Lost Worlds: Sicily

The tour starts with an eastward drive on the panoramic road along the coast. At Bagheria you should turn onto the main motorway in the direction of Massina. The route closely follows the contour of the coastline and offers spectacular views.

Mongibello, as the Sicilians refer to mighty Mount Etna, will be your constant companion during this stage of the tour. Most of the beautiful scenery along this route owes its existence to the volcano.

You will take a motorway that runs parallel to the coast, passing the not particularly scenic city of Catania. 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.

A short drive from the highlands towards the coast.