One last look at Mount Etna before our departure given it was bathed in sunshine but, ominously, burping a small trail of smoke. Hopefully it’s not a repeat of the recent chaos that blanketed the region in ash.
The drive south was in two very different environments. The first took us along the hillside through dozens of small villages. Doug did a masterful job of avoiding all the moving and non moving impediments as we twisted up, down and around.
The latter portion was on the motorway across nondescript scrubby land occasionally interrupted by a number of sharply rising ridges. That meant a variety of tunnels, some of them quite lengthy.
We popped out and detoured into the town of Augusta (no not that one). Yes it was a Sunday morning and virtually everything was closed but this is a community that tourists don’t seem to visit. It was as if the renovation and upgrades we’d seen everywhere else simply never happened here. Needless to say our stop was relatively short other than to take a photo of the main church and admire the unique clock – sundial.
Back on the highway to Siracusa and the old town peninsula called Ortigia.
Our fist adventure was finding the B&B amongst the rabbit warren of narrow streets. After a couple of false starts – success. We are literally a few steps from the main piazza.
Per our now normal, after a filling lunch we wandered down to the waterfront and admired the properties that in most cities in the world would be worth millions.
Further on the peninsula comes to an end where the Castello Maniace historically controlled access to the port and the city of Syracuse. Built by Frederick II in the mid 1230’s it played a critical role in how the Siricuans dominated this area for many decades.
Back into town for a hydration break and as dusk fell, a casual stroll through the streets and squares watching the people and enjoying the buskers and sights.
Tomorrow we have a guided walking tour and a harbour boat cruise planned so there will be much to share about the unique city.
