Page 16 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

14  INTRODUCING SICIL Y

A Week in Val di Noto Scicli (p153), where many scenes
and Agrigento from the TV series Inspector
Montalbano, based on the books
• Arrive A new airport at by Andrea Camilleri, were filmed.
Comiso serves this region, Scicli has some great B&Bs
with Ryanair international (p204) and an outstanding, if
services and plenty of pricy, restaurant, Satra (p215).
connections via Rome
and Milan. Day 4
• Transport Hiring a car at Explore Scicli, an appealingly
the airport will give you slow-paced town with lots of
maximum freedom for this mellow Baroque buildings
free-ranging itinerary. spilling along three river valleys
dominated by soaring A sunset illuminating the beautiful village
limestone cliffs. Then visit of Ragusa
Day 1 Noto Modica (p156) – famous for the
Start your trip exploring Noto manufacture of chocolate ceramics. See the town’s
(pp148–51), a marvellous according to an ancient Aztec famous, vividly col oured
Baroque town of apricot-gold recipe. Wander along the main ceramic-tiled staircase, then
limestone. Admire the exu- street for chocolate sampling, browse the workshops to watch
berant architecture of the then climb the 250-step potters and painters prac tising
Cathedral, Palazzo Ducezio staircase to the spectacular their craft. Stay in Caltagirone.
and Palazzo Nicolaci Villadorata Baroque church of San Giorgio.
(pp150–51) as you sample ice Spend the night at Modica. Day 7
creams famous throughout Italy. Move on to Piazza Armerina
Noto was completely rebuilt Day 5 (p133) to spend the morning
after being devastated by the On to Ragusa (pp154–5) and a discovering the astonishing
1693 earthquake, and the ruins day wandering its lovely old mosaics of the Villa del Casale
of the old city, Noto Antica, lie quarter, Ibla. Its mellow tangle (pp134–5). If you’ve got the
about 8 km (5 miles) above of limestone pavements energy after lunch, pop over to
Noto on a mountaintop; squeeze past the grand façades the museum at nearby Aidone
wonderfully atmospheric, they of limestone palaces, churches to see the exquisite Goddess of
are perfect for an afternoon or and town houses. The main Morgantina, a treasured statue
early evening stroll. Stay in Noto. piazza is dominated by the recently returned to Sicily after
Duomo, a lovely three-tiered being looted and sold. Stay in
Day 3 Baroque wedding cake of a Piazza Armerina.
Drive to Capo Passero (p152), cathedral. Ragusa is an excellent
the southernmost tip of Sicily, town for dinner and lodgings. Day 7
where the Ionian Sea meets Drive to Agrigento (pp118–19)
the Sicilian Channel – with Day 6 to finish your tour with an
dramatic consequences in Drive via the rarely visited towns amazing high, the incompa-
stormy weather – and visit the of Chiaramonte Gulfi (p157) and rable ancient Greek ruins of the
evocatively restored tonnara Vizzini (p157), with lovely chur- Valley of the Temples (pp120–
(tuna fishery) of Marzamemi ches and interesting, if rustic, 21) and its associated Museo
(p152). Drive on to the beach Baroque cores, to Caltagirone Archeologico. This will easily
resort of Sampieri and Baroque (pp158–9), renowned for its occupy the whole day, though
Montalbano fans might also
want to take a tour of Agrigento
town and Porto Empedocle,
where the original books were
set. Stay in Agrigento. From
here, it’s about a two-hour drive
along SS115 to Comiso airport.
To extend your trip…
Spend an extra couple of
days in Agrigento and fit in
other excursions – to the
birthplace (and resting
place) of Luigi Pirandello, or
the weird landscape of the
Vulcanetti di Macalube. There
are great beaches, too.
Temple Concordia, one of the Greek ruins located in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
For practical information on travelling around Italy, see pp242–3

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Country itinerary map template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.1)
Date 21st March 2014
Size 125mm x 217mm