Sicily - Island of Myths

The short stretch on the motorway runs parallel to a coastline largely spoiled by the petrochemical industry. The sight of Mount Etna in the near distance helps to make up for the less attractive view of the urban landscape. After working your way through the suburbs of Syracuse, you will rediscover the fascinating side of Sicily: the historical centre of the ancient port city on the Ortigia Peninsula.

Key sites along the southern coast include Ragusa, the ancient city that seems perched on the side of a cliff, the Villa Romana di Casale, a palace built by a wealthy Roman patrician near the cities of Piazza Armerina and Enna, which is referred to as the "Balcony of Sicily" because of its lofty location and its fabulous view of the southern coast.

This leg leaves plenty of time for an excursion into the mountains for a visit to Caltabelotta, one of the oldest cities on the island. According to legend, Daedalus landed on the cliff above the city after escaping from Crete on this home-made wings. Signs of ancient civilation can still be seen in the surrounding caves. The section of the coast around Agrigento is scarred by building projects from the 1960s, remnants of an ill-fated attempt to revitalize Italy's poorest region. The route then leads into the highlands of western Sicily.

Palermo lies at the beginning of a panoramic stretch of road along the northern coast of Sicily. The route passes Cefalù, a city founded by the Greeks that occupies a narrow strip of land between a towering cliff and the sea.

The scenic mountain route via Tortorici leads around massive Mount Etna to Catania.