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Sicily Gazetteer

Sicilian Places

Messina (ME)
	Messina - almost wiped out by the earthquake in 1908 - the fast-paced city on the straits
	Santa Teresa di Riva - a Greek church from 12th century
	Savoca - Vitelli's Bar: scene of Michael Corleone's wedding in Godfather II. And some gruesome mummies.
	Forza d' Agrò - a hill town perched high above the Mediterranean
	Taormina - tourist honey-pot. The Roman theatre with Etna as its backdrop
	Giardini-Naxos - where the Greeks first set foot..
	Lipari - lively capital of the Aeolian Islands, with a superb museum
	Vulcano - the original volcano: still active after all these years
	Panarea - paradise island
	Stromboli - an eruption every 15 minutes
	Tindari - the last Greek foundation on the island: plentiful remains
	Novara di Sicilia - remote village in the Peloritani mountains.
	Alcántara Gorge - icy water from the snow of Etna

Catania (CT)
	Catania - in the shadow of Etna
	Acitrezza - the rocks the Cyclops threw (maybe!).
	Etna - the largest volcano in Europe at 3000 metres. And very dangerous.
	Bronte - base for walks on the western flank of Etna
	Caltagirone - tiles and pottery
	Vizzini - original setting for Cavalleria Rusticana

Siracusa (SI)
	Siracusa - tiny compared with the ancient city
	Megara Hyblaea - peaceful remains of the ancient Greek town amidst the oil refeineries.
	Noto - beautiful crumbling baroque town
	Pantálica - Where the first Sicilans lived in the Anapo Gorge
	Cava Grande del Cassabile - a truly spectacular gorge
	Vendícari - nature reserve: a Sicilian Minsmere.
	Palazzo Acréide - impressive remains of ancient Akrai, including a fine theatre
	Eloro - a small coastal town - in the days of the Greeks

Enna (EN)
	Enna - city in the sky with Ciceronian associations
	Aidone - the amazingly extensive remains of Greek Morgantina
	Piazza Armerina - the Imperial Villa at Casale with its famous mosaics - including the bikini girls

Caltanissetta (CL)
	Gela - Greek walls as good as new

Ragusa (RA)
	Ragusa - two towns in one.
	Chiaramonte Gulfi - home of one of Sicily's best and oldest restaurants
	Modica - spectacular situation
	Donnafugata - a palace in the country (not the one in The Leopard, though)
	Scicli - quietly beautiful baroque town
	Camarina - a Greek town by the African sea

Agrigento (AG)
	Agrigento - the valley of the Temples, and very much more
	Sciacca - on a balcony overlooking the sea. A lively and friendly town.
	Caltabellotta - perched high up overlooking the African Sea. The ancient Kamikos?
	Eraclea Minoa - miles of sandy beach, and a greek city on the cliff top
	Santa Margherita di Belice - the real Donnafugata, still recovering from the 1968 earthquake.

Trapani (TP)
	Trapani - where the poetess wrote the Odyssey?.
	Motya -a Carthaginian city, once, on a tiny island
	Marsala - ancient Lilybaeum - another Carthaginian stronghold. And a fine fortified wine!
	Erice - a city in the clouds
	Scopello - remote fishing village on the way to Capo St Vito and the Zingaro nature reserve
	Castellammare del Golfo Pleasant fishing port enclosed by mountains: once the murder capital of Sicily.
	Selinunte - a mighty city once: now a vast emptiness, with some impressive temples
	Segesta - city of the mysterious Elymians, with a temple that was never finished, but still stands intact.
	Rocche di Cusa - quarry which once supplied Selinunte - until the Carthaginians descended that day.

Palermo (PA)
	Palermo - once the most beautiful city in Europe.
	Monreale - cathedral with mosaics
	Cefalù - cathedral with mosaics plus a sandy beach. Now more popular with tourists than Taormina.
	Castelbuono - indeed a 'good castle' in the Madonie mountains
	Petralia Soprana - beautiful small town hidden in the mountains
	Himera - site of the decisive Greek victory over Carthage in 480 BC
	Cáccamo - a great castle
	Montelepre - home town of Salvatore Giuliano
	Portella della Ginestra - scene of a massacre on Mayday 1947
	Piana degli Albanesi - a village Settled by Albanians in the 15th century
	Ficuzza - a village, and a forest
	Corleone - most notorious town in Sicily
	Palazzo Adriano - setting for Cinema Paradiso

Reggio di Calabria (mainland)
	Reggio - the Riace Bronze warriors are in the museum: worth crossing the straits for.

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