Italy

May 13, 2026

Flying Home

The incoming flight was delayed by an hour, but the crew in Italy got us out quickly and made up some time during the bumpy flight. We arrived in Toronto about 20 minutes behind schedule. Near the end of the flight there was an interesting announcement from the flight crew --- this was the captains last flight for Air Canada as he was retiring. I think he had a good ending to his career. 

We are now at home, catching up on all those jobs that come with spring.

May 12, 2026

Free Day

The tour is officially over but Ed and I opted to stay one more day. We decided that it would be a chill day. This worked out well as I have come down with a cold. We did wander around some areas of Rome that we had previously visited. Ed took a few photos and I look at them and post a few later this week. 

May 11, 2026

Vatican City

Today we visited the Vatican City and Saint Peter's Basilica. The number of people visiting these 2 sites with us was incredible. At times it was difficult to move, especially in the Sistine Chapel. By the way there are no photos of the Sistine Chapel as we followed the "no photo" rule. 

The Dome of Saint Peter's Basilica as seen from the Vatican Gardens.

Fontana della Pigna located in the Cortile della Pigna at the Vatican.

Sphere within a Sphere is a famous series of bronze sculptures, featuring a large, cracked outer sphere revealing a complex inner sphere. Primarily representing the fragility of the world and the complexities of modern life, these iconic sculptures are installed at landmarks globally. The artist starting creating them in the 1960's.

Dionysus with Satyr is a Roman copy of a Greek original dating back to the 2nd half of the 2nd century AD. Fig leaves were added to cover the genitals. Fig leaves were added to a lot of statues.

We saw a lot of statues in the Vatican museums and I can't remember which one's were important, but I think one was. The River God (Arno), dating back to the 2nd century AD.

One of the many ornate ceilings in the Vatican museum. Sometimes there was so much art on the walls and ceilings, it was hard to figure out what to look at.  Also, given the number of people walking through the museum, you didn't have a lot of time to look and absorb what you were seeing.

This work is executed in the stucco or faux-relief style common in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, designed to mimic classical Greek and Roman marbled carvings. 

One of the many fresco maps in the Gallery of Maps.

Michelangelo's Pieta. This was created between 1498 and 1499. It is the only work Michelangelo ever signed. His name is engraved on the band across Mary's breast.

The interior of Saint Peter's Basilica, focusing on an area under the dome. Ed didn't get a lot of photos because of the number of the people in the Basilica.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard wearing their traditional, colourful Renaissance-style uniforms. They are guarding the entrance to the Vatican City.

The chairs are set up for the pope's Wednesday general audience. 

The columns were designed, so that if you stood in a specific spot the rows of columns would line up and it would look like there was only one row of columns. We couldn't get in the exact spot so the columns are a little off. 

Looking down the street at Saint Peter's Basilica. 

Ponte Saint'Angelo, also known as the Bridge of Angels. It spans the Tiber River and was originally commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 134 AD.

The Italian Airforce was giving us a a bit of a show. Two planes were practicing for formation flying. This was according to a retired Canadian arm forces officer. 

The Palace of Justice

The Fontana del Tritone (Triton Fountain) located in Piazza Barberini. It was sculpted between 1642 and 1643. 

May 10, 2026

Lots of Rome Highlights

Our local guide met us at our hotel. Using the metro we headed downtown to our first stop, the Spanish Steps. After that we visited the Trevi Fountain, a number of obelisks and fountains, the Pantheon, the Forum and the Colosseum. 

The Spanish Steps climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinita dei Monti dominated by the Trinita dei Monti church, at the top. 

The Trevi fountain is an 18th century fountain. Standing 26.3 metres high and 49.15 metre wide it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. Things have changed since that last time Ed and I were here (25 years ago). Now you have to buy a ticket if you want to stand at the lower level by the fountain and you have to be on the lower level if you want to throw a coin into the fountain. 

The Column of Marcus Aurelius in the centre of Piazza Colonna. This Doric victory column was erected between 180 and 193 AD to commemorate the military campaigns of Emperor Marcus Aurelius against the Germanic tribes along the Danube River. Pictures are carved in a spiral going up the column.

The Obelisk of Montecitorio is located in the Piazza di Montecitorio. This ancient Eguptian obelisk was originally created in the 6th century BCE in Heliopolis and brought to Rome by Emperor Augustus in 10 BCE. If you look closely you can see hieroglyphics on the obelisk.

The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) in the Piazza Navona. It was designed in 1651 and features four allegorical river gods representing the major rivers of the four continents known at the time; the Nile (Africa), the Ganges (Asia), the Danube (Europe), and the Rio de la Plata (America).

The Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor) also in Piazza Navona. The fountain was designed in 1575 with the central sculpture added later.  

The interior of the Pantheon. It features the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, constructed around 126 AD.

The central opening at the top of the dome, known of the oculus, is the buildings only source of light.

The Elephant and the Obelisk status, known locally as Pulcino della Minerva, is located in the Piazza della Minerva. The sculpture was unveiled in 1667. It features a marble elephant carry an ancient Egyptian obelisk on its back, which was discovered nearby in 1665. 

The Victor Emmanuel II Monument. It was built to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy, and commemorates the unification of the country. The kingdom of Italy was officially proclaimed in 1861 but the unification was not complete until Venice was acquired in 1866 and Rome was taken in 1870, making unification 1871.

The Arch of Constantine is just outside the Roman Forum area. It was erected in 315 AD to commemorate Emperor Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the the Battle Milvian Bridge.

The ruins of the Temple of Saturn with the Roman Forum. It is one of the oldest temples in Rome.

The Roman Forum highlighting the ruins situated alon the ancient Via Sacra.

Domus Tiberiana on the Palatine Hill. These ruins are from a 1st century AD imperial palace complex that was for the Roman emperors.

The Colosseum construction began around 72 AD and was completed in 80 AD. It is the largest standing amphitheater in the world and a renowned symbol of Imperial Rome.

The interior of the Colosseum. The Colosseum was used for gladiator contest, public spectacles, and reenactments.

Looking down into the hypogeum, which was the complex underground network of tunnels and cages where gladiators, animals, and stage scenery were kept before being hoisted up into the arena.

Another view of the Colosseum.

May 9, 2026 

On the way to Rome with a stop at an Abbey

The Abbey of Monte Cassino has quite the volatile past. The Abbey of Monte Cassino was founded in 529 AD by St. Benedict on a rocky hill about 130 km southeast of Rome. This Benedictine monastery is the oldest in Italy. The first monastery was sacked by the invading Lombards around 570 and abandoned. Of the first monastery almost nothing is know. The second monastery was established around 718. In 883, the monastery was sacked by Saracens and abandoned again. The monastery was rebuilt in 949. The buildings were destroyed by an earthquake in 1349 and 1369 Pope Urban V demanded a contribution from all Benedictine monasteries to fund the rebuilding. In 1799, Monte Cassino was sacked again by French troops during the French Revolutionary Wars. The abbey was dissolved by the Italian government in 1866. The building became a national monument with the monks as custodians of its treasures. In 1944, during World War II, the building was destroyed by Allied bombing. It was rebuilt after the war. 

The courtyard at the Abbey of Monte Cassino. The statue is of St. Benedict and 2 other monks.

There are several stained glass windows. We were told the windows were commissioned by the allied forces involved in the bombing. This window commemorates Israel soldiers that died here. 

This is the only room that escaped the bombing unscathed. 300 people took cover in this room.

Many statues, doors, etc. survived the bombing. Some of the small pieces are display on and by this wall.

A fountain located in the Chiostro del Collegio (Collegio cloister)

The Choistro del Bramante (Bramante Cloister).

The original bronze doors on the church.

This church is extremely elaborate. There were marble panels everywhere.

The interior of the cathedral features elaborate Baroque architecture decorations, including detailed fresco work on the ceiling and walls.

The entrance cloister.

The path through the museum at the Abbey Monte Cassino meandered through several floors. At one point you walked through this courtyard.

The museum contained many books including what I think are hymn books.

I believe this diagram was created in 1712. It and other documents were used during the reconstruction after World War II. 

The views from the bus as we drove up and down from Monte Cassino were amazing.

We arrived in Rome in mid afternoon so we had a couple of hours to wander around.

This 5.5 meter tall bronze sculpture of Pope John Paul II is found near the bus and trail station.

Porta Pia, a historic city gate.

Part of the Fountain dell'Acqua Felice. The fountain was completed in 1587.

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel. It is one of two semi-circular palaces that define the shape of the square.

May 8, 2026

Herculaneum & the Amalfi Coast

Herculaneum is an ancient town that was buried under a massive pyroclastic flow in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Pompeii was covered with ash, pumice and stone. Although less known than Pompeii today, Herculaneum was the first and, for a long time, the only discovered Vesuvian city (1709). Pompeii was revealed in 1748 and identified in 1763. Unlike Pompeii, the mainly pyroclastic material that covered Herculaneum carbonized and preserved more wooden objects such as roofs, beds, and doors as well as other organic-based materials such as food and papyrus. Herculaneum also suffered from looting. Soldiers dug through the city looking for valuables, leaving shovel marks on some of the stones. 

Our first stop was to see the Burnt Boat of Herculaneum. Found in 1982 along the ancient shoreline of Herculaneum, the vessel was carbonized by pyroclastic flows and preserved in volcanic mud.

A view of the uncovered part of Herculaneum. It is estimated that only 25 to 33 % of Herculaneum has been excavated. The restoration and conservation of Herculaneum are primarily sponsored by Packard Humanities Institute in a long-standing public-private partnership with the Italian Ministry of Culture and the British School at Rome. We saw workmen installing supports while we visiting the site.

The interior ruins of the College of the Augustales. The walls still feature vibrant Roman frescoes, which are characteristic of the high degree of preservation in Herculaneum compared to Pompeii.

The ruins of a thermopolium, which functioned as a fast-food restaurant, where residents could buy ready-to-eat hot meals.

This is a reproduction bronze statuette of the god Bacchus, currently on display in the "Shop of a Plumbarius" (metallurgist workshop).

The Fountain of Hercules, featuring a distinctive carved stone basin.

An ancient Roman street.

A Marine Mosaic located in the women's section of the Central Baths in Herculaneum.

A view of Mount Vesuvius from Herculanean.

There were a large number of these ancient amphorae, ceramic containers used for transport and storage during the Roman era. These were on display at the museum at Herculaneum.

Rare carbonized wooden furniture. The items were preserved by intense heat from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which carbonized the wood rather than burning it entirely. 

Jewelry found at Herculaneum.

Our next adventure today is to take a ferry from Salerno up the Amalfi coast to Amalfi, then spend some time in Amalfi and take the ferry back to Salerno.

The Amalfi coast.

Amalfi

Amalfi

The Amalfi Cathedral, also known as Duomo di Sant'Andrea located in the main square of Amalfi.

The Cloister of Paradise at the Amalfi Cathedral.

Amalfi

Amalfi

The beach at Amalfi

On the Amalfi coast.

On the Amalfi coast. It was pretty hazy so we didn't get a lot of good photos of the coast but it was worth the ferry ride.  

May 7, 2026 

Naples National Archaeological Museum and Pompeii

Our first stop today was the Naples National Archaeological Museum. Many of the items found in Pompeii were moved to this museum.  

White marble sarcophagus. The carving, which is one piece, depicts the creation of mankind by Prometheus. 

This marble relief depicts Roman military trophies, specifically a captured Dacian draco standard. 

The Farnese Hercules, which fixed the image of Hercules in the European imagination. This statue is one of the most famous copies of resting, weary Hercules. 

The Farnese Lion from the 2nd century AD.

Marine Life. A mosaic made from polychrome tessarae (small block of stone).

The ceiling in one of the exhibit rooms.

This vase is made out of blue glass,  maybe shooting through glass changed the colour. It was covered with a white stone then carved creating cameo glass.

This is a Fresco from Villa of Publius Fannius Synistor which was near Pompeii. The scene depicts elaborate architectural elements, including columns, a central door and prominent theatrical masks.

Ancient Gladiator Helmut found at Pompeii. 

The second stop today is Pompeii. We start with a walk through the small museum at the sight before heading out to see the ruins. 

A few of the many pieces of pottery that were found at Pompeii.

Some of the ruins preserved after being buried under volcanic ash and pumice following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

The Temple of Apollo. The bronze statue is a modern copy of an Hellenistic original depicting Apollo as an archer. 

Ruins of the Temple of Vespasian (also known as the Temple of the Genius of Augustus)

Many artifacts that have been found recently are kept in large metal cages on site. 

Probably part of the forum at Pompeii

The well-preserved stucco work in the tepidarium (warm room)  of the Forum Baths.

An old Roman road. Look closely and you can see the ruts made over a thousand years. 

This was probably a bakery in Pompeii. The brick archway is part of a pistrinum, or commercial bakery. To the right of the over is a large distinctive stone mill used to grind grain into flour.

The Thermopolium  is an ancient snack bar, or "fast-food" counter.  The counter featured large built-in jars, known as "dolia", which were used to hold and store hot and cold food and drinks for the customers. 

Arch of Caligula (also referred to as the Arch of Tiberius or Augustus). This was an entrance to to the Civil Forum, which was the central gathering place for merchants, public buildings, and legal matters. 

May 6, 2026 

Tunnels and more Tunnels and don't forget the Bridges

Today is a long travel day. We leave the island of Sicily on a ferry then drive to Paestum. 

People in Italy have been talking about building a bridge from Messina to Villa San Giovanni for a long time, but it's still a short ferry ride today (only 25 minutes).

We drove through a mountainous area, part of which was a National Park. At times it seemed like we went through a tunnel every couple of minutes. Our leader mentioned that we would drive through approximately 100 tunnels today. If we weren't going through a tunnel we were driving on a bridge. The photos Ed took showed lots of green hills with blurred vegetation at the front of the photo. Every now and then there was a small town.

We stop for a break at a truck stop and I liked how the bus and trucks lined up.

As we got closer to Paestum, there were plains with fields of crops, some times solar farms and of course more towns.

Paestum is where there are three Doric Greek temples which are ranked among the world's best preserved, rivalling those of Sicily and Athens. Originally built without mortar or cement—simply covered by terra-cotta tile roofs supported by wooden beams—these temples survived even the great earthquake of AD 69 that reduced Pompeii to rubble. 

Paestum was established around 600 BCE by settlers from Sybaris, a Greek colony in southern Italy, under the name of Poseidonia. The city thrived as a Greek settlement for about two centuries. 

Poseidonia fell to Rome in 273 BC and was renamed to Paestum. A Latin colony was established. The town was abandoned in the early middle ages and lay relatively untouched until rediscovered in the 18th century.

This is half of a Roman amphitheatre --- the other half is under the road. It is an amphitheatre because you can see access points in the wall where people and animals entered. 

This is the second Temple of Hera though there is debate who this temple was actually built for. This temple was built around 460-450 BCE.

On the left is the first Temple of Hera, built around 550 BCE. On the right is the second Temple of Hera.

The inside of the second Temple of Hera

Looking at the first Temple of Hera from the second Temple of Hera. The "sand horse" can also be seen. The "sand horse" is made of sand from the Paestum beaches. 

Second Temple of Hera

The first Temple of Hera

The old Roman road and the first Temple of Hera

The Romans built a large town near the Temples. The above photo was a of large house. The entry way contained this pool, that was actually the collection point for the cistern. 

I asked our local guide why the Roman city was in ruins but the Greek Temples were still standing. The answer was, the Romans used smaller blocks so it was easier for the local people to knock the buildings down to use the stones to build their homes. The Greek stone blocks were too large for the locals to move them.

The third temple, the Temple of Athena was built towards the end of the 6th century BCE. Between the 7th and 8th centuries AD the temple was transformed into a church, then fell into neglect. It was even used as a stable. 

The Temple of Athena

We did a quick tour of the museum. This photo is of the item that impressed us the most. Paestum is also renowned for it's tombs, many belong to the Lucanian period. This is from the tomb known as the "Tomb of the Diver".  It is named after the scene painted on the underside of the covering slab. It dates to about 470 BC. It was found on June 3, 1968 in a small necropolis about 1.5 km south of the ancient walls.

In the side of the four sides had paintings. The above is one of the sides. 

The heads of the lioness expelled water collected in the eaves of the temples. 

May 5, 2026

City Tour and another free afternoon

This morning we walked around with a guide to see the sights in the old city. 

First stop was the Taormina Theatre. The theater was built in the 3rd century by the Greeks and later significantly expanded by the Romans for gladiator games. 

The theater is still being used for plays and concerts, hence the stage, floor, chairs and benches covering the original stone. At the end of the season all of the additions are removed and the theater is back in it's normal state. 

In the distance you can see Mount Etna.

There are many beautiful buildings in town and many of them are churches. 

The Baroque stone fountain at the centre of the piazza is crowned with a mythical figure half bull half woman, the symbol of Taormina. 

A close up of the fountain.

During our free time we decided to visit the Public Gardens. The gardens were originally the private gardens of Florence Trevelyan, a Scottish lady. There are several buildings which are referred to as "follys".

After our visit to the park we decided to walk down to the beach. 

One of the beaches we see as we're walking down the almost 500 stairs.

We made it to the beach. 

Florence Trevelyan purchased Isola Bella, a small island, and built one of her whimsical houses on it. We were unable to go to the island because they were install a floating dock. 

There are prickly pear everywhere, but we saw a lot of different cacti at one hotel by the beach 

As we headed back to the stairs, we saw the gondola and decided to go take a few photos of them. We were surprised when we saw a few faces we recognized in the gondola. (That's Linda and Anna from our group).

There was a war memorial area in the gardens. 

 

May 4, 2026 

Mount Etna

This morning we drive to Mount Etna and view a couple of craters. Then it's off to Taormina and some free time. 

An interesting statue Ed saw from the bus.

Mount Etna, as we approach it.

As we slowly climb up the volcan we see lots of lava and a few buildings.

This building didn't fare so well.

We reached a popular spot on the volcano. Several restaurants, access to several craters and cones, and lots and lots and lots of people. There is a crater that is easy to access and ones that require a bit more effort ---- Ed and I pick the 2nd choice. Part way up this is our view.

Ed found snow. I guess that crater we walked up to didn't result in any exciting photos, so he didn't pick any to post. We walk down and go to the easier to access crater and get some great photos.

A piece of lava rock.

Standing on the rim and looking out. I guess photos of the inside of a small crater aren't exciting enough for Ed to pick. We can see a couple of cones and a small crater in the distance.

There's a gondola to help get you to the top. We didn't have enough time for that.

A view of Mount Etna from a different angle as we leave the area. 

Leaving Mount Etna we drive to Taormina. Apparently, someone decided that our bus could not drive the roads to get to our hotel, so we moved into a small bus. There were spots were it was pretty tight for the small bus. On the drive to the hotel we saw some towns perched on top of hills overlooking Taormina. 

Taormina has a lot of steep spots and cliffs. The easiest way to get to the beach is by using the gondolas. 

Our tour leader suggested a few things we could do on our free time and one of them way to climb 300 steps to the church and then some more steps to get to the castle. This is one of the views we saw as we climbed.

From the castle we could see the "other" side of the hill we climbed.  If you look closely you can see the windy roads. 

Looking back at Taormina is the Taormina theatre. 

From the castle we look down on the church and the Mediterranean below. 

Looking over the other valley, you can see a village perched on top of the mountain. 

May 3, 2026  

Siracusa and Ortygia

Today starts with a drive to Siracusa (Syracuse) on Sicily's eastern coast.  

While we were driving Ed spotted this viaduct.

The first stop in Siracusa is the Neapolis Archaeological Park. This is the Latomia del Paradiso, an ancient quarry that provided limestone for building the city of Syracuse. The tall rock formation is a remaining pillar of the original quarry floor.

Walking under one of the fallen pillars. 

The "Ear of Dionysius", a large, ear shaped limestone cave known for its incredible acoustics.

The inside of the cave.

The Grotta dei Cordari (Cave of the Ropemakers). The cave gets it's name from ropemakers who used the space for centuries due to its cool, damp microclimate, which was ideal for working with hemp.

The Greek Theatre of Syracuse. It's really hard to see the theatre because they are preparing for a play. Each time a play is presented, wooded seating is placed over the original structure and a stage is built. When the play is over the structures are removed.  

An old building (but not real old) and a tree.

The remains of an old Roman amphitheatre. 

The next stop was Ortygia, old Siracusa's historic heart. During our lunch break Ed and I walked along the water and noticed these buildings that are in different levels of repair.

An interesting tree.

The Temple of Apollo is oldest doric peripterus stone temple in Sicily (6th century BC).  Over the centuries, the temple was transformed into a Byzantine church, Arab mosque, Norman church and Spanish military barracks, until, after the Fascist period, it was freed from the buildings that had hidden it. 

The Fontane di Diana was designed by sculptor Giulio Moschetti and inaugurated in 1907.

A remaining Doric column from the ancient Temple of Athena. The original columns were incorporated into the walls of the current Cathedral of Syracuse when it was converted to a Christian church in the 7th century. It was exposed during an earthquake. 

The tall building with the pillars is the Cathedral of Syracuse. It is a stunning example of Baroque architecture. It was built in the 18th century.

Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco

I think this is the Sanctuary of Saint Lucy. Saint Lucy's story is very odd. It's a very beautiful church.

Castello Maniace. The original fortress was build in 1038 with the current castle structure constructed between 1232 and 1240.

The Citroen Ami features a 5.5  kWh battery, 45 km/h top speed and a 75 km range. It is 2.41 m in length, 1.39 m in width and 1.52 in height. It's pretty little!!! I'm standing beside for a size comparison.

May 2, 2026   

Some More Greek Temples and a Roman Villa

We begin today by visiting the Valle dei Templi or Vallley of the Temples. It is an archaeological site in Agrigento.  It is one of the most outstanding examples of ancient Greek architecture. 

This photo and the next two are of the Temple of Hera. It was built about 450 BC. This temple has been restored. 

A view from the temple.

Rock-cut tombs, known as the Arkosil or Byzantine catacombs. These tombs were made much late than the Greek temples. 

Interesting cut out of rock looking out over the valley.

Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum' commonly referred to as the Purple Aeonium. I thought it was an interesting plant. 

The Temple of Concordia was built between 440 and 430 BC. This temple exceptional state is largely due to its conversion into a Christian basilica in 597 AD. This use protected the the structure from being dismantled for other construction materials. The next 2 photos are also of the Temple of Concordia.

The Girgentana goat did not co-operate and stand up. He has really interesting horns. The Girgentana goat is an Italian breed of demestic goat indigenous to the province of Agrigento, which is where we are. 

Ed captured a photo of this bridge from the bus. It probably is a stone bridge, likely a Roman-era structure. 

Our next stop is at the Villa Romana del Casale which is renowned for having the largest and most complex mosaics in the world. 

The outside of the baths at the villa.

The hypocaust system of a Roman bath. This structure consists of small brick pillars known as pilae, which supported the floor of the room above. Hot air and smoke from a furnace circulated through this space to the floor and wall.

Walkways have been installed to allow visitors to view the ruins from above. 

A segment of the "Great Hunt" mosaic, an ancient Roman artwork form the 4th century AD. The mosaic runs the length of the room which is 60 meters. 

Dating back to the 4th century AD, this Roman floor mosaic depicts 10 young woman engaged in various athletic activities. If you look in the upper left corner you see that part of this mosaic has been removed and another older mosaic is visible.

This mosaic is likely depicting a scene from Homer's Odyssey. The fellow sitting on the rock is a cyclops and if you look closely you see his 3rd eye on his forehead.

Looking out into the countryside from the villa. 

We arrive in Enna, hoping to go to the Castello di Lombardia to see the great views. Unfortunately, due to road work the bus was unable to drive to the Castello. The 2nd option was to take a shuttle bus to the Castello but we arrived after the buses stopped running. This was a view as the bus was driving to the shuttle bus parking lot. It's hard to see the detail but that is a lot of buildings all built beside each other.

May 1, 2026

Greek Temples

We left Palermo and journeyed across Sicily's ancient Greek heartland, where colonies once rivalled Athens in wealth and ambition. Sicily was part of Magna Graecia --- when mainland Greece grew overcrowded in the 8th century BC, settlers sailed west seeking new fortunes. 

One of the many great views as we drove.

Located in the archaeological park Segesta is the Segesta Temple, a perfectly preserved Doric temple featuring 36 massive limestone columns. The temple was built around 420 BC.

We walked up the hill to see the Greek Theatre. Along the way we walked past fields filled with beautiful flowers. 

Looking back we have a great view of the temple and the surrounding area.

Greco-Roman theater is situated on the summit of Monte Barbaro. It was built between the late 4th and 2nd century BCE. The theater could hold around 4,000 spectators.  

From the top of Monte Barbaro we could see the highway. There are a lot of raised roads in Sicily. Instead of following the terrain of the land, the road is raised to keep it flat.

At Segesta, civilizations built on top of buildings from previous civilizations. 

More great scenery as we drive to Selinunte Archaeological Park. 

At the Selinunte Archaeological Park is a thematic series exploring the relationship between nature, industrialization and the weight of time. This particular piece is called Bagaglio Rinoceronte (Rhino Baggage).

The ancient Greek Temple of Hera, also known as Temple E. This Doric temple was reconstructed in the 20th century. The archaeological site dates back to the 5th century BC.

The alter in the Temple Hera.

Looking at Temple E (Temple Hera) from a distance. 

There were several other temples near the Temple Hera but they were not reconstructed. A lot of the stones from the temples are piled on the ground but many stones were also taken over the centuries and used in other buildings. 

Flowers of the Mediterranean fan palm. It produces a fruit known as a drupe, which is a fleshy fruit containing a single hard pit. The edibility of the drupe is often debated. 

Ruins and a temple at the Acropolis at the Archaeological Park Selinunte.

A temple at the Acropolis at the Archaeological Park Selinunte.

A view of a village and beach, seen from the Acropolis. Our local guide lives in this village. 

April 30, 2026

Lots of Churches 

Our hotel is all about location. It is really close to the centre of the historic area of Palermo which was convenient but a little noisy at night. The main intersection was about a half block away and there was constant entertainment there at night. Today we toured around Palermo and area.  

Quattro Canti, also know as the Piazza Vigliena. It is a Baroque square at the heart of the city's historic centre. The is entertainment nightly in this square. 

The Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio in the Piazza Bellini. This church was built in 1143 and is famous for its stunning Byzatine mosaics. 

The interior of the Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio.

The interior of the Church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria. It was built between 1596 and 1596. 

The interior courtyard and fountain of the Church of Santa Caternia d'Alessandria.

Fountains adorned with Angels is above the courtyard in the previous photo. 

We walked through a market where there were lots of fruits, vegetables, meats, and household goods. There were also a lot of restaurants that had food on display.

These gnomes are part of an outdoor exhibit at the Teatro Massimo. The installation represents a fusion of Western and Eastern cultures, blending the concept of the Chines Terracotta Army with the classic Sicilian garden gnome. 

Teatro Massimo

A water bottle filling fountain on a street in Palermo. Ed and I saw a fellow filling a large water bottle at this fountain. As we needed water we asked the fellow if it was drinking water and he said it was the best as it came from the mountains. So we filled our water bottle.

We drove a few kilometres to the small town of Monreale. The view looking down on Palermo.

The main street of Monreale

One of many cute little alleys in Monreale.

Monreale Cathedral, one of the greatest extant examples of Norman architecture. Construction began in 1174.

The Fountain del Triton just outside of the Monreale Cathedral.

Back in Palermo, Ed and I wander around the area near the hotel. We liked the look of this wall.

Carro Trionfale of Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo. This massive float is the centerpiece of the Festino di Rosalia, an annual festival. The float is in front of the Palermo Cathedral. 

The Teatro Marmoreo monument was erected in 1662 to celebrate the glory of the Spanish King Philip IV of Habsburg. 

The Fontana Pretoria was designed in 1554. The fountain is nicknamed the Fountain of Shame due to the nudity of many of the marble sculptures. The sun was shining just right on the fountain so you can actually see the water. The following photo shows the water better. 

April 29, 2026

Flying to Sicily

I was ready to have complaints about Ryan Air and their tight restrictions regarding luggage and carry on bags. By the end of the flight I was ready to praise the budget airline. No one checked our carry on luggage size, the flight left early from Malta, and arrived early into Catania. The flight was less than 45 minutes so not a lot of interaction with the crew, but they seemed nice and helpful.

Leaving Malta

We arrived in Catania, Sicily and started driving to Parlarmo. That's Mount Etna in the background. This photo and those that follow were taken from the bus window.

Nearing Palermo