Beyond Mazzara we pass the Punta di Granítola, the Râs el-Belât of the Moors, who in 827 began their victorious progress through the island, and the broad bay of Selinunte (Selinus), where the grandest ruined temples in Europe are situated. Beyond Cape San Marco we come to—
Sciacca (Nuova Italia; pop. 25,000), a seaport situated on a steep hill, 262 ft. above the sea, with its mouldering castles of mediæval nobility. The name was originally Arabic, Shâkkah. In ancient times it was called Thermae Selinuntiae, from the already famous vapour-baths in the caverns at the foot of Monte San Calógero (1272 ft.) and the hot salt-springs (132° Fahr.).
The steamer next steers to the W.S.W. through the Straits of Pantelleria (p. [396]), at a little distance from the shallows where the volcanic Isola Ferdinandea, 4–5 M. in circumference, rose from the sea with a crater, on 18th July, 1831, but disappeared on 12th Jan., 1832.
On the margin of the shallower water, in a great submarine basin 3900 ft. deep, lies the island of Pantelleria, also belonging to Italy. Its chief town, off which the steamer anchors for some hours, is on the N.W. side. This volcanic island, 32 sq. M. in area, culminates in an extinct crater 2743 ft. in height, while numerous ‘fumaroli’, or smoking and steaming fissures, and hot mineral springs testify to a continuous volcanic activity. This was further indicated by a submarine eruption which occurred in 1891, within 3 M. of the island to the N.W.
The steamer afterwards rounds Cape Bon (p. [153]) and follows the same course to Tunis as the larger passenger steamers.
27. From Naples to Syracuse (Malta, Tunis, Tripoli) viâ Messina and Catania.
From Naples to Messina (204 M.). 1. Steamers of the Ferrovie dello Stato (Line D), leave Naples Sun. evening, arr. at Messina Mon. morning (at Reggio at noon; returning from Reggio same afternoon and from Messina same evening); fares 22 fr. 85, 14 fr. 70 c.—2. Società Nazionale: a. Line XX (Linea Circolare, see pp. [134], 142), dep. from Naples Sat. aft., arr. at Messina Sun. morning (returning from Messina Wed. aft.); b. Line V (Genoa-Alexandria; p. [134]), dep. from Naples Thurs. aft., arr. at Messina Frid. morning (returning from Messina Sun. evening); fares by these two lines 22 fr. 85, 14 fr. 70 c.; c. Lines X & XI, fortnightly from Naples viâ Palermo (comp. p. [146]) to Messina (fares 50 fr. 10, 33 fr. 40 c.).
From Naples to Catania (258 M.), the Linea Circolare (see below); also the North German Lloyd (Mediterranean-Levant; RR. 23, 24) every second Mon. (from Catania Tues.) in 16 hrs.; fare 36 or 24 marks.
From Messina to Syracuse (93 M.), only the Linea Circolare, dep. from Messina Sun. morning, arr. at Reggio same morning, at Catania Sun. afternoon, at Syracuse Mon. evening (returning from Syracuse Tues. forenoon, from Catania Tues. midnight, and leaving Messina for Naples on Wed. aft.). This steamer may be overtaken at Syracuse if we go by train from Messina to Syracuse (comp. p. [158]), in which case there will be time to spend a night at Taormina and see the sunset and sunrise. At Syracuse a drive through the old town should not be omitted (comp. p. [162]).
Naples, see p. [135]. Steering across the bay towards the Peninsula of Sorrento, we enjoy a delightful retrospect of Mt. Vesuvius and the hills around Naples. Farther on we admire the bold rocky N. coast of the island of Capri.