Isole Ciclopi at Aci Trezza
The basalt sea stacks off Aci Trezza, in the marine protected area: you swim among columns of black lava, with Etna behind you.
The story
Legend says they are the boulders the blinded Cyclops Polyphemus hurled at Ulysses' ship. Aci Trezza is the village of Giovanni Verga's novel The House by the Medlar Tree. The columnar basalt formed when lava cooled slowly in the sea.
Why go
Because the contrast between black lava and blue water is found nowhere else in Italy.
Which wind
Good with Maestrale, calm sea
Avoid with Scirocco, Levante
Practical information
- Activities
- Snorkelling, Scuba diving, Kayaking
- Level
- Beginners
- Seabed
- Basalt and lava rocks, deep water close to shore
- Best time
- June–September
- Seasons
- Summer
- Getting there
- From Aci Trezza and Aci Castello, with kayak rentals and dive centres.
Get directions ↗Marine reserve rules
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Weather and sea forecast
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind, wave height and sea temperature.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
Getting there
- By train. The nearest station is Cannizzaro station, 3.5 km away. Alternatively: Acireale station, 3.7 km away. From the station you need a bus, a taxi or a car.
- By air. The nearest airport is Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), about 14 km away.
- Parking. There are 5 signposted car parks within a kilometre; the nearest (Acitrezza Scalo di Alaggio) is 250 m away.
Stations, ports, airports and car parks from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); distances as the crow flies. Timetables and connections change: check them before you travel.
Climate and sea month by month
The most pleasant months for weather are from March to May and from October to December, with average highs between 18 and 29 °C. From July to August it is hot: average highs exceed 30 °C. The wettest month is November (about 92 mm), the driest July. The sea is above 22 °C from June to October, peaking at 27 °C in August.
| Month | Temperature | High / low | Rain mm | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | from 8 to 16 °C | 16° 8° | 43 | 16° |
| Feb | from 8 to 16 °C | 16° 8° | 49 | 15° |
| Mar | from 9 to 18 °C | 18° 9° | 44 | 15° |
| Apr | from 12 to 20 °C | 20° 12° | 17 | 16° |
| May | from 15 to 24 °C | 24° 15° | 32 | 18° |
| Jun | from 21 to 30 °C | 30° 21° | 11 | 22° |
| Jul | from 24 to 34 °C | 34° 24° | 5 | 26° |
| Aug | from 24 to 34 °C | 34° 24° | 18 | 27° |
| Sep | from 21 to 30 °C | 30° 21° | 45 | 26° |
| Oct | from 17 to 26 °C | 26° 17° | 80 | 24° |
| Nov | from 13 to 22 °C | 22° 13° | 92 | 21° |
| Dec | from 10 to 18 °C | 18° 10° | 38 | 18° |
Averages for 2015–2024, estimated for an altitude of 0 m. Air: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), corrected for the altitude of the place; rain: average monthly total; sea: surface temperature from NOAA OISST. These are indicative values: the weather on any given day can be very different, so always check the forecast before you go.
In the guide
Other spots nearby
- Alcantara GorgeRiver swimming, Canyoning · 35 km
- Plemmirio, SyracuseSnorkelling, Scuba diving, Kayaking · 64 km
- Windsurfing at MondelloWindsurfing and kitesurfing, SUP · 176 km
- Snorkelling and kayaking in the Zingaro ReserveSnorkelling, Kayaking · 215 km
Sea conditions can change within hours: before going in, check the marine forecast and the local harbour office (Capitaneria di porto) rules. Emergencies at sea: 1530.