Day 8 - Sep 15: Taormina to Modica via Siracusa and Noto

We left early - although it took Sarah 10 minutes to extract the car from its parking spot and turn it around! 

We were bit shocked at the sprawl of Siracusa but managed to park like a local- at an angle and anywhere you see a space and do not have to pay. 

Luckily for Jo this was not too far from the first  stop; Archimedes’ tomb in the very historic Siracusa. 

That bit of rock with the triangle on it is Archimedes' tomb - he was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer who lived in Siracusa in the 3rd century BC. 

A stone’s throw away is this Greek theatre - 5th century BC - where various Greek tragedies were premiered. Extensively altered by the Romans to accommodate gladiator fights. 

Lots of catacombs in the ancient part of Siracusa. This view is a complete valley of them.

Amongst the catacombs and quarry we found a huge fig tree. Jo is dwarfed by it.

We skipped the rest of the catacombs in other parts of the town (bit morbid) 

Instead we headed off on foot/ crutch to Ortygia (an island part of the old town of Siracusa) across a bridge and into a marina area.

More ruins, Temple of Apollo found underneath some Spanish barracks

A few wonderful narrow cobbled streets with old houses.

Of course some cars still try to attempt the impossible

The biggest Piazza Duomo we have seen for a while.     Buildings recenttly cleaned funded by UNESCO. 

We headed towards the Castello Maciare at the end of the island only to find it had just closed for the day (what is it with us and castles)

Back on the road we headed 45km South to Noto. 
This is a town that was totally destroyed in an earthquake in 1693 and rebuilt by several architects in the 18th century. Unusual for Italian towns most of the central historical part is all Baroque. 

Another stroll around the outside of churches and up and down more narrow cobbled streets.

Final drive for the day was to Modica. We had taken the smaller roads avoiding the autostrada and came into Modica from the wrong direction for where we were staying. Sarah is getting expert at hairpin bends now on single lane cobbled streets after so much practice. She is also enjoying driving on the pavement...

When we finally reached our accommodation Jo was unsure as to which place we had booked in to

Fortunately it was just as quirky but as discrete as this door but a bit more up market! 

The view from the room is spectacular in the afternoon

Tonight we headed for an authentic Sicilian dinner at a local restaurant. "Osteria dei Sapore Perdute" During dinner we started chatting in Italian to the table next door as they struggled to select a local wine (and like us, they turned their noses up at the inn's own brew - all served in hip flasks!); we recommended one to them! Next thing you know we had their entire family history; he played the organ in Norwich Cathedral and had met the Queen, She owned a place on the beach a few Km from here (we were invited to visit!); their dinner companions (daughter and son-in-law) worked in Milan and he was a top chef and she was something or other super important. They both move to London shortly. Got some recommendations for places to visit and to avoid and where else to eat. All in Italian. Even they think the driving is "brutta" (ugly) in Sicily. Now that we are back with internet, we realise we went to the wrong restaurant tonight! This is a pretty small town - but has 160 restaurants, apparently! Bellissima Sicilia!