Chiacchiere - Conversazioni in italiano - Italian language and culture courses

Excursions

South-East Routes

The southeast of Sicily, from the coast to the Iblei highlands, is rich of history
and culture and monumental and landscape beauties. The traces left in the culture and in the
landscape by the people passed throughout Sicily, starting from the Siculis and then with the Greeks, who made the southeast of Sicily a political and cultural power, the Baroque architecture, dominant in all the historical centres of the area, the natural and landscape beauties, make this part of the region particularly fascinating.

Pantalica e Valle dell’Anapo - Palazzolo e Akrai / Ferla / Buscemi

Eloro – Vendicari con Noto e Noto Antica o Marzamemi

Cavagrande del Cassibile / Manghisi / Castelluccio

Punta Sud-Est – Costa dell’Ambra, Isola delle Correnti, Capopassero, Marzamemi

Modica, Ragusa Ibla, i luoghi di Montalbano, Fiume Irminio

Classical Sicily

From Syracuse it's also easy to reach other notable and fascinating destinations of eastern Sicily, from an environmental and cultural point of view, among which, of particular interest: the Casale Roman Villa in Piazza Armerina, Taormina, the volcano Etna, as well as the northern mountain ranges.

Piazza Armerina e la Villa Romana del Casale

Etna e Taormina

The mountains – Nebrodi / Peloritani / Madonie

Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

Palermo and Monreale


Pantalica and Anapo Valley - Palazzolo and Akrai / Ferla
Type: naturalistic-hiking-cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: Pantalica Rocky necropolis – Anapo and Calcinara Rivers’ Valleys – Akrai archaeological area –- Small urban centers of the Iblei highlands Pantalica, around 20 kms west of Syracuse, is a necropolis, dating back to the XIII sec. a.C. with more than 5000 graves dug into the rock. The Greek first and the Byzantines later turned a lot of the graves into rocky dwellings. The archaeological area of Pantalica forms, together with the valleys of the Rivers Anapo and Calcinara, among which is located, a natural reserve of big value, also botanic. According to the disposal of time, we can continue to Palazzolo Acreide or stop in Ferla, both fascinating small centres of the Iblei hinterland, embellished by masterpieces of Baroque architecture. Palazzolo Acreide, jewel of Baroque architecture, with its churches of St. Sebastian and St. Paul, monumental and exemplary for this style. It preserves the atmosphere of a typical small town of the Sicilian inland, rich of popular traditions like the patron's feast, St. Paul, in June and the carnival, among the richest and most coloured of Sicily. Palazzolo Acreide rises at the feet of the ancient Greek town of Akrai, strategic outpost for the defence of Syracuse. Today Akrai is an archaeological area with the rests of the ancient city, a small theatre, where the festival of the juvenile classical theatre annually takes place, in concomitance with the Greek tragedies that take place in the Greek theatre in Syracuse. Besides, interesting are the rocky sculptures, said Santoni: twelve statues boxed on the rock devoted to the cult of the goddess Cibele .


Eloro *Vendicari - Noto - Marzamemi*
Type: naturalistic-hiking-cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: archaeological site of Eloro - nature Oasis of Vendicari - Noto, European capital of the Baroque - Marzamemi, small village of fishermen with tonnara On the hill of Eloro, few kms southeast of Noto, the archaeological site of the homonym city, founded by the Syracusans around the beginning of the VII sec. b.C.: the excavations are not complete, but you can see most elements of a Greek city, including the theatre. After the brief visit of Eloro, begins the walk that, along the coast, through the mouth of the river Tellaro and a variety of sandy and very beautiful coves, brings us to Vendicari. The Oasis of Vendicari is a coastline natural area, characterized particularly by a landscape of dunes and lagoons, populated for good part of the year by a great variety of migratory birds; it is stretched on a great beach of clear sand. Here you find the rests of an ancient tonnara (tuna station), besides the presence of the typical local vegetation. In the late afternoon we can move to visit whether the small and characteristic fishermen’s ancient village of Marzamemi or the splendid "stone garden " of Noto, European capital of the Baroque and patrimony of the humanity by UNESCO. For the lovers of architecture Noto is the most excellent Baroque city. Entirely rebuilt after the earthquake occurred on January 18th 1693, that involved almost all eastern Sicily, Noto’s always been considered the capital of the Sicilian Baroque, not only due to its architecture but also for the urbanistic aspect of the town. All the buildings and the churches are besides built with the yellow calcareous stone, typical of the area, that renders the city with a magic aspect, especially in the evening lights.


Cavagrande del Cassibile - Manghisi - Castelluccio
Type: naturalistic-hiking-cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: Cava Grande del Cassibile nature reserve– Manghisi River – Castelluccio Necropolis and rocky village In one of the most beautiful gorge of the Iblei highland in the province of Syracuse, ascending from the coast or descending from above, nearby Avola Antica, we reach the splendid little ponds of Cava Grande, with a luxuriant nature and a fresh micro-climate in the summer, the river shapes dug in the stratified calcareous rock, that make it an enchanting spot. Whether on the path along the slope or by car or by bicycle, we can continue up to Manghisi, inland of the reserve. From here we move to Castelluccio and visit a prehistoric settlement dating to the XVIII - XV cent. b.C., where you find around 200 dome graves. Nearby the hamlet of Castelluccio, magnificently preserved, a jump back in the recent past.


Cape South-East Costa dell’Ambra / Isola delle Correnti / Capopassero / Marzamemi
Type: naturalistic-cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: brackish slushes, Correnti Island, Capopassero Island, Portopalo, Marzamemi With this excursion we reach the south-eastern extremity of Sicily, south of the parallel of Tunis, and here the natural and anthropic landscapes drastically changes, recalling the north-African atmospheres. Near the Marza, the Costa dell’Ambra, with its coastal damp environments, Longarini Marsh and Cuba Marsh, similar to the Vendicari ones, with sandy dunes, beaches and the rocky coastline, the typical fauna and flora of coastal damp environments at these latitudes. The Correnti Island, extreme southern point of the island, where the Jonio Sea meets the Channel of Sicily; the islet is attainable through a small dock that separates two splendid beaches. Nearby, Portopalo di Capo Passero, a fishermen's village where you can taste good fresh fish, with a tonnara still active until the '60, and very well preserved; still visible, you find around, carved into the rock next to the dock, the "bucine" (saucepans) where the fish was cooked. Opposite, Capo Passero islet, today a sea nature reserve, with the homonym Spanish castle. Backwards to the north, we stop and visit the small and characteristic fishermen’s old village of Marzamemi, with the rests of the homonym tonnara, also active until recent times and very important for the local economy.


The Province of Ragusa Modica, Ragusa, Montalbano’s places.
Type: cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: Iblei Highlands, Ragusan Baroque, Modica, Ragusa Ibla, Montalbano’s Sicily The Iblei highland physically and culturally connects the inland territories of the provinces of Syracuse and Ragusa. The anthropic- as well as natural landscape is the highlight of this excursion: the ragusan countryside, the farms, the Ibleian gorges, the Baroque towns. These sites have recently been renowned for being the set of most of the scenes of The Montalbano's Adventures, a TV series based on the all-over-the-world-famous literary character created by the Sicilian writer Andrea Camilleri. Ragusa is reachable crossing the Iblei highland. The city is characterized by two centres: Ragusa Ibla, the more ancient one, historical centre, typically Baroque, with the splendid Cathedral of St. George; and Ragusa Superiore, more recent, with the cathedral of St. Giovanni, centre of offices and commercial activities. Modica is the second largest town of the area, also with a splendid old Baroque centre and very beautiful and magnificent churches and palaces. Once capital of the homonym County, defined “regnum in regno” for it’s wealth and prestige, the old town, like Ragusa and many other towns of the area, was split into two centres, Modica Alta and Modica Bassa. Protagonist, also here, is the calcareous stone, carved according to the canons of the Baroque style, that is today its principal boast. Close by is worth a visit: the Donnafugata Castle, beautiful palace dating to the late 1700, in a prevalent Gothic Venetian style; the archaeological site of Kamarina, a Greek-Syracusan colony, founded in 598 b.C. and soon become a prosperous independent city-state; the Cava d’Ispica gorge, both a nature reserve and an archaeological site, characterized by innumerable caves, partly natural, partly carved, which were used, from the Neolithic to the Byzantine Age, either as dwellings or tombs. On the way back, on a nice day, it’s interesting to pass through some of the small coastal towns of the province. Even without very important architectural features, they transmit the presence of the various atmospheres, like the African, the Maltese and the Arabian, which have influenced the architecture and culture, as it is recognizable in the fish markets, low buildings, and tonnara, tuna station.


Piazza Armerina and the Casale Roman Villa
Type: cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: the mosaics of the Casale Roman Villa - Piazza Armerina - Vizzini The Casale Roman Villa, just out of the town of Piazza Armerina, is really worth the two-hour trip necessary to reach it from Syracuse. The largest mosaics of the Roman world, dating back to the imperial period, in good state of preservation, besides being a masterpiece of art, give us the vision of the Roman world of that time. Remarkable is the beauty of the splendid mosaic-decorations of the different rooms, representing scenes of real life and mythology; e.g. the Ambulatory of the Great Hunting, the Vestibule of Polifemo, the Triclinium, with scenes of the Labours of Hercules; magnificent sample of the technology reached by the Roman civilization is the great structure of the thermal complex. Later, we will visit the centre of Piazza Armerina, with its beautiful examples of the local Baroque style. Piazza Armerina particularly interested the Romans, the Arabs and the Normans, who left evident traces in today's historical centre. A walk through the alleys of the centre gives us the idea of a Medieval town. The central part of Sicily is one of the most suggestive: the hilly landscape changes tonality during the course of the year, very green in the winter, bare brown in the summer months; rich of traditions that go back to the ancient myths of Cerere, the goddess of the fertility; with all the little towns built on the tops of the hills, around a Medieval castle. On the way back we can stop in Vizzini and admire the awesome centre of this little and quite town, setting of the famous novel Cavalleria Rusticana, one of the masterpieces of the Sicilian novel writer Giovanni Verga.


Mount Etna and Taormina
Type: naturalistic-hiking-cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: the volcano - the nature park- the recent lava flows - Taormina Mount Etna. The highest mountain in Sicily. The highest active volcano of Europe. Symbol of Sicily already in the ancient times. Her recent castings. The regional nature park, with its interesting geological and flora and fauna peculiarities. It is impossible to escape the glamour of the "mountain". Various are the chances for excursions on the volcano, in respect of themes, difficulty and duration; in any case it will be an extraordinary experience. According to your interest and to the meteorological and/or volcanic conditions, we can reach the top craters (~3.350 meters a.s.l.), the craters or the castings of the recent eruptions, the high-mountain flora and fauna. In the afternoon, we can reach Taormina, the best renowned Sicilian tourist destination. Destination of the writers and aristocrats of the '700, part of the Grand Tour, that made it famous in Europe, Taormina has not lost its charm. At the feet of Mount Tauro, with the sea below and Etna behind, rich of Mediterranean vegetation, with its Greek-Roman theatre, centre of many cultural activities, its main alley with its cafes, rich of villas among the most beautiful of the XX century, Taormina doesn't stop to fascinate whoever visits her, exactly like all the European travellers, who stopped there, described it.


The Sicilian Mountains
Type: naturalistic-hiking-cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: Nebrodi / Peloritani / Madonie mountain ranges The Sicilian mountains are environments characterized by a strong landscape and naturalistic, as well as anthropic and cultural features. Each of the three mountain ranges has its own naturalistic and microclimatic peculiarities, that influence the natural and anthropic landscape. You pass from Apennines-like environments to the oneness of the fiumare (very typical torrent valleys). You will discover fascinating and pure microcosms. Massifs and peaks, valleys and narrow and deep gorges, woods, glades, villages set on the sides of the mountains or on top of a summit, rural hamlets that bring you back in the time; everything characterized by the strong “sicilianity” of these places, “breathable” in the air and in the landscape, and by the proximity to the sea that makes the beautiful Sicilian riviera. Within one day, it is possible to make an excursion to one of these mountains, with the possibility to reach also the summit, and to visit villages and fascinating places.


Agrigento and the Temples’ Valley
Type: cultural	Duration: whole day
HIGHLIGHTS: Agrigento’s Greek Templi - Naro La Valle dei Templi. Sicily still preserves vestiges of the splendid period of the Greek domination and of the following one, when the cities of the former Magna Grecia became powerful and florid independent cities. The Valley of Temples in Agrigento, as well as the many other theatres and temples disseminated around the whole island, splendidly represents this important aspect of the Sicilian history; for this reason it has been included in the World Heritage List, as patrimony of the humanity, by the UNESCO. Eight temples are still visible, belonging to the V sec. b.C.; of Doric style, made of yellow sandstone; some of them in a very good state. Among all emerges the temple of Concordia, almost intact in all its splendour, though it is ignored the name of the divinity to which it was dedicated. This excursion begins right at the archaeological area, where, besides the temples, you can also see the Sanctuary of Demetra and paleo-christian necropolis. You can also visit the regional archaeological museum, that preserves some very important finds, that tell the history of these places. On the way back, we will make a small detour to visit Naro, a little town whose origin dates back to the same period in which Agrigento was founded. The city, that has undergone different dominations during the centuries, shows today evident medieval and Baroque features, with its numerous monuments and castle.


Palermo and Monreale
Type: cultural	Duration: 1-2 days
HIGHLIGHTS: the Byzantine Mosaics and the Arab-Norman architecture in Palermo and around Sumptuous and “stracciona” (ragamuffin) capital, founded by the Phoenicians in the VIII c. b.C., Palermo has for a long time radiated its luxury and misery around itself. The accumulation of cultures has created fascinating contaminations together with non-healed contrasts. Often defined an island in the island, the city must be looked at as a whole, in its tangle of rubble and shines, of alleys and plazas of the old city, as it had to appear to the travellers of the ‘700. The itinerary we’ve chosen is the classical one, and testifies the dominations that have more influenced the history of the city, up to our days. We’ll visit the Palatine Chapel, in the Palazzo dei Normanni or Royal Palace, of sixteenth-century imprint; San Giovanni degli Eremiti, an Arabic-styled church, wanted by Roger II; the Cathedral, important monument that, with the combination if its different styles and adaptations, shows the history of the city. It is possible to overnight there and stay a day longer to visit the Cathedral of Monreale, the most grandiose monument of the Norman time in Sicily, for the sumptuousness of its interiors and the magnificence of its mosaics. On the way back, we will make a stop in Cefalù, which, with its narrow lanes, the “cortiletti” (courtyard), the arcs, the fishermen’s little houses on the edge of the cliff, offers you the most picturesque image of Sicily. The urban centre of the town dates back to the V - IV c. b.C.. Of great importance are: the temple of Diana; the stately Cathedral, built by Roger II beginning from 1131, on which the Byzantine , the Arab and the Norman arts are melted; the medieval “lavatoio” (laundrysink), watered by an underground brook.