Sicilia, my dream island: full of history, especially art history and beautiful beaches. A hot Summer’s dream. It’s a huge island, the largest Mediterranean island. We were more than happy to stay in and enjoy 3 locations: Ortigia (which is an island in Siracusa), Noto and Catania.
Ortigia, in Siracusa, is lovely, reminiscent of Corfu Town, with lovely narrow streets full of shops and places to eat. The only difference is in its Baroque architecture. The Summer nights are really hot, lots of gelato or granita are very welcomed in August.
Noto, a gorgeous Baroque town, up on a hill, about an hour away from Siracusa. The architecture is beautiful, with many of churches to visit during the day and night (most have upstair views) and its crown jewel, the Noto Cathedral. Immense Baroque and Rococo buildings make up this very unusual town that seems to be lost in a very desert like landscape. A few kilometers away you can find many beaches that also have lovely small resort towns.
Catania is a blend of really old and new, with a spectacular night life. When the day heat is gone, at night you can roam the colourful streets that are full of people, coming out to cool off. But the night heat in August is pretty much the same as the day heat. Catania has many beaches around, just don’t expect to find them near the city center, even though all streets lead to the sea. Its train tracks cover most of the sea shore.
Other near by places to must visit are:
- Lido Fontane Bianche – beaches that have crystal clear waters, we enjoyed a full day here, mostly swimming and lounging with a glass of Aperol nearby.
- Marzamemi – a very Sicilian town, the most Sicilian you can get. It’s very touristy, but worth it. At night it’s like a whole island in itself: full of restaurants and many places to eat, live music, clubs and different kinds of markets.
- Mount Etna – worth every euro spent to get to the almost top. More from the volcano here.
- Taormina – the jewel of Sicily. More from its breathtaking views here.
Every city and small town has a different vibe in Sicily. And I welcomed and embraced all.
As always,
Ortigia
Lido Fontane Bianche
Noto
Marzamemi
Catania
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Thanks for dropping by, see you next time.
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