Saturday was my last day in Sicily. I left Siracusa about 9 a.m. in the morning to avoid traffic jams promised to me if I stay until 10 or 11. My first stop was Noto - small town completely destroyed by an earthquake in 17th century and rebuilt in the finest baroque style prevailing at that time. I guess, I set my expectations too high after seeing Dima's pictures of the flower festival (he was there in May). It may be an off-season effect or general saturation with architectural sights. In any case I spent an hour wandering "around the narrow streets, admiring the golden-coloured stone buildings, the fantastical facades and balconies", but one find similar sights anywhere in Sicily. Again, I feel spoiled :)- Here are a couple of obligatory pictures.
After Noto I went to see Necropolis of Pantalica, probably one of the oldest archeological sites in Sicily abandoned by the time Greeks settled the area in 7th century BC. As usually in Sicily, not much is known about people who built Pantalica. They were probably part of a neolithic civilisation. Later they came to be identified with the Sicanians later displaced by Sikels later displaced by Greeks displaced by Romans... The way to Pantalica goes through Monti Iblei and small towns full of people and cars on Saturday. The driving was really fun since I had a chance to improve my rarely used racing skills. Here is one of the necropoli.
After that I drove to the airport in Catania to catch an early morning flight. That was the first time when a GPS would've been useful. The plan was to drop my suitcase in the hotel (my hotel was close to the airport), return the car to the airport and take a bus to Catania to see whatever they had in the center. I wasn't exactly lost around the airport, but it took me a while to find my way through. I couldn't find the entrance to the rental lot :)- Once I found it I was so stressed that I decided to return the car and take a taxi tot he hotel. I almost entered the lot when I remembered that I did not fill the tank!!! I had to turn around and went to search the gas station. At the gas station I simply asked where was my hotel. Catania does not get high praise in the guidebooks. The city was destroyed several times (Etna is nearby) and is overcrowded with traffic. I had a pleasant dinner at the central square next to the cathedral before going back to the hotel. Next morning I had a 7 am flight to Bologna.
A lot of buildings are in Catania are built of volcanic lava stones.
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