Off The Beaten Track
If you don't want to see just the same old Sicily that everyone else will see, here are a few things that you can do differently.
Check out some mountain villages in Sicily. In these the past lives on with the present. And the enchanting beauty of nature engulfs everything it touches.
Check out Sperlinga, the mountain top town which is Sicily's least visited treasure. It takes at least a two hour drive to get to Sperlinga from anywhere on the island. The drive is slow in the mountains and this is one reason why this place is so rarely visited. It is so rarely visited that when a tourist arrives, it is an occasion. Residents are intrigued and stop their chores to take a look.
The first sight of Sperlinga is enough to make you agree that the drive was worth all it took out of you. Sperlinga is also known as the cave-house town. Here, you will be fascinated to see hundreds of years old homes that have been carved right into the mountainside. Is that a for sale sign on the mountain? Oh! That is a door and this house is for sale. Amazing!
Get rid of the feeling of tiredness and walk up to the top of the mountain. What meets your eye will take your breath away. On a clear day you will get a magnificent view the island. There lying below you is the town with vineyards and farms lazing under the sun and Mount Etna with its gaping mouth.
Forza D'agro is one more hidden treasure of Sicily. It is also known as The Godfather Town. It was here that parts of movies "The Godfather" were filmed. It is located on top of a mountain near Taormina. Ruins form a World War II bombing attack can be seen in this town. About 500 people inhabit the place and they are mostly old. This town provides a brilliant view of the coast and is a good place to relax in.
A little further from Forza D'agro lies Savoca. This too was used for the filming of parts of The Godfather. In this town is located the old bar where Al Pacino met the father of his future bride. If you are a fan, check out the bar, its all pervading atmosphere, and the celebrity photographs.
You should also take in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Here lie the ruins of many a temple and necropoli, houses, streets, and all that which would exist in any city of the ancient world. The ruins of the small amphitheatre and the numerous auditoria tell of the glories of this settlement. Do visit the fine archeological museum that holds evidence of the past. Most of the temples at this site lie in at are in ruins. It appears that some were never completed. But what is intact is part of the Temple of Hera (Juno) which was built in about 450 BC. You will find that the Temple of Concord which was built around 440 BC, is better preserved. Coke night, the temple is illuminated and is a dazzling experience.
