Page 15 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

DISC OVERING SICIL Y  13

Two Days in Syracuse

Explore the Baroque
delights of the diminutive
island of Ortygia, then cross
to mainland Syracuse to see
the superb relics of the city’s
days of Greek glory.
• Arriving The train and long-
distance bus stations are
both very central. There’s a
spacious car park just over
the bridge into Ortygia. The impressive Neapolis Archaeological Zone, Syracusa
• Getting around Ortygia is Three Days Around a clear day. You can stay on
small enough to walk Mount Etna the mountain at the Rifugio
around; you might treat Ragabó (p205), or head back
yourself to a taxi at the end A tour that begins on the towards Castiglione. Wine lovers
of a day at the Neapolis. Ionian coast in lovely should go via Passopisciaro on
Taormina, and builds up to SS120, where there are some of
a breathtaking climax at the only vineyards in Europe to
Day One Europe’s highest and most have survived the phylloxera
Morning Explore Ortygia’s active volcano. epidemic of the late 19th
Piazza Duomo (p146); see the • Arriving Taormina lies century; you may have time to
temple of Minerva embedded midway along the coastal enjoy a winery tour and tasting.
in the Cathedral and the lavish highway between Catania,
Baroque façade of Palazzo with its airport, and Messina, Day Three
Beneventano del Bosco. Head for ferry services from Drive via the pretty town of
underground to the Artemision mainland Italy. Zafferana Etnea (p173) –
– the remains of an Ionic temple pausing to pick up some of
below Via Minerva. • Getting around You’ll need its superb chestnut or citrus
a car to explore this area; blossom honey – to Rifugio
Afternoon Stroll through the be prepared for steep and Sapienza (p177) on Etna’s south
picturesque Jewish quarter winding roads. side, departure point for the
to Piazza Archimede, which cable car that climbs to a height
is roughly the geographical of 2,500m (8,000 ft). You can
centre of the island. From Day One add on a jeep trip continuing
here you can walk down to Spend the morning exploring upwards to see the craters – as
the beach at the end of Via Taormina (pp180–84) – don’t long as there are no eruptions
Roma, or spend the rest of the miss the magnificent view of in process! Either stay at the
afternoon shopping on Corso Etna from the stunning Greek Rifugio – perhaps joining a
Matteotti and Via Cavour. Theatre. Then, take the SS185 thrilling evening trek – or down
to Motta Camastra, passing in the pleasant town of Nicolosi.
Day Two through the most dramatic
Morning Dive into Ortygia’s stretch of the Alcantara ravine
morning market to buy a picnic (p185), then on to Francavilla di
from its stalls, bakeries and delis, Sicilia, where a path leads down
then head for the Neapolis from the church to a series of
Archaeological Zone (pp140–43) waterfalls and pools where you
to explore its fabulous temples, can swim in summer. Stay in the
grottoes and tombs; don’t miss lovely hill town of Castiglione
the spooky caves of the Latomie. di Sicilia (p185).
Afternoon After picnicking, Day Two
perhaps on the steps of the Buy provisions, including meat
Greek Theatre, head over to the and charcoal, as there are
superb Museo Archeologico designated picnic areas with
Regionale (pp144–5). Here barbecues on the mountain.
you’ll see magnificent statues, Drive to Linguaglossa (p179),
tomb art, jewellery and coins, and take the circular road
and even just the simple artifacts around Etna’s north slopes, to
of everyday living that will bring see extraordinary lava fields and Tourists bathing river near the mouth of
Syracuse’s rich history to life. views that stretch to Calabria on the Alcantara ravine

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