Pista del Sole

Halfway between Catania and Syracuse, in Villasmundo in the province of Syracuse in south-eastern Sicily, the Pista del Sole runs an outdoor track inland from the Hyblaean coast. The site sits in a rural setting typical of the northern Syracuse area: hills planted with olives and citrus, the early Hyblaean heights and the Ionian coast a short drive away. It is used by Syracuse locals for outings with friends and by holiday-makers staying between Syracuse and Catania looking for a motorsport break inland.

On the outdoor track, drivers can practise on a layout suited to adult and experienced drivers, in the open setting typical of the northern Syracuse area. Several engine sizes are available, with higher-powered karts for regulars used to timed sessions. Conditions follow the Sicilian Mediterranean climate: drier and faster in summer, sometimes windy on scirocco days. The site hosts enthusiast sessions, motorsport-focused stag and hen groups, corporate events and regional championships.

Villasmundo is thirty minutes from Syracuse, thirty minutes from Catania and one hour from Etna. The region offers plenty more to see: Syracuse's historic centre and Ortigia (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Greek Theatre of Syracuse, the Pantalica Necropolis (also UNESCO), Noto the capital of Sicilian Baroque UNESCO, or a side trip to Catania and Mount Etna UNESCO or Ragusa and Modica of UNESCO Sicilian Baroque. Karting in Villasmundo is a sport option for south-eastern Sicilian residents and holiday-makers looking for an authentic inland setting between Syracuse and Catania.