Sicily, October 2010

Sun, Sea and Volcanoes!

Vulcano

The first volcano we climb is on the island that takes its name from Jupiter’s son, Vulcan.
Live long and prosper!

Lipari

The Evil hydrofoil that took us between islands.

(Definitely Evil if you suffer from motion sickness and don’t have the appropriate drugs to hand.)

Looking down on Old Town Lipari…

…and from within the walls of the upper town.

The upper town itself, where most of the buildings are museums.

Stromboli

Approaching the island of Stomboli and its active volcano.

The start of our long trek up Stromboli.

Resting near the top as the sun goes down.

At the top, just after sunset. What are we all looking at…?

The only active volcano in the world where you can look down on the eruptions!

On the way back down again, and we’re treated to a full moon.

We take it easy the next day, with a gentle walk to see some local colour…

…to make new friends…

…oh, and to have a drink or two, naturally!

Toarmina

We’re on the main island of Sicily now, and we pay a visit to the Teatro Greco.

Mount Etna

View from Etna Lodge, on the side of Mount Etna itself.

Some of the very many craters around Mount Etna.

Another Teatro Greco, this time at the Archeological Park in Siracusa…

…where we find the 60m high cave known as the Orecchio di Dionisio (the Ear of Dionysius).

Siracusa

No, not singing puppies. Sicily is famed for its puppet shows.

We saw “Rinaldo and the Cave Monster.” A most bloodthirsty tale of heroic adventure, scorned love, and betrayal. Mio Dio!

The 17th century church of Santa Lucia alla Badia in the Piazza del Duomo.

Villa Romano

Villa Romano del Casale – some of the best-preserved Roman mosaics in the world.

Agrigento

The Valley of the Temples contains an embarrassingly large number of temples. This one is the Tempio della Concordia and dates from 430 BC.

Monreale

The Duomo of Monreale is covered…

…with the most stunning mosaics I’ve ever seen.

Next to the Duomo is the Chiostro dei Benedettini.

No two of these 216 12th-century columns are the same.

Each has a unique carved capital.

Just one of the many shops selling Sicily’s famed marzipan fruit.