Eastern Sicily

The eastern half of Sicily, centered on Mount Etna, is home to Taormina, Syracuse, the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto and the Aeolian volcanic islands.

This region follows the east/west Sicily split commonly used in travel guides, and includes the metropolitan cities of Messina and Catania and the free municipal consortia of Syracuse, Ragusa and Enna; inland Enna belongs to the east, while Caltanissetta belongs to the west. In the west, the provincial boundaries of Enna with Caltanissetta and Palermo separate it from Western Sicily, and the Aeolian Islands to the north belong administratively to Messina. Mount Etna is Europe's highest active volcano; from the southern slope you can take a cable car and off-road vehicle up to about 2,900 m, while the northern slope has pine forests and vineyards. Taormina's ancient Greek theater faces the volcano and the bay, and the little island of Isola Bella below is good for swimming. Catania is a transport hub, with a fish market and a Baroque old town. In Syracuse, Ortigia and the archaeological park testify to the glory of a great ancient Greek city; Noto, Modica, Ragusa Ibla and other Baroque towns of the Val di Noto are World Heritage Sites, and Modica is also famous for its cold-processed chocolate. Inland near Piazza Armerina, the Roman Villa del Casale preserves extensive mosaic floors. To the north, Lipari is the center of the Aeolian Islands; from here you can go for mud baths at Vulcano or take a night trip to watch Stromboli erupt. We suggest 6–8 days: 2 days for Taormina and Etna, 3 for Syracuse and the Val di Noto, and 2–3 more for the Aeolian Islands. Catania airport has the most flights, a coastal railway links Messina, Taormina, Catania and Syracuse, the Val di Noto towns are best explored by car, and hydrofoils to the Aeolian Islands leave from Milazzo. Climbing the higher parts of Etna requires a certified guide, and routes may close during volcanic activity.

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