Acireale is located on a terrace of volcanic rock overhanging the sea, and the town’s origins are interwoven with classical legends, such as that of Aci’s struggle to win Galatea. Founded, presumably by the Greeks, on a site a little further south than the current one, the town became prosperous and famous under the Romans. Archaeological materials from this period, including the thermal baths, are still preserved today. The damage suffered during the earthquake of 1693 did not alter the structure of the town, but it was rebuilt in authentic baroque style – as is particularly evident in the magnificent Piazza Duomo, the beating heart of the town centre. Below the town is the ‘La Timpa’ nature reserve, in an area, named the ‘Coast of Lemons’, which has remained particularly untouched and offers a beautiful view from Etna to the coast of Calabria, across expanses of citrus trees interspersed with pretty cottages. At the foot of the reserve lies the small, surprisingly untouched fishing village of Santa Maria La Scala, which can be reached by a steep path with a splendid panoramic view and which is famous for its clear waters and its pebbly beaches of volcanic rock.