Lost at Sea: Seeing Sicily

Feeling somewhat marina-bound, with all the internecine plots of small community living, we decided to get out and about and see something of Sicily. We offed early and caught the bus to Catania, where we could rent a car for 4 nights. First stop was Giardini, on the east coast of Sicily, north of Catania.

Giardino sea scape, this is the entrance to the port!

Megan at Porto Giardini

Typical sea-side Sicilian town

... with an honorary life boat

... and a typical small church.

From Giardini, we headed north to Taormina. We had planned to anchor off Taormina when we crossed the Straits of Messina, but a sudden squall decided otherwise, so we fled downwind to a safe port at Augusta, and missed this cliff-top village. So visit it by car we did.

The anchorage below Taormina.

Fabulous view up the coast

Taormina fruit stall

Then we headed inland, around the lower slopes of Mt. Etna, a live volcano. We ended up staying at a B&B at Randazzo.

Mt Etna from B&B in Randazzo at night

Mt Etna, roadside view.

Hill top village view

Gives an idea of the topology ... view from a roadside cafe.

Our roadside cafe ... on the way to Palermo

Just a few donkeys.

Italians drive with the same reckless abandon as they sing and (supposedly) make love. After 2 days of battling these crazy drivers on twisty steep mountain roads, we decided to chill out in the Sicilian capital, Palermo, for a few days. Palermo was an absolute delight, the architecture was thrilling and monumental, the small dark back alley's were suitably Sicilian and the food was great. We loved the Teatro Massimo, the classical concert hall in the old part of town, Palermo.

Lion guarding the Teatro Massimo

The Teatro Massimo, the concert hall in Palermo

Army band playing on the steps.

The Teatro Massimo

Outdoor facade of the Teatro.

We adored the architecture and sculpture on the streets of Palermo, typified by the piazza called the 'Four Corners'.

One of the 'Four Corners'

Fountain detail

Beautiful light posts

Another corner with light post.

There were some pretty spectacular churches as well in Palermo.

Spanish Moor flavour to this church

Courtyard of the church

Main entrance

Ceiling fresco

Glorious architecture

Palermo has its dark and shady side, best exemplified by the markets. They are in the Balaro district and date from the period of Arab Saracen rule, so they resemble an arabic souq.

Street market in Balaro

Fruit seller

Fish market

Street stalls

Palermo park

Old town gate

From Palermo, we headed to Piazza Amerina and visited the Villa Romana del Casale archeological site. This site preserves a wealthy Sicilian villa with some of the best preserved mosaics from the Roman era, about 2 - 3rd century AD.

Old wall of the Villa

Hunting scenes in a room

This sequence from the Great Hall represents the capture and export of wild animals to Rome.

Famous ' Bikini Ladies' mosaic

Doorway to the 'Bikini' room

Robed figure on the left is purported to be the Patrone of the villa

External shelter for the mosaics recreates the outlines of the villa

A water feature Nympharium in one room

Furnaces for the baths

Outdoor urns

The long pool, one of 3 groups of baths

Megan with column.

Finally, we travelled to Enna, an inland cliff top village. There is little to remember the Fascist rule in Italy under Mussolini, but we spotted a plaque on the town hall, where the dedication to Benito Mussolini had been chiselled off, with only the darker outline remaining. The views from these cliff-top villages are stunning and truly panoramic.