Taormina, Mount Etna And The Necropoli Pantalica

Mount Etna 

I finally went hiking! With my guide Fabio, we went around the Necropoli Pantalica, a cemetery with tombs cut out of rock faces on the limestone hills.  There are about 4000 tombs, dating from the 7th to the 13th century BC, 23 kilometres from Siracusa.  It was an interesting hike around the area, exploring the various "rooms/houses" which were the dwellings of the Sincels. All I can say is, thank God for being alive in the 2nd millenium AD! In those conditions, they didn't live much beyond 30 years of age.

Necropoli Pantalica

The area is full of flowers like the Valeriana.

An interesting boulder looking like it might drop at any moment.

I also did some hiking in Mount Etna the following day with Vincenzo.  The weather had been unpredictable the last few days, with temperatures dropping below freezing and very windy conditions. The day I went, it was too windy for an ascent to the top, so I just hiked  around 2000 metres to have a look at the lava rivers and craters.

Lenticular clouds on Mount Etna indicating strong winds.

Interesting cloud formations due to circular wind patterns.

Lava fields with boulders that had erupted from lava craters.

This video will show you how windy it was. Not much fun hiking in that kind of wind.

My hiking base was the hilltop town of Taormina. The area was inhabited by the Sincels prior to the Greeks arriving in the 7th century BC. The beach is accessible via cable car that runs from the centre of the town. It's quite touristy (its been a tourist destination since the 19th century) but pretty. It also was a popular destination for writers (Dahl, Faulkner, T Williams, Capote, Waugh, etc).

The Greek theatre (town centre)  eventually used by Romans as an arena. It presently hosts opera, theatre  and musical concerts. It must be spectacular sitting in the venue with Etna alight with lava in the background. 

The main walking street in Taormina, full of bars, restaurants and of course, international chain boutiques (you just cannot get away from them).

Before I go, a special mention about a restaurant in Noto called Manna.  It's absolutely delicious and the best meal I had in Sicily.

Zucchini mousse with croutons and parmesan

Croquettes of mussels and potatoes on a bed of grilled zucchini with a lemon/chili dressing

Duck ragu (white) with broad beans. Soooo delicious I ordered a second helping.

Sugared citrus and pistachio desserts

So ends my adventure in Sicily.  Thanks to all my guides/drivers/hotel staff and Andrea/Angela of the PATH agency, for organising my trip around the island, on a very last minute basis. It was hugely enjoyable. Ciao!