Syracuse & the Southeast

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Why Go? Syracuse...... 192 With its outstanding classical ruins, beautiful baroque The Southeast...... 203 towns and sandy beaches, this is Sicily’s top draw. The temp- tation is to stay in Syracuse, hanging out in the piazzas and Valle dell’Anapo & . sunning yourself on the seafront, but drag yourself away Around...... 203 and you’ll be rewarded with some of Sicily’s most charm- Palazzolo Acreide...... 203 ing towns. Noto, Modica and Ragusa are the star performers Noto...... 205 with their baroque treasures and gastronomic delights – ice The Noto Coast...... 208 cream in Noto, chocolate in Modica and one of Sicily’s finest Modica...... 209 restaurants in Ragusa – but the countryside is also worth exploring. Prehistoric tombs stud huge rocky ravines while Ragusa...... 212 birdwatchers and seekers of peaceful beaches can find para- dise at the Riserva Naturale Oasi Faunistica di Vendicari. Best Places to Eat ¨¨Ristorante Duomo (p215) ¨¨Don Camillo (p200) ¨¨Le Vin De L’Assasin Bistrot (p198) Road Distances (KM) ¨¨Il Liberty (p207) ¨¨Trattoria del Crocifisso da Noto 40 Baglieri (p207) Pachino 40 25

Best Places to Ragusa 15 50 55 Sleep Syracuse 75 40 55 85 ¨¨Villa dei Papiri (p265) ¨¨Hotel Gutkowski (p264) ¨¨B&B dei Viaggiatori, Viandanti e Sognatori (p264) ¨¨La Corte del Sole (p265) Modica Noto Pachino Ragusa ¨¨Villa Quartarella (p265) Syracuse & the Southeast Sy racuse & Around 189 - -

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Accommodationand Listings,transport Ragusa Syracuse Istituto Modica Noto Cantina Rudinì (p209) (p209) Rudinì Cantina Giorgio San di Chiesa CorsoVittorioEmanuele, Syracuse Duomo(p192), PiazzaDuomo(p213), Dolceria Bonajuto (p210) (p210) DolceriaBonajuto (p208) CaffèSicilia ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ DON’T Syracuse’s Ortygia, one is centre, historical to places finest Sicily’s of your find and in, lost get magnifi the at again self cent Piazza Duomo. Piazza cent ¨ (www.comune.siracusa.it/ essereturista/turismo/home. htm) of details and information sights. main the ¨ Dramma indafondazione.org) of details classical-dramaseason. ¨ (www.comune.modica. rg.it) restaurantlistings. ¨ comune.noto.sr.it) monuments,and events transport. ¨ (www.comune.ragusa.it) Comprehensiveinformation environs. its and Ragusa on ¨ Best Baroque Treasures ¨ Modica (p209), ¨ (p205) Noto ¨ ¨ Ragusa Resources Best Foodie Nibbles ¨ ¨ - - - You’re sure to find peace walkingpeace find to sure You’re DAYS

Explore the rocky catacombs cave rocky and Explore the Pantalica

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d’Ispica Little known and little publicised, the remains of of remains publicised,the little and Littleknown

Classical to Baroque Coasting coast low-key lovely, the area’s explore the time to Take table main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Whilst here here Whilst Emanuele. Vittorio Corso street, main table Costanzo Corrado from cream an ice get to sure make (ice-cream gelateria best Sicily’s arguably (p208), can you where Modica, push on to Noto From shop). Perduti Sapori dei at the Osteria lunch with the locals specifi- or more Ragusa, to The last leg leads (p210). is here cathedral The stunning (p213). Ibla Ragusa cally architecture. baroque in a masterclass birdwatching, day pleasant spend a very could You line. Oasi Naturale at the Riserva and sunbathing walking see a to want you but if (p209), Vendicari di Faunistica Marza- Area’s the Cape to south continue bit more of lunch and a drop a seafood for spot a good memi, di is Portopalo literally, the road, The end of wine. local - trans with beautifully a summer resort Capo Passero, waters. parent Heading South out Sicily’s search to south and head Pick up a car its unforget and Noto stop is First towns. baroque great Before the sun gets too hot head up to the Parco Ar the Parco up to head hot too gets the sun Before Syracuse’s explore to (p193) della Neapolis cheologico visit the Museo Afterwards, ruins. superb classical top Sicily’s one of (p195), Orsi Paolo Archeologico and then lunch in Ortygia. museums, archaeological lanes, baroque Ortygia’s strolling Spend the afternoon del Duomo a drink on Piazza with winding down before dinner. seafood and a late (p192) THREE Cava Necropoli Akrai ¨ ¨ ¨ among the Bronze Age tombs at the Necropoli di Pantalica di Necropoli the at tombs Age Bronze the among (p203). Palazzolo Acreide. Palazzolo ¨ (p212). d’Ispica Cava of dwellings ¨ Getting Away from It All ¨ overlookingsolitude grassy in sit (p203) Akraiclassical where you are. are. you where you have your own wheels. There are good train connections Public connections for transport this area train is good so pretty poor, it’s are best if There wheels. own your have you between Syracuse and Noto. It’s hard to about generalise on depending slow, very or convenient be can which buses, Getting Around