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From
Patti to Tindari one takes a panoramic road which is dominated by a vast horizon
comprising of the Peloritani, the Nebrodi, the coast below with the peninsula of Milazzo
and the Aeolian islands At the foot of the rocky headland (230 metres) the beach formed by
very fine white sand has given the place suggestive and picturesque pools called laghetti
di Marinello. Along the coast, characterised by the splendid beaches of Falcone and
Oliveri, we find the ancient and once flourishing tuna fishing grounds (Oliveri, Tono and
S. Gregorio), today transformed into welcoming tourist residence celebrated by Quasimodo
("Tindari meek 1 know you / between wide hills hanging over water / and the sweet
islands of God / today assail me / and you incline in heart"). Tindari has been
inhabited since the remotest antiquity. The city founded in 396 B.C., after a flourishing
history was destroyed by Arabs in 836 A.D. Today it constitutes a vast archeological area,
including a Greek theatre (teatro greco) where in summer numerous plays are performed, la
casa romana, le terme and important ruins of an ancient dwelling place. In the museum the
findings of the excavations are exhibited. At the highest point we find the Santuario
della "Madonna Nera", where a constant and large pilgrimage venerates a statue
of the Virgin with a black face, coming, according to the legend, from the Orient. A few
kilometres from Patti, after Capo Calavà, that offers an incomparable beauty and has a
very receptive hotel structure, we find Gioiosa Marea, formed in the 18th century at the
feet of Gioiosa Guardia (700 metres), of which medieval ruins remain. Characterised by a
limpid sea, Capo Calavà offers from July to the end of August a manifestation of
"Summer Sea" with gastronomic food and wine festivals and various shows and
entertainments. All of the coast as far as Tusa and Finale is a highly developed focus for
bathing and tourism. Worth distinguishing in this dimension is Brolo formed around its
15th century castle and immersed in citrus orchards and vineyards and the site in festival
periods of sports competitions, musical, cultural and folkloric festivals, such as the
festa del fuoco in honour of the Madonna (first Sunday in September) with the lighting of
a bonfire and Capo d'Orlando. Featured by a promontory nearby which a naval battle took
place in 1299 between Federico III of Sicily and Giacomo II of Aragon. It is a city of
tourism and culture. Furnished with an efficient hotel network and among other things
noted by Gino Paoli who wrote the song "Sapore di sale" as a homage.
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In
its vicinities we find the Villa Piccolo where the poet Lucio lived and Giuseppe Tomasi di
Lampedusa stayed while he wrote "Il Gattopardo". it is the site of a museum
which contains Chinese ceramics, English flower vessels and objects of popular art.
Proceeding we come upon S. Agata Militello, a large agricultural centre and commercial
bathing resort, and Acquedolci in whose vicinities the grotta di S. Teodora is found with
important prehistoric exhibits. Marina di Caronia is noted for a rock, la pietra di S.
Biagio, that has given origin to a folkloric/religious cult, while S. Stefano di Camastra
is celebrated for its production of ceramics. Between S. Stefano and Castel di Tusa, one
admires the Fiumara d'arte, so called for the presence of numerous sculptures by modern
artists. At 600 metres in the Nebrodi mountains there is Tusa, with medieval and baroque
testimonies, nearby, close to the sea the ruins of Halaesa extend and form an ample
archeological area.
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