Caught 10.38 train from Catania following the coast around the bay south of the town. Looking back to northwest we had a magic view of 'our' mountain of the moment, Mt Etna, across the bay.
We stopped at bustling, industrial Augusta on the way - very different from our quiet, touristy Augusta.
There were petroleum tank farms for miles along the coast as we continued south.
There were patches of quiet farmland with lots of sheep and Eucalyptus trees.
Siracusa is another bustling town set in an interesting rugged limestone section of the coast. Ortigia island, part of Siracusa, is easily reached across a couple of bridges and is a vibrant, clean little place. Lots of outside cafes line its eastern coast - had lunch at one of these. Lee had stayed in that very same street last year. Another lovely cathedral for us to explore - Duomo - Cathedral Temple of Minerva. The impressive Fountain Diana had marble statues - horses, fish and folk. See pic.
Back on the 'mainland' Basilica Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime rises high in to the sky like a giant modern teepee. It was built in the early 1950s and is an impressive architectural feat with an internal base of about 80 metres diameter and about 90 metres in height.
That's all we could fit in but we're so glad we took that little train ride for an hour south.
We'd hoped to get more pics of Etna on the way home but she was covered in cloud - we're wondering if she belched out more than steam today.