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What to see in Tindari in a day: the places to go to
Sicily is a wonderful island, sparkling due to all its many facets. We have the well-known places, and some less so, equally charming. Tindari, for example, is a small town with fable-like landscapes, which is not so well-known, but should be, as it is so beautiful. It is no coincidence that it has been described for some time in the novels of Andrea Camilleri and became the set for the TV production of the famous stories about Police Commissioner Montalbano. Tindari is in the province of Messina and is part of the City of Patti.
Here, in addition to a fabulous sea, there is a whole load of history to be told. What actually happened in Tindari is mixed with myth and legend, and maybe that makes this ancient town so magical. It was founded by Dionysus from Siracusa in 396 BC in honour of Tyndaris, King of Sparta. From that point on, many peoples passed through, leaving their marks and traditions.
What to see in Tindari: the places
If you have a day to see Tindari, be sure to keep in mind an itinerary which includes its main attractions, the ones you simply cannot leave out of your plan.
The archaeological area of Tindari
Tindari is famous for its precious archaeological site, an open-air museum that has lived through many epochs and seen many different peoples pass through. It is about 400 metres from the historic town centre and is easy to get to on foot. In addition to the still-visible Roman roads (cardo and decumanus) and the ruins of some temples, we have a beautiful and large Greek theatre dating back to the 4th Century BC.
Tindari’s Sanctuary of the Black Madonna
Right at the top of the promontory, on what was once the ancient acropolis, stands Tindari’s Black Madonna, a precious cedarwood statue, which gives it its particular colour. It is in the Basilica of the Black Madonna and is still highly venerated by believers. Its origins are Byzantine, 8th Century, and legend has it that this statue escaped from the hard iconoclastic battles of the age.
The Lakes of Marinello
Right beneath the Basilica of Maria Santissima, we can admire the Lakes of Marinello every single day, with their different shapes and sizes depending on the weather and the tides. This truly unique habitat, defined as coastal brackish, is a sight to see. We also have a charming grotto you can visit, the Grotto of Donna Villa, teeming with stalactites and stalagmites.
Tindari: where to go to the sea
As well as the town’s immense historic culture, the Gulf of Tindari also impresses with its soft sandy beaches, bathed in crystalline water. When in Sicily, opting for a seaside resort definitely gives your holiday added value: the coast is too beautiful not to enjoy it in full. Here we have VOI Baia di Tindari Resort, a facility with all mod cons, just like VOI Arenella Resort, with its private beach for guests boasting a special panorama. From the edge of the water, you can see the splendid Aeolian Islands, seven islands which are easy to get to by ferry in two hours from Milazzo. Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli, Alicudi, Filicudi, Salina and Panarea, then, are marine paradises enchant all the tourists with their fiery sunsets and lunar landscapes typical of the volcanic islands.
What to see in Tindari and nearby
If you have more time, you should think of visiting the towns near Tindari: some of them appear immediately on the list of the most beautiful places in all of Italy. Montalbano Elicona, for example, is just half an hour by car away from Tindari; Savoca is a little further but is worth a visit because of its breathtaking panorama. Novara di Sicilia, then, is an ancient town all in stone, surrounded by the Monti Nebrodi and Peloritani mountain ranges.
