GEOGRAPHY

The province of Syracuse is defined to the North by the Catania’s Plan, to the East and South by the Ionian Sea and to the West by the natural barrier of the Iblei Mountains. From North to South it is bordered by flat plateaux brushed by the edge of the sea forming the eastern part of Siracusa’s territory.
The coast is a contrast of morphological variety, because the bright sunlight and its white colour are a foil for the dark eruptive rocks in the province of Catania. A short stretch of low and sandy beaches (as far as Agnone Bagni) is followed by the province of Syracuse (to Avola) as an offshoot of the Iblei Tableau. Stretching to a lower latitude than the city of Tunis, the coast in the southern most part is flat and rocky, scattered with “esfodeli”, “enforbie” and baby palms. In the extreme South, Portopalo’s beach used to be famous for the eggs of the great Sea Turtles, a phenomenon that today has been remarkably reduced because of the development of bathing and tourism. Out to sea in front of Portopalo lies the small island of Capo Passero .
The short and swift flowing Tellaro and Anapo rivers run from the Iblei Mountain tops down to the coast. They are embanked in their middle course because the water wears the limestone away, and has cut valleys with sheer cliffs. They are known as "cave" (Cava Grande, Pantalica) but in fact are ravines with an aspect as imposing as canyons.
Within Syracuse’s territory lie many remarkable areas of great environmental and natural value, but currently there are only five protected areas: the Ciane river and Syracuse’s saltpans, the Vendicari’s oasis, Cassibile’s “Cava Grande”, Capo Passero island, the Pantalica and Anapo Valley. An attempt is being made to revive the papyrus plant in the nature reserve of Ciane-Salina in order to preserve the environmental value of the humid saltpans’ area that since they have not been active for some years now have taken on a primary role as a place hosting migratory birds.
The inland and mountain areas suffer a quite cold and rainy winter, but it is mild along the coast. The summer is very hot and the summer discomfort often increases when the Scirocco blows: a hot and humid wind from the Sahara accompanied by a reddish powder.

Siracusa
Augusta
Avola
Buccheri
Buscemi
Canicattini Bagni
Carlentini
Cassaro
Ferla
Floridia
Francofonte
Lentini
Melilli
Noto
Pachino
Palazzolo Acreide
Porto Palo di Capo Passero
Priolo Gargallo
Rosolini
Solarino
Sortino

Arenella
Brucoli
Capo Passero
Eloro
Eremo San Corrado
Fontane Bianche
Laghetti Di Avola
Marina Di Avola
Marina Di Noto
Marzamemi
Noto Antica
Ognina
Pantalica
Ponte Saraceno
Vendicari
Leontinoi
Megara Hyblaea
Thapsos

Testi © Studio Scivoletto e Michelin Italia. Le foto sono di proprietà dei rispettivi autori. Ogni riproduzione non autorizzata verrà perseguita a norma di legge.

acquista - buy on line
Michelin Green
Guide of Sicily
in italiano | in english