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
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxQgc5LCRZtVYj71PhNayqmw_cEOnxZpYL4AjxNNl7eHFxxzgKmgvrxOAyDJHoqQvU__qJHjTu279emlT3-yLxYEUPAXDLHP2AaIq4cgCefMPMXx7p1DCjhgKqJBVKRQZdRG3MF8MZi0/s640/Mount+Etna+3+.JPG) |
Mt. Etna could again erupt violently at any time, most recently just three months ago, but that does not deter visitors. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9Bddydtokr4_dbVy1h4zikHgy8-EiZ41pkCiTPBKcW2RMAI1CiT2ZKuuO-hgxK_i9ivvJ6cCOqRYtU58YUGZLaDRPKXsaEhmf_Ed3yn2wfOsYKLst-I1EO4hh4yUGTlsUjIaKtNU9a8/s640/Mt+Etna+-+Robert%252C+Trever%252C+Will.JPG) |
With Trever and Robert while Etna smokes.
We're about 9,500 ft (2,900 meters) high at this point. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_-XNHkMMoy44I4Zb_2ZhrVFITLw5hmFtsPtkkghfsYIgQriFvyJVmpIST11e0iW3-QKs48OEMdefoQsZyAsigQUe4DlMHoemKsTh-Mrryhq93F9sIoH4CcHGcBvmVMe5V2_hGfIuxYM/s640/Mount+Etna+Vista+.JPG) |
A distant vista of Sicily far below a new crater on towering Mount Etna. |
Churches & Temples
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQOEa3AA1qFgc2R3D4kzDU2CtQPAx6OLxoFsL0GRAuL4P5gClGhsFApd_iQ-1NP9FjlpzGSNgkRGlfoVh3HScKxcG5q7YMM3InY71BOzVLuC0Hgx2LyEYYMsqieKNf4TRZdQpkQ_bxi4/s1600/Palermo+Churches+-+2.jpg) |
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). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_627HQXvUCSgrlU7nra7fYF-EbsFyZQ0qWg5q-nyX5hPuVwKnyf49tIQ4DbwPKts97faDe8-2_dX-ww8oM9SzqsSAXDc6i1bQhxj96gCAyCfoSpwABp3QhyO3VEgJOwe75zr2BMNFL2w/s640/Greek+Temples+in+Sicily+2.jpg) |
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
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjxMelipzikFhYsrl4fA9sey1Je8qzrr_5n9JCwyKVk9u5b4Vca9Fkx9OQKWNLT7Zx0OwzpT4WMxW-_SR7qmZHBPRWgFmgrmZvyj_eTvzqAW5hoK1O7RoTGL70fMPFfaMpO44X5arN5s/s1600/Medieval+Town+Streets+of+Sicily+6.jpg) |
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. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Iwv6J36FMmzZteQLz3BmmRd1ylcgio2mVu92m8ihuiJHZ4-jrvdBRamQHY-6FHIeHAT3S5hgZ9K0A9nKg7Qx-h5Jm9yjoz5F5JJ7is_sOUEl361x_GQkMPwi7rncaV8ju31qmAdlN_w/s640/Syracusa+Ortygia+3.jpg) |
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
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssjoFNXw9NdfyEsNDlLAtiJJuOgbS9-AmBuAlEIkr9RuP2sHQlUP4DNgJ2cWILfWCCMDbSGTOWUWZiaIdhdeApBX9GjI1EQ_ZMZdFE2OPsEI8bQjiR9cWG26EuzzRWd8xPifEkLzB1_o/s640/IMG_2596.JPG) |
Cefalu, an old, scenic, fishing village with a Norman cathedral, small beach, and lots of tourists. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazN3QORZdvZhrktvQwxQBK5D5n8Y1Kex_CilblX7jKvBRwIYtMbHSwUsfXBSy_EhcbBi1HuVJKqmDsPOnBFtnrfrGZffLZ6yq-wEMDHi6wCcTRzFFwsFErudiiHvkA2-UtiUYk0UlxU0/s640/IMG_2603.JPG) |
Deep blue Mediterranean meets the black volcanic rocks supporting Cefalu. |