Sicily: Agrigento, Taormina and Etna the region of myths in Italy

Palermo and Agrigento, Taormina and Siracusa, Etna and Cefalù. A week-end at the sign of culture and natural beauties. According to Goethe this is one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Sicily: an island for many cultures. What strikes arriving on the island is the typically Mediterranian light and the vivid blue sky.

Palermo is set at the feet of Pellegrino Mount in a marvellous climatic position, it is rich in historical memories and in parks. It has been a Byzantine domain until the IX century when the Arabs conquered it turining it into one of the most beautiful cities of the times. In 1072 it was won by the Normans and then the Swabian Federico II made it his court. You may visit Pellegrino Mount that Goethe called the "most beautiful promontory in the world" and the ancient tunny-fishing net in the Mondello beach.

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Agrigento is popular for the imposant rests of the Temples Valley: to let your fantasty free to bring you back to the times of ancient Greeks, you may plan your visit in the night. You should start your trip from the above where lays the San Biagio church which includes the cell of Demetra temple, then you may see the most ancient sacred building of the city, the rock sanctuary of Demetra, and continue to the Juno temple that preserved 25 of the 34 original columns, and to the Concordia temple.

Between Agrigento and Taormina we meet Racalmuto and Caltanissetta. In the first was born and died the most important contemporary Sicilian writer Leonardo Sciascia and there you may visit the Sciascia Foundation. In Caltanissetta, former centre of the sulphur-mines zone, you should see the cathedral and the churches of S. Agata and S. Domenico.

Taormina is worldwide famous for its climate, its vegetaton and its panoramic position on a terrace of Tauro Mount (200 m.) from where you may also see the Etna volcano, but the most magnificent view can be enjoyed from the steps of the Greek theatre. From Vittorio Emanuele II square and its Corvaja Palace, to Porta Messina and the main Corso Umberto, the centre shows plenty of shops, typical restaurants and bars. From Taormina you may visit Etna, the bigger active volcano in Europe, night or day but always with the guides.

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Another marvellous destination is Siracusa, "city of peace and rights", full of memories of Classical times of which the most impressive is the Greek theatre still used today. It raises in the Neapolis archeological area and is one of the most imposant of the ancient Greek world, it was built in the V century B.C and Aeschylus' tragedies were performed in it.

The Sicilian cooking includes very tasty dishes: pasta alla Norma, timbale, cous cous, various supplìs, pasta with pilchards and the famous "caponata". Also fishes are cooked in various ways, above all swordfish and tunnfish. But the real specialities are sweets: cannoli, cassata, marzipan fruits, ice-cream cassate, grated-ice drinks and sorbetto ice-cream. Among the wines you should taste: Marsala, Corvo di Salaparuta, Alcamo, Etna, Regaleali, Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Faro.

Vacanze in Sicilia: Agrigento, Taormina e l'Etna

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