The little hill top town of Forza d'Agro was a very busy little place for a Sunday. Nearly all the restaurants and cafe's were bustling with people and parking was at a premium, it is obviously a popular place for the locals to have Sunday lunch.
We took the track out of town and walked an old donkey route through the hills. We found an old building which was a wine press at some time in it's life, Graham and I thought it would make a good renovation project as it was for sale.
The girls did not seem so impressed.
Taormina proved to be a delightful city with its traffic free centre and quite "up market" air.
It has been a tourist centre since Roman times and is very pretty.
The views of Etna are of course stunning and from the 3rd century BC Greek amphitheatre even more so.
To see video go to this site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuaZeeo3LIE
Today we visit the City of Caltagirone the centre of the Sicilian ceramic industry and famous for it's flight of 142 ceramic edged steps. At festival times they decorate and candle light them. All up the side are shops and more shops all selling ceramics and with workshops where they make the goods. We visited one, and our pals Graham and Cathy bought a lot of dishes as presents for their family. We were treated to a demonstration by the owner of throwing a pot and his sister decorating a plate by hand with a fine brush in 30 minutes.
The museum houses pottery from as far back as 300 BC and has an extensive collection of the most beautiful pottery we have yet seen.
We found a little shop in a backstreet selling chicken and chips and feasted on them in the park. The picture shows the chip shop staff and an old man of 92 years which they insisted we needed for our album.
This trip took us to Noto and then to Old Noto up in the hills. This old town was destroyed in 1693 by an earthquake which killed around 1000 people and left the site abandoned. They built the new town down in the valley below. It is now known as the loveliest Baroque city in Sicily.
The buildings and churches are very ornate with balconies everywhere and fine stone work. The interior of many of the churches are quite plain compared to the exteriors.
The old town and the walk down the gorge is a must. The cave dwellings and mill workings down at river level are extensive and amazing.
The only downside to the day was that Graham's truck was robbed of his tool kit and chairs while we were walking.
The day started sadly as Cathy was not well and decided to stay at home, so the three of us set out for Armerina. The Villa is now a UNESCO site covering more than 3,500 sq m, the largest group anywhere in the Roman world. It dates from the late third century AD and the mosaics are the best we have seen in both the amount and condition. Much work is going on and it seems a shame that the authorities seem to be disagreeing as to the way the work should progress. Lots of areas are closed off and people are being allowed to walk on many of the mosaics, whilst scaffolding is standing on a lot more with little or no protection. Get you act together Guys. You have here possibly the most important site in the country, including the mainland Italy. Make the most of it. To bring tourists in you need it to be approachable and available whilst at the same time safe from damage.
It would be a shame if you lost any of these remarkable rooms which took so long to create in the first place and have remained undamaged for so many years.
Starting with a visit to the town of Sciacca famous for its ceramics. Some nice if slightly jaded buildings, but a welcoming from the local produce shop which ended in a purchase of about six bottles of Marsala and other sweet wines after a tasting session. Sunday dinner out of doors as the weather was so good, and finally a walk along the beach with more birds of prey than we have seen in the last six months in as many countries. The one in the picture had caught a snake about a meter long and was eating it as we watched. Don't know what the bird was but I am sure Matt will put us right, when we see him. It was slightly bigger than a Buzzard and slimmer.
