Sicily (D: Sizilien; I: Sicilia) Sicily, Italy #

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Together with some minor (partially active volcanic) islands, it is an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Siciliana. It is separated from the Apennine peninsula by the narrow Strait of Messina. It is known for monuments of its varied history of some 10.000 years, its beautiful flowers in spring and Mount Etna, with 3,350 m the highest active volcano in Europe.

Pictures in this collection are from May 2014. They can be used for whatever purpose with the attribution: "Photo: Maurer for Austria-Forum.org"

Palermo Palermo, Italy #

Palermo

Palermo, looking North

Palermo

Palermo, San Giovanni degli Eremiti

Palermo

Palermo, Fontana Pretoria

Palermo, Quattro Canti, a house where all four sides are full of sculptures and ornaments

Palermo, main cathedral, famous for the tomb of Friedrich II and his family

Monreal Monreale, Palermo, Sicily, Italien zoom= , monastery/fortification above and the famous rock/monastery at Cefalù Cefalù, Palermo, Sicilia, Italien zoom= , all in easy reach of Palermo#

Monreal and surroundings: The cathedral

Monreal and surroundings

Monreal and surroundings: Wall of cathedral

Monreal and surroundings: Inside cathedral

Monreal and surroundings: Looking back from hike to fortification

Monreal and surroundings:Fortification above Monreal, some 15 km away; secret underground passage to cathedral; fortification played even important role in WWII

Monreal and surroundings: Flowers along the ascent to forcification/monastery

Monreal and surroundings: Near fortification

Monreal and surroundings: First glimpse of remaining walls

Monreal and surroundings: Fortification

Monreal and surroundings: First vie of Cefalù with cathedral and to the right the rock that is now a main attraction

Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù cathedral

Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù in cathedral

Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù, view of sea

Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù, view of city and rock from harbour

Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù, lower part of rock

Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù, fighting my way up

Monreal and surroundings: I made it

Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù: Looking down

From Palermo via Segesta Le Site de Segeste, Calatafimi, Trapani, Sicily, Italy and the gigantic excavation of Selinunte selinunte,sicily, Italy to Agrigento Agrigento, Sicily, Italy #

Segesta: First glimpse of temple

Segesta: The temple was built around 420 BC on a hill above the city of Segesta

Segesta

Segesta: On the 30 minute uphill walk to the amphitheatre there are many flowers

Segesta

Segesta: Looking back at temple

Segesta: Looking back at temple from top of hill

Segesta: The theatre above the temple was built about 200 years after the temple

Selinunte on the Soutwest Coast of Sicily was founded around 650 BC by colonistsfrom North of Syracus

Selinunte had over 50.000 inhabitants (some sources say over 100.000) around 500 BC

Selinunte with its 8 temples was one of the most important cities in Sicily

Selinunte took sometimes sides with Greece, at others with Carthago

Selinunte was destroyed by Carthago in 409 BC

Selinunte became unimportant after 409

The last inhabitants were driven away in 250 BC

An earthquake around 600 AC destroyed the remaining structures

What now remains of Selinunte are impressive ruins

Selinunte is a large areas with ruins of temples alternating with flowers and trees

Selinunte

A Judas tree in bloom

Selinunte ruins

Selinunte

Hotel in Agrigento. Pool was closed, so an alternative had to be found

The coast near the hotel did not look terribly inviting

But---what the heck!

On the way from Agrigento Agrigento, Sicily, Italy to North of Syracus Syracus, Sicily, Italy the main attraction is the Villa Romana de Casale with its incredible frescos near Piazza Amerina Piazza Amerina, Sicily, Italy #

Hunting Scene

Famous Bikini Girls

Explanation of Bikini Girls

Detail of two Bikini Girls

Note that Romans were quite familiar with animals from Africa

Piazza Amerina

Syracus Syracus, Sicily, Italy was already inhabited 3000 years ago and was for centuries the most important city in Italy. Among the many attractions are the ampitheatres and the quarry whoose tunnels and caves partially collapsed at some stage in an earthquake.#

View of Etna from Syracus

Ancient amphitheatre being prepared for a performance

Detail

Well behind upper end of amphitheatre

Quarry

Entrance to one of the Caves of the quarry

Entrance to tall cave

In tall cave

Second amphitheatre

This one was used for fights, not theatrical performances

River Ciane near Syracus Syracus, Sicily, Italy with well (Fonte Ciane)#

The lower part of river Ciane is large enough for boating

As the river gets smaller the trip turns into a pleasant walk

Man flowers, but most surprising: Papyrus is growing here!

Reportedly Papyrus is growing wild in Europe only here

This is the pool/ well where the river starts

Oldest part of Syracus on Island Ortigia Ortigia, Sicily, Italy #

Artemis fountain in Piazza Archimede

Artemis fountain

Ruins of the Temple of Apollo

Remant of Temple of Apollo

A glimse through the wall

The cathedral

Tower of church

Well of Arethusa

Fish in the well

Weitere Bilder zu Syrakus von Franz Leopold #

Etna Etna, Sicily, Italy and hikes in the area of Taormina Taormina, Sicily, Italy #

Mt. Etna from top end of road

One of the smaller craters

Lava field

House on lava field

Hiking with Etna in the background

Amphitheatre of Taormina

With luck Mt. Etna can be seen as backdrop of theatre

Main square of Taormina

Weitere Bilder zu Syrakus von Franz Leopold#

Weitere Bilder zu Syrakus von Franz Leopold #