These are the plans I put together for exploring Etna Wine Country. After disembarking from our sailboat in Portorosa, we’ll trade the coast for the winding mountain roads that climb into the heart of Sicily. This journey takes us through Novara di Sicilia and Castiglione di Sicilia, two villages that capture the soul of inland Sicily with their medieval streets, churches, and sweeping views. We’ll break up the drive with a long, lingering winery or lunch before continuing on to Randazzo and settling into ParcoStatella on the slopes of Mt. Etna. Here are our plans:

Day 1 Portarosa (Starting Point)

• What it is: A modern marina on Sicily’s northern coast near Furnari, lined with yachts, palm trees, and holiday apartments. It’s where we’ll begin and finish our sailing trip and begin our wine country adventure.
• Atmosphere: More practical than historic this is where sea and land journeys intersect.
• Travel tip: Good place to fuel up with coffee, grab water and road snacks, or take one last look at the Tyrrhenian Sea before heading inland.

Novara di Sicilia (50 min from Portorosa)

• A postcard perfect medieval village perched between the Nebrodi and Peloritani mountains. With its narrow cobbled streets, stone houses, and quiet piazzas, Novara feels like a step back in time.
• Highlights:
  • Piazza Municipio & Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta – the beating heart of the town, with a grand baroque facade that dominates the square.
  • Castello Medievale – ruins crowning the hill above, worth the climb for panoramic views over the surrounding valleys.
  • Church of San Giorgio – one of Sicily’s oldest Norman churches, with traces of Romanesque stonework.
  • Maiorchino Cheese – a local sheep’s milk cheese, aged in caves. In February, locals even roll wheels of it through the streets in a quirky race.
• Atmosphere: Unhurried, charming, authentic. A perfect place to wander, get your first taste of inland Sicily, and sip a coffee in the main square.

Castiglione di Sicilia (50 min from Novara)

• A dramatic ridge-top town overlooking the Alcantara Valley and Mt. Etna. Recognized as one of Italy’s Borghi più belli (“Most Beautiful Villages”), it combines medieval grit with sweeping volcanic landscapes.
• Highlights:
  • Castello di Lauria – a 13th-century Norman fortress (mostly ruins today) that offers some of the best panoramas of Etna and the Alcantara River below.
  • Basilica della Madonna della Catena – 17th-century baroque architecture with frescoes and a striking bell tower.
  • Chiesa di San Pietro & San Nicola – small lava-stone churches that showcase the town’s medieval character.
  • Old Town Streets – labyrinthine alleys and arches built of lava stone; many lead to balconies with unforgettable views of Etna.
  • Local Treats: Try almond biscuits or a refreshing lemon granita from a pasticceria.
• Atmosphere: More lively than Novara, with a sense of grandeur thanks to its cliffside perch and broad views.

Winery or Lunch Stop (near Castiglione / Passopisciaro)

This corridor Castiglione di Sicilia and Passopisciaro is at the very heart of the Etna Wine Road. Vineyards grow directly on old lava flows, producing wines with smoky minerality.

• Tenuta di Fessina (Castiglione di Sicilia):
  • Boutique feel, set inside an old lava-stone palmento (traditional wine press).
  • Known for elegant Etna Rosso and Etna Bianco.
  • Tastings often include Sicilian bread, cheeses, and olive oil.
  • Great choice for an intimate, story-driven visit.
• Planeta Sciaranuova (Passopisciaro, 10 min from Castiglione):
  • Part of the famous Planeta family, who have estates all over Sicily.
  • Modern and polished; great food pairings with their wines.
  • Set among lava terraces with striking vineyard views.
  • Ideal if you want a longer, sit-down lunch experience.

Both estates require advance booking Planeta especially for food-pairing menus.

🏡 Randazzo / ParcoStatella (Final Stop, 25 min from Castiglione)

• Vibe: A medieval town built almost entirely from black lava stone, sitting at ~765 m on Etna’s northwestern slope. Randazzo feels authentic and untouched, with fewer tourists than Taormina or Catania.
• Highlights:
  • Duomo di San Martino – striking Gothic church built from lava stone, with a richly decorated interior.
  • Chiesa di Santa Maria – a Norman-era church with Byzantine details.
  • Historic Center: Narrow lava-stone lanes, medieval archways, and atmospheric piazzas.
  • Sunday Market (if timing fits): One of the largest in the area, with local produce, cheeses, honey, and wine.
• ParcoStatella (your lodging): A restored agriturismo surrounded by vineyards and farmland, offering a peaceful base to settle in after your mountain drive.

Day 2 – Linguaglossa & the Etna Wine Road

Our second day in Etna wine country begins we will drive to Linguaglossa, a lively town on the northern slope of the volcano. Known for its historic center, narrow streets, and artisan shops, Linguaglossa makes a perfect morning stop before diving deeper into the Wine Road.

By midday, we’ll head just outside town for a wine tasting and food experience at Gambino Vini. Perched on the slope with panoramic views of vineyards rolling down to the Ionian Sea, Gambino pairs Etna Rosso and Bianco with platters of Sicilian specialties — cheeses, cured meats, breads, and olives. This is the kind of tasting that doubles as a leisurely lunch, where the view competes with the glass for your attention.

After lunch, we’ll continue westward along the Etna Wine Road, passing through vineyards and villages along the way. The route back toward Randazzo offers opportunities to visit Solicchiata and Passopisciaro

If the afternoon runs long, we’ll head directly back to Randazzo/ParcoStatella to rest. But if time and energy permit, we may extend the day with a drive to Bronte, a town famed worldwide for its pistachios. Here you can sample everything from pistachio gelato to savory sauces, before looping back to Randazzo for the night.

Day 3 – Etna Craters, Honey, and Farewell

With a late evening flight out of Catania, we’ll spend our final day savoring Etna from a new perspective. Leaving Randazzo in the morning, we’ll drive south to Rifugio Sapienza, the main gateway to the volcano’s southern slope. From here, we’ll explore the Silvestri Craters — smaller craters formed in 1892 that can be walked in about 30–40 minutes. It’s a manageable hike with panoramic views, perfect for experiencing the scale and texture of Etna’s volcanic landscape.

After exploring the craters, we’ll descend to Zafferana Etnea, a charming village famous for its honey. Here we’ll stop for a relaxed Sicilian lunch, perhaps tasting local honey drizzled over cheese, or enjoying regional pasta dishes paired with crisp Etna Bianco.

Zafferana Etnea Highlights

1. Honey Capital of Sicily 🍯
   • Zafferana is famous for its honey (miele), especially chestnut, citrus, and wildflower varieties.
   • Visit a local azienda apistica (honey farm) for tastings. Honey festivals in October (Ottobrata Zafferanese) showcase food, wine, and crafts.
2. Piazza Umberto I & Mother Church
   • The central square is a lively gathering place with views stretching down to the Ionian coast.
   • The Chiesa Madre di Maria SS. della Provvidenza dominates the piazza with its baroque façade and twin bell towers.
3. Etna Views & Scenic Drives
   • The town sits at about 600 m elevation on Etna’s southeastern slope, offering sweeping views of both the volcano and the sea.
   • It’s a great stop after visiting Rifugio Sapienza and the Silvestri Craters, since it lies right along the descent.
4. Food & Wine
   • Zafferana is known for hazelnuts, olive oil, and citrus, alongside its honey.
   • Plenty of trattorias serve hearty Etna dishes — think pasta with pistachio, meat stews, and seasonal vegetables.
5. Ottobrata Zafferanese (if in season)
   • Every Sunday in October, Zafferana hosts a festival with food stalls, local products, music, and crafts. It’s one of the region’s most popular autumn events.

From Zafferana, the road continues downhill toward the coast, and it’s a straightforward drive east to Catania Airport (CTA) for our 7:50 p.m. departure.

In Two- Three Days Around Etna we’ll have experienced the wine, food, and landscapes that make this region so remarkable: vineyards clinging to black lava terraces, hill towns with medieval roots, and the volcano itself, both majestic and humbling. It’s a fitting finale to a Sicilian journey that blends nature, culture, and flavor in every stop. This is my plan!!