Traveling to Sicily from Malta: a charming, nearby, and affordable destination

Travel to Sicily from Malta

Travel to Sicily from Malta. Although Malta has many possibilities of activities all year round, there comes a time after many months on the island when we want to explore other lands. The country is very well connected with all of Europe, but concentrating on finding the cheapest Ryanair flights can lead us to forget the best destination to visit from Malta: Sicily. In addition to direct flights to Catania and Palermo, there are 2 ferry services to Sicily from Malta: Virtu Ferries travels from Valletta to Pozzallo, while Ponte Ferries connects Valletta with Augusta. On the ferry you can take bicycles (don't forget to reserve a place), motorcycles or cars. Both cities are located in the south of Sicily, and allow you to easily discover all the south and east of this wonderful island. There are a lot of walks you can do, and in this article we highlight the main destinations.

The baroque circuit

If you arrive in Pozzallo, the closest towns are baroque of Scicli (birthplace of the Scicluna family of Malta), Modica, Ragusa and Noto. These cities are representative of the baroque style in Sicily, characterized by a passion for architectural ornamentation. Noto is the city with the maximum expression of baroque architecture, with practically the entire city preserved in this artistic current. We recommend visiting Noto for at least a full day to take advantage of the magic of the color palettes created by the sun on the limestone throughout the day. Ragusa also stands out for this type of architecture in much of the city, while Scicli is smaller, and less known, although it is also a smaller scale baroque jewel. Modica, in addition to its architecture, is known for its ancestral tradition of chocolate preparation.

Travel to Sicily from Malta 2Noto

Syracuse

It is the most important in the area, and with a great history dating back more than 2,700 years, when the Greeks displaced the locals to set up their colonies. The entire city center (Ortygia) is a UNESCO heritage site, and from the moment you arrive in the city you can see its extensive history, with the ruins of the temple of Apollo marking the entrance to Syracuse. Ideally located in a natural bay and with a spring that emerges within the city walls, it was occupied by many powers, and knew many sieges, which it always bravely resisted. We recommend simply getting lost in the streets of Ortygia to discover the various neighborhoods at your own pace, and do not miss the Archaeological Park of Neapolis, which is a magical experience, offering access to the ear of DionysusThe site includes a Greek theater, as well as other ruins and a lush park.

Piazza Duomo, Syracuse

Travel to Sicily from Malta for inlove of food

Food is undoubtedly one of the great attractions of traveling to Sicily from Malta. You can eat well everywhere, but we recommend, on the way to Noto, to stop for lunch in Marzamemi, a small fishing village that offers many options for lunch in front of the sea or in a wonderful square. Of course, it will be in the cities where you will find more gastronomic options, such as Le Vin de L'Assassin in Syracuse, a restaurant that combines French and Italian cuisine. But you will be able to eat well without looking too hard. A word of advice, look for places frequented by locals.

Go further

If you want to travel to Sicily from Malta, you have to think about how you are going to get around, especially in summer, when high temperatures will make any walking a bit more difficult. A car is always a good option, although it is challenging to drive in Italian cities, full of very agile drivers. You can take a car on the ferry or rent one there. Another option is to get around by public transportation. In this case, getting to Augusta may be more interesting, as the city has train connections with all of Sicily. Another possibility is to go by bicycle, a fast and ecological mode of transport that allows you to discover the rural routes and stop wherever you want, even in villages where there are no public transport connections. The good news is that trains in Sicily accept bicycles, so you can always make a train ride if it is too long pedaling. If you want to go further, like the Aeolian islands in the north, or Palermo, taking a train from Syracuse, Augusta or Catania is a very good option: it might be longer than the plane, but you will discover a lot on the way. Another option, if you are a fan of nature, is to discover the Etna volcano, which is the largest and most active volcano in Europe. Undoubtedly, Sicily has endless possibilities for sightseeing, so while in Malta, be sure to discover this other jewel of the Mediterranean.

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