex; the Monte Somma was destroyed by  the eruption dated 79 A.C. and created the new crater. The volcano dominates the Gulf of Naples. In 79 A.C. the eruption caused the destruction of Pompei and Ercolano. In 1944 the last eruption formed a plug which hide the volcano activity. Visit the most oldest “Osservatorio Vesuviano” founded in 1841 by Ferdinando II, and the Valle Dell’Inferno    with a lunar environment.  In the afternoon   visit of Pompei Excavations, the roman city destroyed   by the Vesuvio

But at the same time preserved the existing environment and a way of life typical of the Roman society. The ashes and layer preserved intact people and items, food and domestic animals all remained steady

And hidden until the first half of 18^th century when regular digs were organized. Back to Napoli for   dinner and   overnight.

After breakfast departure for the visit   with local guide/ archaeologist of the Campi Flegrei area which is characterized from 19 crates distributed in an area of 64 square kilometres, some of them covered by water. In 1538 a big eruption created the Monte Nuovo. In 1983 -84 many other eruptions took place.

In the afternoon visit of the Volcano Solfatara , located  near Pozzuoli ; you will walk in the crater

still   alive and you can see  many smoke-holes and in the central area many water vapours and natural gases are currently. The whiteness of the ground is contrasting with the green of the Mediterranean bush. Close to the old Osservatorio Vulcanologico, it is possible to see the sulphur deposits and the heather and myrtle plants. Back to Naples for   dinner and overnight .

 

After breakfast transfer to Naples  Capodichino Airport and flight  to Catania. Arrival and accommodation in hotel. Visit   with local guide  of the Cathedral of Catania and the square where you see the tomb of the famous Musician Vincenzo Bellini, borned in Catania; the Palazzo Biscari, the most fascinating palace of Catania and the Duomo square, famous for the elephant fountain which is the symbol of the city. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

After breakfast  full day visit with archaeologist for visiting the Europe’s highest active volcano up with 40 kms of diameter and 3.350 meters of height above the sea level. The origin dates back to 700 thousand years ago. From 693 B.C. the activity of the volcano never ended. The volcano is full of craters but the Valle del Bove is a big melting-pot.

First stop at Rifugio Sapienza at 1900 meters of altitude that you   will reach by coach and from there

departure  by jeep to reach and  alpine guide to reach the new Crater at 3.000 meters altitude. In the afternoon visit of the Alcantara Cave not far from Taormina-Giardini Naxos. It is a natural monument of basalt rock created by the eruption of the Volcano Monte Moio around the year 2.400 B.C. The lava invaded the valley of Alcantara river. Due to a telluric settling a longitudinal crack opened in the lava assuming the appearance of a cave. Later the waters of the Alcantara river flowed under the fissure and formed the Alcantara Cave. Back to   Catania for   dinner and   overnight.

After breakfast departure for Milazzo, where you can catch the ferry-boat to Lipari, the biggest of the Eolian islands of volcanic origin, with the Monte Chierica at 603 metres of altitude. Visit the important Archaeological Museum with a volcanic section too. In the afternoon transfer to Vulcano Island by ferry-boat ; this island has been chosen   from Omero as the God of Fire and for this reason all volcanoes has the name volcano all over the   world. The Gran Crater ( Monte Lentia) at 380 meters altitude is still alive. Back by ferry-boat to Lipari dinner and overnight.

After breakfast departure for the visit of the most restless volcano of the Eolian Islands: Stromboli. The last eruption was in 2003 and nowadays it is possible to visit the volcano only up to   400 meters altitude with an alpine guide. Lunch   with local   products of the island.

After the visit transfer by ferry- boat to Milazzo and back to Catania.

Accommodation in hotel  dinner and overnight.