Augusta, located on the eastern coast of Sicily, is a beautiful town with beaches and crystal-clear waters. Water sports such as diving, snorkeling, and sailing are also available. The Ionian Sea offers picturesque views and tranquility. If you’re looking for a quiet getaway away from the crowds, this is the place to be! Augusta houses two ports.
The medieval Castello Svevo, dating from the 15th century, captivates with its impressive stone walls and picturesque seaside location. For lovers of history and sightseeing, the Museo Archeologico Regionale di Augusta is a must-see. The museum displays a collection of artifacts and exhibitions, highlighting the city’s importance as a port throughout the centuries.
Location
Augusta is a city on the island of Sicily in Italy. It is located north of Syracuse on the southeast coast, between the Gulf of Augusta and the Ionian Sea.
Faro Santa Croce (Santa Croce Lighthouse)
The most visible point on the Ionian coast, at the tip of the white rocky promontory that descends from Monte Sant’Elena, stands the Capo Santa Croce lighthouse, more precisely between Punta Campolato and Punta Izzo. This enormous lighthouse was built in 1856. Among the picturesque cliffs and seascape, there is a wonderful place for walks, especially at sunset.
Capo Santa Croce Beach
Capo Santa Croce is a beautiful sandy beach in Augusta. The crystal-clear waters invite swimming and are perfect for diving and snorkeling. The daytime temperatures are very hot, making it a popular spot to see turtles and dolphins. The area also offers stunning views of Mount Etna and other nearby islands.
Castello Svevo
This is the Swabian Augustus Castle, located atop a small peninsula near the city of Augsbourg. The central structure, covering almost four thousand square meters, was built by order of Frederick II of Swabia in 1232. The building is of extraordinary historical and architectural value and offers a magnificent view of the sea. Currently open to the public and well-preserved, its history is worth exploring.
Garcia Fortress
Fort Garcia was built in 1567 near the seaplane area and the Hangar Park. During the Kingdom of Italy it was under the military administration of the Royal Navy and served mainly as a warehouse. The Garcia and Vittoria forts in Augusta are two fortifications built on two contiguous islets located in the northern part of the Augusta harbor.
Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Augusta
The city’s main church (Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta) stands in Piazza Duomo, facing east, with access to all three naves through separate entrance portals in the main façade. Rebuilt from ruins after the devastating earthquake of 1693, it stands as a testament to resilience, facing east to greet the dawn.
Spanish Gate (Porta Spagnola)
The Spanish Gate in Augusta is a 17th-century historical monument, a testament to the three-hundred-year Spanish rule in Sicily, which lasted from 1412 to 1713. It was actually the main gateway to the city, accessible via two drawbridges. The gate is adorned with two slender griffins at the top, supporting a cornice surmounted by the crown of Charles II of Spain. The coat of arms of Viceroy D. Francesco Benavides is carved within a frame framed by the Golden Fleece.
Museo della Piazzaforte
The Fortress Museum is located inside Augusta’s Town Hall, on Piazza Duomo. The Museum, founded in 1986 and renovated in 2012, traces the history of the base and the naval war in the Mediterranean. The Museum aims to catalog, preserve, and exhibit memorabilia, historical artifacts, photographs, and various documents relating to the city of Augusta, the Air Force, and the Navy, with particular reference to Operation Malta 2 and the sinking of the Conte Rosso in 1941.
