Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
most of the long stretch of pebbled beach. There are few cultural sites other than the
much-modified Castello Gallego in the town centre.
Sant'Agata is a gateway for the Parco Regionale dei Nebrodi, and if you are going to
head into the park, it may be worth starting your trip with a quick visit to the
Museo Etno-An-
tropologico dei Nebrodi
(
8.30am-1.30pm Mon-Sat)
, which
0941 72 23 08; Via Cosenz 70; admission free;
has displays on traditional mountain life.
There are frequent trains to Milazzo (from €5.15, 45 minutes to one hour, 18 daily) and
Palermo (from €8, 1¾ to two hours, 14 daily).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Capo d'Orlando
The busiest resort town on the coast after Cefalù, Capo d'Orlando was founded - legend
tells us - when one of Charlemagne's generals, a chap called Orlando, stood on the head-
land and declared it a fine place to build a castle. The ruins of this structure are still vis-
ible. In 1299 Frederick II of Aragon was defeated here by the rebellious baron Roger of
Lauria, backed up by the joint forces of Catalonia and Anjou. More-recent rebels include
the town's shopkeepers and traders, who made a name for themselves in the 1990s with
their stand against the Mafia's demands for
pizzo
(protection money).
Visitors come here for the beaches, both sandy and rocky, that are on either side of
town. The best swimming is to the east.
The best restaurant in town is
La Tartaruga
( 0941 95 50 12;
www.hoteltartaruga.it
; Via Lido San
Gregorio 41; meals €35; closed Mon & Nov)
in the seafront hotel of the same name. The town's
tourist office
( 0941 91 53 18;
www.turismocapodorlando.it
;
Palazzo Satellite, Contrada Muscale;
8.30am-2pm Mon-Fri, plus 3-6pm Tue & Thu)
is 2km west of here, several blocks inland from the
point.
The best way to get here is by train from Milazzo (from €4.65, 35 to 50 minutes, 18
daily) or Palermo (from €8.30, 1¾ to 2¼ hours, 13 daily).
