Shore Excursion

Taormina / Giardini Naxos Harbor – Sicily

During this guided tour you will visit two of the most beautiful and charming towns of the Eastern Sicily: Savoca, chosen by Francis Ford Coppola to shoot his famous movie “The Godfather” and Taormina, well known all around the world for its “Dolce Vita”, when became a popular tourist destination between the stars of Hollywood.

Starting from Taormina / Giardini Naxos harbor you will drive a vintage Fiat 500, following our tour leader staff car, along the beautiful Taormina seafront until reach the old little town of Savoca, City of Art, and one of “Italy’s most beautiful villages” (since 2008). Here, leading of our tour leader guide, you’ll visit all the locations of “The Godfather” film and the most important monuments of the city (like the Cappuccini convent and the crypt with mummies from the 18th century).

Then, you ‘ll drive the Fiat 500 until reach Taormina. You will have time to visit the “Teatro Antico”, an ancient Greek amphitheatre, the second in Sicily by size, or for a nice walk along Corso Umberto, main street of Taormina, a continuous line of squares and palaces of the XV-XIX century, with antique and modern shops, flower-filled balconies, cafes, restaurants and pastry shop with marzipan fruit.

Things to note

Departures

On request

Duration

Half Day

Pick-up

Taormina / Giardini Naxos harbor (Point 4)

Typology

Shore Excursion only for cruise passengers

Optional

lunch (for groups only)

Seats

2 adults ( or 2 adults and 2 children) in each Fiat 500

Some places you will visit during the Cruise Ship Taormina tour:

Bar Vitelli – Savoca

In the Godfather’s motion picture Bar Vitelli was featured as the place where Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) meets Mr. Vitelli ( the bar owner ) and asks his permission to court his daughter Apollonia, and also for the official engagement and for the party after the wedding ceremony. While in town “a must” is the stop for a Lemon Granita in this famous bar.

Bar Vitelli
Church of the Wedding – Savoca

Church of the Wedding – Savoca

Next stop is the Church of Santa Lucia, where the scene of the wedding between Michael Corleone and Apollonia Vitelli was shot. This place was also used for the the scene when Michael and Apollonia, just married, walk down from the church, followed by their families and by the music brass band.

Cappuccini Convent – Savoca

The Cappuccini Convent was built in the 17th century. In the crypt of the church are stored 32 different mummies from the 18th century: lawyers, aristocrats, nobles, priests, poets and doctors bodies with their original clothes directly from the past.

Cappuccini Convent – Savoca
Corso Umberto – Ancient Theatre – Taormina

Corso Umberto – Ancient Theatre – Taormina

The Ancient Theatre in Taormina, is the second largest (after that of Syracuse) and one of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily. Frequently used for Opera performances, concerts and also for the famous “Taormina Film Fest“. Corso Umberto is Taormina’s main street that connects Porta Messina to Porta Catania, the two ancient doors of the city.

More information

Our self-drive tour on themed itinerary will show you unveiled Sicily and its secrets.
You will drive one of our classic and convertible Fiat 500 following our tour leader car that will be driven by our staff.
A fun and professional fully licensed English-speaking tour guide will lead you through this fascinating trip.

Don’t forget to bring your driver’s license with you. To drive in Italy you need an EU driving licence, or an International Driving Permit, which is a translation of your non EU licence.

All drivers must be able to drive using a manual clutch / trasmission (stick shift gears). Occasional driving experience with manual cars is not enough to handle our vintage cars.

Infant under 3 years of age are not admitted to the car tour. Children 3-12 years old in the same car of parents are free.

Usually this “Cruise Shore Tour” lasts about 4 hour.

If you have more time to spend we can arrange a customized full day tour according to your needs.

Meeting point is just 1 minute walk from the pier of the cruise ships (see the map).

We will wait for you at the stated time. You will recognise us by our colorful Fiat 500 classic car.

Times of pick-up and return depend on the schedule of the ships, which are reported in our confirmation email.

Taormina is a popular cruise ship destination of Sicily, the largest island of Italy.

Ships often dock at the port of Giardini Naxos, about 20 minutes away from Taormina.

Cruise ship lines that visit Taormina / Giardini Naxos are:

Star Clippers – Voyages to Antiquity – Windstar – Azamara Club Cruises – Crystal – Paul Gauguin – Seabourn – SeaDream Yacht Club – Holland America – Costa Magica – Costa Romatica – Vistamar – AIDA aura – MSC Splendida – Nieuw Amsterdam – AIDA diva – MS Columbus – Celebrity Silhouette – Mein Schiff – MS Europa – Seabourn Quest – Grandeur of the Seas – Silver Wind – Ryndam – Princess Daphne – MS Deutschland – Le Levant – Silver Sprint – Sea Cloud – Azamara Quest – Celebrity Reflection – AIDA blu – Crystal Serenity – MS Hamburg – Artania – AIDA mar – Costa Favolosa – Costa Classica – Legend Of The Seas – Azamara Journey- Braemar – Seabourn Pride – MS Rotterdam – Albatros – Balmoral – Aurora – Star Pride – Disney Magic – Celebrity Equinox – Arcadia – Voyager – Queen Victoria – Boudicca – Wind Surf – Amadea – AIDA sol – ms Noordam – Silver Whisper – Thomson Spirit.