admin8570Jagged or Sweet, Sandy or Gravel, Volcanic, blue sea or a transparent one. Those who plan a trip to Sicily will, as soon as they arrive, have to reckon with the myriad of granitas and ice creams, all beautiful and all to be tasted. They can be found everywhere. For those who feel like spending a day out of town, I recommend a trip to the Nebrodi and landing at Capo D’orlando, a small village that opens out onto the sea to those who visit it. A 230 km stage obviously punctuated by various stops between autogrilles and neighbouring villages, I was in no hurry. It is Sunday and I am free of commitments. When one speaks of Sicily, everyone thinks of the beaches and the beautiful sea, but ‘The Big Island’ is not just sea and beaches. If you start travelling, you can discover wonderful places inland, for those who have time you can opt for a weekend to discover this wonderful island. I allowed myself a Sunday, a whole day to discover a wonderful village. Capo D’Orlando, the toponym dates back to the early Middle Ages, the town was renamed in honour of an alleged stopover that the paladin Orlando made during a crusade to the Holy Land.
It is a beautiful town with many places of interest such as the Castle which was largely destroyed during the 1400s, still today those who go there can see one of the two cisterns. Continuing my little trip I arrived at Tindari, a hamlet of Patti, rich in history, in fact during the Punic War under the command of Hieron II of Syracuse it was the naval base of the Carthaginians. Capo D’Orlando and Tindari are two very interesting destinations for those who want to spend a different Sunday. They are a long itinerary but at the same time very rewarding. They are two destinations that can offer a lot to those who love to travel in terms of place and history. In the surrounding area there are many other attractions such as the ancient Sanctuary of the Black Madonna, a Sanctuary that is located on a hill and is easily reached on foot for those who want to admire a bit of the landscape. For the lazy ones, there is the shuttle bus.
Not to be missed is the Greek Theatre, the symbol of the city, which has hosted the Festival of the Two Seas since 2001. If you want to immerse yourself in nature, it too plays its part and it too will give you strong emotions. Under the promontory, you can admire a part of beach with several stretches of water, the sea storms also change the shape of the beach in fact they are also known as Marinello. You can also visit the town of Patti, which is also very interesting and has many attractions to see and sites to visit.
For an ‘out-of-town’ Sunday, this itinerary is certainly very interesting. As already mentioned, it is a bit of a long trip, but it can be punctuated with targeted stops in neighbouring municipalities. To eat, we stopped at an excellent restaurant ‘Nonna Gelsena’ where you can enjoy typical Sicilian home-cooked dishes, and after a good coffee we set off for the return journey.
Bye Francesco
