Sicily was super...
- perfect pastas,
- glorious gelato, and
- friendly Sicilians
After four days on my own in Catania, I joined 14 upbeat Brits ― plus our superb shepherd Sue ― for an eight-day, nonstop romp around the island. And here are my highlights.
Mount Etna
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Mt. Etna could again erupt violently at any time, most recently just three months ago, but that does not deter visitors. |
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With Trever and Robert while Etna smokes.
We're about 9,500 ft (2,900 meters) high at this point. |
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A distant vista of Sicily far below a new crater on towering Mount Etna. |
Churches & Temples
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Of the many beautiful churches, most dazzling interiors were two in the Palermo area and both featured breathtaking Byzantine mosaics: The Palatine chapel of the Norman kings (first above) and the cathedral of Monreale (second above). |
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Greeks intensively colonized Sicily (circa 800 BC - 200 AD), building cities complete with enormous temples and large open-air theaters. Among the impressive sites we visited, the setting of this Greek temple in Segesta made it especially memorable. |
Restored Medieval Towns
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Sampler of narrow lanes in Sicily's medieval (and older) towns:
Top L: Syracusa's Ortygia island old town
Top R and Middle L: Ceflu on the northern coast
Last three: Busy and chic Taormina where the G7 met two weeks earlier. |
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In all the old towns, cozy little lanes open on a piazza with a church and cafes. The one in Syracusa's Ortygia was the most extraordinary. With guide Carmina in the top photo. |
Cityscapes
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Cefalu, an old, scenic, fishing village with a Norman cathedral, small beach, and lots of tourists. |
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Deep blue Mediterranean meets the black volcanic rocks supporting Cefalu. |