Riviera of the Cyclops

Along the coast north of Catania, the “Riviera dei Ciclopi” (Riviera dei Ciclopi in Italian) stretches for about 12 kilometers between Aci Castello and Aci Trezza, extending north to Acireale. This stretch of coastline combines landscapes shaped by the volcanic activity of Etna, with basaltic promontories, lava cliffs, pebble or volcanic rock beaches, and coves where underwater visibility is excellent.
The coastline has a wild beauty, but the infrastructure (coastal roads, parking) sometimes struggles to absorb traffic during the high season, which can make journeys slow.

The Riviera dei Ciclopi: between myth and geology

The Riviera dei Ciclopi, on the eastern coast of Sicily between Catania and Acireale, combines geology and mythology of the Mediterranean world. Its landscape was born from the thousand-year activity of Etna, where successive lava flows, sometimes submerged, formed basaltic promontories, islets and characteristic dark cliffs. 
According to Homeric tradition, this is where the cyclops Polyphemus is said to have lived, son of Poseidon and the nymph Thoosa, who hurled enormous volcanic rocks at Ulysses. These blocks are still visible off the coast of Aci Trezza in the form of the faraglioni and the island of Lachea.
The terrain of the Riviera is made up of ancient lava layers and pyroclastic deposits from eruptive phases of Etna since the Pleistocene, covered by later marine formations.

This coastline is today recognized as a site that is at once natural, archaeological and mythical, where the villages of Aci Castello, Aci Trezza and Acireale form a homogeneous ensemble of culture, geology and ancient memory. Numerous place names (Aci, derived from Akis in the Greek legend of Acis and Galatea) recall Greco-Sicilian mythology. The area is also part of the Marine Nature Reserve of the Cyclops Islands, created in 1989 to protect its underwater volcanic formations and its biodiversity.

The coast between Aci Castello and Acireale

From Catania, you first reach Aci Castello (about 10-15 km away), dominated by a Norman castle built on a promontory of volcanic rock from ancient lava flows of Etna. 
A few kilometers further on, Aci Trezza offers the atmosphere of a traditional fishing village, with its colorful boats and small islands including the famous faraglioni: large volcanic blocks emerging from the waves.
The coastline here is ideal for boat trips to admire these formations up close, but also for diving and snorkeling, thanks to the richness of the marine reserve that protects varied underwater species.
Acireale is a small town notable in particular for its beautiful Baroque churches.
A few kilometers further north, the small fishing port of Capo Mulini is a good place to lunch or dine on seafood.

Aci Castello

Aci Castello and its surroundings are said to be linked to the legendary lost Greek city of Xiphonia, mentioned by Diodorus Siculus, located according to hypotheses between Aci Castello and Acireale and the inland areas. A Greek necropolis has been identified in the Vigna Vecchia district.
The castle, of Norman origin but with Byzantine or Roman precedents, is built of local volcanic stone and overlooks the sea. Inside it houses the civic museum, whose rooms display artifacts from the territory, including prehistoric objects, remains from the Greco-Roman and medieval periods, as well as a mineralogy and paleontology section.
The fortress is accessible by a staircase from the square overlooking the coast with its terrace.
The village itself preserves elements of local architecture, small harbors, rocks shaped by time and stairways descending to the water’s edge. 

Aci Trezza and the Cyclops Islands

Aci Trezza has the most striking coastline. The sea panorama is dominated by the faraglioni (also sometimes called the Cyclops Islands), large basaltic rocks rising from the water like stone castles. The island of Lachea is the main one of the small archipelago; they are part of the Marine Nature Reserve of the Cyclops Islands, managed by the University of Catania. These rocks are remnants of solidified underwater formations or remains of lava flows. According to mythology, they are stones thrown by the cyclops Polyphemus at Ulysses, furious at being blinded by him.
It is in this village that Giovanni Verga sets the novel I Malavoglia; its narrow streets, its small port and its colorful boats retain an atmosphere of traditional fishing.
The islands and rocks are accessible by boat from the port, sometimes with glass-bottomed vessels allowing observation of marine life: algae, sponges, Mediterranean fish and protected crustaceans.

Acireale

Further north, Acireale stands on a volcanic plateau called the Timpa, about 150-200 meters above sea level, on layers formed from ancient lava flows. It may correspond to the Greek colony founded around 731 BC under the name of Xiphonia.
The city was almost entirely destroyed by the earthquake of 1693, then rebuilt in a very rich Baroque style. The most important buildings are: the Cathedral of the Annunciation, the Basilica of Saint Sebastian, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the aristocratic palaces, their portals of carved lava, and the frescoes of Pietro Paolo Vasta.
Acireale is also renowned for its thermal baths of Santa Venera, whose establishment dates back according to tradition to Greek structures, then Roman and Byzantine, before being reused in the modern era.
The Timpa Nature Reserve, just above the sea and a few kilometers from the center, offers a steep coastline, spectacular views of the black volcanic cliffs and Mediterranean vegetation adapted to the basaltic soil.
Every spring, the Carnival of Acireale attracts many visitors with its flowered floats, decorations and traditional celebrations. 

Beach and Capo del Mulino

Map: Riviera dei Ciclopi

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