Today was supposed to be quite a short trip and spend some time in the”beach” called Sbarcatore Turks in Augusta on our way to Syracuse.
Augusta
Augusta is a town and comune on the southeastern coast of the island, facing the Ionian Sea.
The town was founded in 582 BC by the Greek colonists from Gela, who named it Kallipolis (Beautiful City). In the following centuries, it changed hands between the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Aragonese. From the 16th century, it was under Spanish rule until the 18th century, when it became part of the House of Bourbon of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
In 1823, it became part of the newly created Kingdom of Italy. During World War II, Augusta was a major naval base and was heavily bombed by the Allies. After the war, it experienced a period of economic growth and was declared a commune in 1953.
There was some nice villas on our way to the Sbacatore Turks (Sbarcatore dei Turchi).
The history of the Sbacatore Turks in Sicily dates back to the 16th century, when the Ottoman Empire began to expand its control into the Mediterranean region. The Sbacatore Turks were part of a wave of Muslim immigrants from the Ottoman Empire who arrived in Sicily from the 1520s onward. They were a military force sent to Sicily by the Ottoman sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, to help the island’s rulers in their resistance against the Spanish and other European powers.
The Sbacatore Turks quickly established a strong presence in Sicily, setting up forts and military bases throughout the island. They were also responsible for introducing the Islamic faith and culture to the region, and many of the islanders converted to Islam. The Sbacatore Turks also helped to strengthen the island’s economy by introducing new agricultural and trading practices.
The Sbacatore Turks were eventually driven out of Sicily in 1623 by a coalition of Spanish, Genoese, and Neapolitan forces. However, their influence and presence in Sicily remained strong, and they continue to play an important role in the island’s culture, cuisine, and architecture. The Sbacatore Turks also left behind a legacy of buildings such as mosques, baths, and tombs, which can still be seen across the island today.
Local people were jumping from that edge into the water. It did look a bit dangerous with all the stones around, but it was quite deep in there.
There were only four people in Sbacatore Turks and that’s including me and my brother, so it was very quiet and peaceful.
After some sun though the clouds and swimming in the sea we went to Augusta town. Many streets were one way in there, so I think we broke couple of laws unintentionally.
The town was quite dead. We were walking around looking for a place to eat, but since it was 3pm not many places were serving food. Then we found one place open, but it turned out they had no electricity so their kitchen was not very functional, but kind lady offered to make us something. It was good!
Syracuse
Syracuse has a long and rich history that dates back to the 8th century BC. It was first founded by Greeks who colonized the area in 734 BC and established a powerful city-state. Syracuse was one of the most important cities in Magna Graecia, and was home to some of the greatest minds of the ancient world, including Archimedes and Plato. Over the centuries, Syracuse has been conquered by the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French and Spanish. During the late 19th century, it became a hub of culture and industry.
Syracuse was quite busy with cars and getting around the centre was quite difficult. Some signs also unclear if we can enter or traffic was prohibited. Some signs just forbids polluting cars, but how to know?
Our apartment was on the 4th floor and the stairs were quite long going around with a big opening in the middle. On top there was a manual lift. I guess that’s how they get the heavy stuff up.
The Temple of Apollo at Syracuse was built in the 6th century BC and is one of the most important Greek monuments in the Mediterranean. It is believed to have been the site of the cult of Apollo and the oracle of Delphi.
The temple was destroyed during the Second Punic War and rebuilt in the 3rd century BC. It was later damaged in the eruption of Mount Etna in 1693. The temple was restored in the 19th century.
The temple consists of a large peristyle with columns, a pronaos and a cella. The cella contains two large statues of Apollo and two of Artemis, as well as a bronze statue of a lion. The temple is surrounded by a large courtyard with a large pool and colonnades.
The temple was built in the Doric order, with a double colonnade, and is one of the best-preserved examples of Greek architecture in Sicily. It is believed to have been the site of the famous oracle of Delphi, and the cult of Apollo was practiced there.
The temple is an important symbol of the city of Syracuse and is visited by thousands of tourists each year. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an important part of the archaeological history of Sicily.
This beach is something new! In 2011 were just sitting on the stones and swimming in the sea. Now they built an artificial zone to tan and swim. I guess it is safer than climbing the stones.
We stoped at Arancini And More for a quick snack and taste of arancini. This place had very good ratings on Trip Advisor. It is quite small place, but Arancini were amazing.
Arethusa Spring is named after the Greek mythological nymph, Arethusa, who was said to have been pursued by the river god Alpheus. According to legend, Arethusa was able to escape by transforming herself into a spring of water and flowing into the sea.
In classical antiquity, the spring was considered to have healing properties and was used for medicinal purposes. It was also thought to be a source of inspiration for poets and artists, appearing in several Greek and Roman works of literature. In the Middle Ages, Arethusa Spring was mentioned in a variety of documents, including the works of Arab geographers.
Finally, we sat in the balcony and enjoyed the view of Moon and two palms zipping white wine. Oh yeah I accidentally knocked my glass of wine and it spilled down just at the right moment when someone was passing. They literally thought that someone pissed on them haha. I apologised and explained the situation.