P5a.JPG=Syracuse - "Old Town", baroque palaces around the Piazza del Duomo (panorama) DSC02127.JPG=Taormina one of many shops selling very expensive ceramics DSC02204.JPG=Above the Greek Theatre, what seem to be "dwellings" (but later found to be prison cells), carved in solid rock and they also include carved seating and beds StreetScenes15.jpg=Syracuse - "Old Town", streets near Piazza Archimede DSC02249.JPG=Syracuse - morning market in the "Old Town" on the Isola di Ortigia DSC02132.JPG=Chiesa Saint Catherine of Alexandria with unsually ornate plastered columns DSC02237.JPG=2nd century AD Roman Amphitheatre P5.JPG=Taormina; the 3rd century BC Greek "Teatro" (panorama) DSC02328.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. One has to marvel at the skill needed to repair these urns DSC02099.JPG=Taormina, Basilica Cattedrale San Nicolo di Bari DSC02078.JPG=Castelmola street scene DSC02193.JPG=Rock carved seating around the Greek Theatre DSC02163.JPG=Taormina; Ruins of Byzantine tombs on the roadside DSC02087.JPG=Views while walking the track between Castelmola and Taormina DSC02238.JPG=2nd century AD Roman Amphitheatre Panorama 2.JPG=Mainland from the ferry DSC02068.JPG=Taormina view from Castelmola DSC02136.JPG=Taormina; the entrance to the Greek "Teatro". DSC02253.JPG=Syracuse - morning market in the "Old Town" on the Isola di Ortigia P1.JPG=View from the mountain top village of Castelmola (panorama) DSC02135.JPG=Taormina street scenes DSC02088.JPG=Views while walking the track between Castelmola and Taormina DSC01996.JPG=Driving from Palmi to Villa San Giovanni - 3 tunnels can be seen straight after each other with only a small gap between DSC02330.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. Showing how the building pediment would have looked when it was built DSC02225.JPG=In the same area, another carved grotto. Grotta dei Cordari DSC02282.JPG=Syracuse - Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo, where on the side walls can still be seen the columns of the Greek Temple of Athena StreetScenes4.jpg=Taormina street scenes with ceramic tiles DSC02245.JPG=Syracuse - the Umbertine bridge leads to the "Old Town" on the Isola di Ortigia DSC02138.JPG=Taormina; the 3rd century BC Greek "Teatro". Although the original was Greek, these ruins are of the Roman Theatre built over the same site. DSC02239.JPG=Then Dave's turn at being silly DSC02179.JPG=Then the next evening's sunset created a colourful display with steam still rising from the crater DSC02050.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos waterfront DSC02169.JPG=Mt Etna in the late evening showing clear signs of her eruption of two weeks ago (9th of February) DSC02015.JPG=Villa San Giovanni ferry terminal P7.JPG=Syracuse - "Old Town", Piazza Archimede (panorama) DSC02243.JPG=Syracuse old telephone exchange building on the Isola di Ortigia StreetScenes2.jpg=Taormina street scenes DSC02107.JPG=Taormina street scenes with a clever Centaur topiary StreetScenes3.jpg=Taormina street scenes - lovely 2metre high gold and coloured mosaic in a sidewalk alcove DSC02241.JPG=Back in Syracuse town central, the very impressive - "Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tears" DSC02195.JPG=Rock carved centre stage of the Greek Theatre DSC02211.JPG=Above the Greek Theatre, what seem to be "dwellings", carved in solid rock and they also include carved seating and beds StreetScenes1.jpg=Taormina street scenes DSC02013.JPG=Villa San Giovanni ferry terminal Panorama 1.JPG=Ferry leaving for Sicily DSC02053.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos waterfront - volcanic rocks DSC02322.JPG=Syracuse - Huge array of Greek and Roman artifacts at the Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. Many of these are from before the 4th century BC StreetScenes11.jpg=Syracuse - "Old Town", streets near Piazza del Duomo DSC02316.JPG=Syracuse - Spire of the "Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tears" Phones.jpg=Sicily. Phone booths inside and near the entry to the Syracuse Archeological Park DSC02331.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. Some of the large lion head water drains from the ruins of a temple roof SyracuseP1 (8).JPG=In this area, the Orecchio di Dionisio. An ear shaped carved grotto used by Dionysius. Hard to visualise from the picture, but inside would be more than 50metres high with a niche carved at least 20metres high (panorama) DSC02069.JPG=View from the mountain top village of Castelmola DSC02125.JPG=Taormina street scenes Panorama 4.JPG=Sicilian coastline DSC02085.JPG=Castle and terraces view from Castelmola DSC02250.JPG=Syracuse - morning market in the "Old Town" on the Isola di Ortigia. Joy finally found some pumpkin. DSC02174.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos waterfront - volcanic rocks DSC02166.JPG=Taormina; Ruins of Byzantine tombs on the roadside DSC02086.JPG=A tiny little chapel on the track between Castelmola and Taormina DSC02230.JPG=Joy being silly DSC02205.JPG=A natural water fall inside a carved "grotto" StreetScenes5.jpg=Taormina street scenes - Telecom Italia booth, and icecream shop ceramic tile "sign" DSC02341.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. One of the remarkable urns, shows on one side, a Greek warrior fighting an Amazon DSC02159.JPG=Agip - Azienda Generale Italiana Petroli. The Dog is said to represent the Roman Wolf whose extra two legs stylise Romulus and Remus feeding. DSC02340.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. DSC02030.JPG=Messina, Sicily DSC02111.JPG=Taormina, Nice restaurant with great views and a Jonica salad DSC02156.JPG=Taormina street scene DSC02076.JPG=The winding road to Castelmola DSC01998.JPG=Our first glimpse of Sicily across the Ionian Sea, on the drive from Palmi to Villa San Giovanni DSC02173.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos waterfront - volcanic rocks MapEast.jpg=Sicily map showing our general travel area. Also with the "Trinacria", said to represent the triangular form of the island of Sicily DSC02054.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos waterfront - manhandling a boat up the beach DSC02266.JPG=Syracuse - "Old Town". The so called Fontana Aretusa. A natural fresh water spring beside the sea DSC02018.JPG=Our ferry arriving at Villa San Giovanni ferry terminal DSC02194.JPG=Rock carved seating around the Greek Theatre DSC02293.JPG=Syracuse - Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo, where on the side walls can still be seen the columns of the Greek Temple of Athena DSC02052.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos waterfront DSC02147.JPG=Mt Etna changed her look in the afternoon DSC02120.JPG=Taormina street scenes with ceramic tiles DSC02296.JPG=Syracuse - "Old Town", Piazza Archimede DSC02315.JPG=Syracuse - "Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tears" DSC02226.JPG=In the same area, a carved passageway DSC02308.JPG=Syracuse - looking up inside the spire of the "Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tears" P9.JPG=Syracuse - "Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tears" inside is huge, and there is also another chapel on the next level below. (panorama) SyracuseP1 (5).JPG=Looking out over the wide but largely inaccesible area containg large grottos. (panorama) DSC02094.JPG=Then we walked down the track between Castelmola and Taormina DSC02300.JPG=Syracuse - "Old Town", streets near Piazza Archimede DSC02093.JPG=Views while walking the track between Castelmola and Taormina. The motorway comes out of a tunnel below, then over one of the high viaducts and into another tunnel. Very challenging roads to build DSC02324.JPG=Syracuse - Most of the artifacts at the Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi were recovered from tombs and broken into many pieces and subsequently re-assembled and repaired DSC02083.JPG=Ceramic "bedside" table with real legs for the legs DSC02000.JPG=One of the huge viaducts on the drive from Palmi to Villa San Giovanni SyracuseP1 (3).JPG=From the top of the Greek Theatre and backdrop of Syracuse harbour (panorama) DSC02314.JPG=Syracuse - One of the small alters with a replica of the "Shroud of Turin" in the "Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tears" DSC02097.JPG=Taormina, Basilica Cattedrale San Nicolo di Bari DSC02291.JPG=Syracuse - Inside the Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo - original Greek columns on the left of picture DSC02207.JPG=A natural water fall inside a carved "grotto" DSC02114.JPG=Chiesa di Sant'Agostino SyracuseP1 (6).JPG=2nd century AD Roman Amphitheatre (panorama) DSC02290.JPG=Syracuse - Inside the Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo DSC02161.JPG=Clear waters of the Ionian Sea, Taormina EtnaSunset1.JPG=Next evening's sunset created a colourful display with steam still rising from the crater (panorama) DSC02295.JPG=Syracuse - "Old Town", Piazza Archimede DSC02165.JPG=Taormina; Ruins of Byzantine tombs on the roadside DSC02158.JPG=The view of the coast north from Taormina and cable cars in the foreground DSC02077.JPG=Taormina view from Castelmola DSC02074.JPG=Mt Etna seen from Castelmola TaorminaBasilica1.jpg=Taormina, Basilica Cattedrale San Nicolo di Bari - marble alters DSC02339.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. DSC02151.JPG=The view of the coast north from Taormina DSC02319.JPG=The very sharp spiky bark P2.JPG=Views while walking the track between Castelmola and Taormina (panorama) DSC02342.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. One of the remarkable urns, and on the other side, a man talking to two ladies. SyracuseP1 (1).JPG=Sicily, Syracuse. Inside the Neapolis Parco Archeologico. The sparkling white, 5th century BC Greek Theatre. Entirely hewn out of solid rock (panorama) DSC02333.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. DSC02227.JPG=In the same area, a carved column (about 80metres high) with what looks like a small temple built on the very top DSC02318.JPG=Unusual looking bottle tree? with very sharp spiky bark, In the garden of the "Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tears" StreetScenes12.jpg=Syracuse - "Old Town", Piazza del Duomo DSC02231.JPG=Still inside the Neopolis Parco Archeologica. Tombs at the entry to the 2nd century AD Roman Amphitheatre StreetScenes14.jpg=Syracuse - Ornate front of the Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo DSC02089.JPG=Cactus in flower Panorama 7.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos harbour (panorama) DSC02131.JPG=Chiesa Saint Catherine of Alexandria DSC02274.JPG=Syracuse - Ornate front of the Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo DSC02317.JPG=In the garden of the "Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tears" DSC02184.JPG=Sicily, farther South to Syracuse. Inside the Neapolis Parco Archeologico - Ara di Ierone II (3rd century BC) Panorama 3.JPG=Sicilian coastline DSC02208.JPG=Above the Greek Theatre, what seem to be "dwellings", carved in solid rock and they also include carved seating and beds. Makes it difficult for the folk who might want to rearrange the furniture Panorama 6.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos harbour. DSC02100.JPG=Taormina, Basilica Cattedrale San Nicolo di Bari - marble alter and baptismal font DSC02229.JPG=In the same area, the top of the carved column and small "temple" We thought it looked like Scooby Doo's "Shaggy" p10.JPG=View from the mountain top village of Castelmola DSC02067.JPG=View from the mountain top village of Castelmola DSC02051.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos waterfront Panorama 5.JPG=Sicily from the mainland DSC02059.JPG=Mt Etna across Giardini-Naxos waterfront - the Golfo di Naxos DSC02258.JPG=Syracuse - "Old Town" DSC02337.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi. DSC02329.JPG=Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi DSC02146.JPG=Taormina; castle Names.jpg=Our day trip shown in the next pictures was to the two high villages of Castelmola and Taormina DSC02121.JPG=Views while walking the track between Castelmola and Taormina P4.JPG=Taormina Piazza 9 Aprile (panorama) DSC02177.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos - a more modern apartment building but still different DSC02201.JPG=Above the Greek Theatre, what seem to be "dwellings" (but later found to be prison cells), carved in solid rock and they also include carved seating and beds DSC02171.JPG=Mt Etna in the late evening showing clear signs of her eruption of two weeks ago (9th of February) DSC02280.JPG=Syracuse - Ornate front of the Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo SyracuseP1 (2).JPG=Sicily, Syracuse. Inside the Neapolis Parco Archeologico. The sparkling white, 5th century BC Greek Theatre. Entirely hewn out of solid rock (panorama) DSC02168.JPG=Mt Etna in the late evening showing clear signs of her eruption of two weeks ago (9th of February) DSC02145.JPG=Taormina; the 3rd century BC Greek "Teatro" DSC02203.JPG=Above the Greek Theatre, what seem to be "dwellings" (but later found to be prison cells), carved in solid rock and they also include carved seating and beds DSC02196cropped.jpg=From the top of the Greek Theatre and backdrop of Syracuse harbour DSC02019.JPG=Crossing to Messina in Sicily P6.JPG=Syracuse - Inside the Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo P2a.JPG=Syracuse - "Old Town" (panorama) DSC02048.JPG=Sicily, Giardini-Naxos waterfront TaorminaBasilica.jpg=Taormina, Basilica Cattedrale San Nicolo di Bari - marble alters DSC02305.JPG=Syracuse - the open ocean side of the island, Isola di Ortigia StreetScenes13.jpg=Syracuse - Ornate front of the Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo