The most powerful city in the ancient world, Siracusa (Syracuse) retains a jewel of a historic centre, Ortigia. Ancient Greek temples, labyrinthine streets and Baroque palaces tangle together on a tiny island in a turquoise sea, with an abundance of fine places to eat, shop and drink. Further west flamboyant Baroque towns, including Ragusa, Modica, Noto and Scicli – all UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and many instantly recognisable to followers of the Montalbano TV series — can easily be visited in day trips. Southeast Sicily also has excellent sandy beaches, distinctive coastal nature reserves like Plemmirio and Vendicari, and dramatic landscapes — notably the limestone canyons of Pantalica and Cava Grande, pocked with cave-dwellings.
