!!!Sicily (D: Sizilien; I: Sicilia)[{GoogleMap location='Sicily, Italy' zoom='5'}]

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 [{GoogleMap location='Palermo, Italy' zoom='10'}]

%%center
[{Image src='010.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='020.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo, looking North' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='030.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='040.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='050.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo, San Giovanni degli Eremiti' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='060.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='070.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo, Fontana Pretoria' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='080.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo, Fontana Pretoria' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='090.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo, Quattro Canti, a house where all four sides are full of sculptures and ornaments' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='100.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Palermo, main cathedral, famous for the tomb of Friedrich II and his family' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='338'}]
%%

!Monreal [{GoogleMap location='Monreale, Palermo, Sicily, Italien zoom='12'}], monastery/fortification above and the famous rock/monastery at Cefalù  [{GoogleMap location='Cefalù, Palermo, Sicilia, Italien zoom='9'}], all in easy reach of Palermo

%%center
[{Image src='110l.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: The cathedral' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='120.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='130.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Wall of cathedral' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='140.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Inside cathedral' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='150.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Looking back from hike to fortification' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='160.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings:Fortification above Monreal, some 15 km away; secret underground passage to cathedral; fortification played even important role in WWII' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='170.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Flowers along the ascent to forcification/monastery' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='180.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Flowers along the ascent to forcification/monastery' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='190.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Flowers along the ascent to forcification/monastery' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='200.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Near fortification' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='210.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: First glimpse of remaining walls' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='220.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Fortification' alt='Palermo'
height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='230.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Fortification' alt='Palermo'
height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='240.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Fortification' alt='Palermo'
height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='250.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: First vie of Cefalù with cathedral and to the right the rock that is now a main attraction' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='260.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù cathedral' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='270.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù in cathedral' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='280.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù, view of sea' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='290.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù, view of city and rock from harbour' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='300.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù, lower part of rock' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='310.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù, fighting my way up' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='320.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: I made it' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='224'}]
[{Image src='330.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù: Looking down' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='340.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù: Looking down' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='350.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Monreal and surroundings: Cefalù: Looking down' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
%%

! From Palermo via Segesta [{GoogleMap location='Le Site de Segeste, Calatafimi, Trapani, Sicily, Italy' zoom='13'}] and the gigantic excavation of Selinunte [{GoogleMap location='selinunte,sicily, Italy' zoom='14'}] to Agrigento [{GoogleMap location='Agrigento, Sicily, Italy' zoom='10'}]

%%center
[{Image src='360.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta: First glimpse of temple' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='370.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta: The temple was built around 420 BC on a hill above the city of Segesta' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='380.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='390.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='400.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='410.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='420.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta: On the 30 minute uphill walk to the amphitheatre there are many flowers' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='430.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='440.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='450.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta: Looking back at temple' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='460.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta: Looking back at temple from top of hill' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='470.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Segesta: The theatre above the temple was built about 200 years after the temple' alt='Palermo' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='480.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte on the Soutwest Coast of Sicily was founded around 650 BC by colonistsfrom North of Syracus' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='490.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte had over 50.000 inhabitants (some sources say over 100.000) around 500 BC' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='500.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte with its 8 temples was one of the most important cities in Sicily' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='510.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte took sometimes sides with Greece, at others with Carthago' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='520.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte was destroyed by Carthago in 409 BC' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='530.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte became unimportant after 409' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='540.jpg' class='image_block' caption='The last inhabitants were driven away in 250 BC' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='550.jpg' class='image_block' caption='An earthquake around 600 AC destroyed the remaining structures' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='560.jpg' class='image_block' caption='What now remains of Selinunte are impressive ruins' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='570.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte is a large areas with ruins of temples alternating with flowers and trees' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='580.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='590.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='600.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='610.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='620.jpg' class='image_block' caption='A [Judas tree|Wissenssammlungen/Flora/Gemeiner_Judasbaum] in bloom' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='630.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte ruins' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='640.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte ruins' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='650.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='660.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Selinunte' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='670.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Hotel in Agrigento. Pool was closed, so an alternative had to be found' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='680.jpg' class='image_block' caption='The coast near the hotel did not look terribly inviting' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='690.jpg' class='image_block' caption='But---what the heck!' alt='Sicily' height='250' width='324'}]
%%

! On the way from Agrigento [{GoogleMap location='Agrigento, Sicily, Italy' zoom='10'}] to North of Syracus [{GoogleMap location='Syracus, Sicily, Italy' zoom='10'}] the main attraction is the Villa Romana de Casale with its incredible frescos near Piazza Amerina [{GoogleMap location='Piazza Amerina, Sicily, Italy' zoom='10'}]

%%center
[{Image src='700.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='398'}]
[{Image src='710.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='366'}]
[{Image src='720.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Hunting Scene' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='350'}]
[{Image src='730.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Hunting Scene' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='290'}]
[{Image src='740.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Hunting Scene' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='432'}]
[{Image src='760.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Famous Bikini Girls' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='337'}]
[{Image src='770.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Explanation of Bikini Girls' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='492'}]
[{Image src='775.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Detail of two Bikini Girls' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='247'}]
[{Image src='780.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Note that Romans were quite familiar with animals from Africa' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='397'}]
[{Image src='750.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='271'}]
[{Image src='785.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Villa Romana' height='240' width='322'}]
[{Image src='790.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Piazza Amerina' alt='Piazza Amerina' height='300' width='363'}]
%%

!Syracus [{GoogleMap location='Syracus, Sicily, Italy' zoom='10'}] 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.




%%center
[{Image src='Etna.jpg' class='image_block' caption='View of Etna from Syracus' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='805.jpg' class='image_block' caption=' Ancient amphitheatre being prepared for a performance' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='810.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Detail' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='815.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Well behind upper end of amphitheatre' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='820.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Quarry' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='825.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Quarry' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='830.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Quarry' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='835.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Quarry' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='840.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Entrance to one of the Caves of the quarry' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='845.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Entrance to tall cave' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='850.jpg' class='image_block' caption='In tall cave' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='855.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Second amphitheatre' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='860.jpg' class='image_block' caption='This one was used for fights, not theatrical performances' alt='Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
%%

!River Ciane near Syracus [{GoogleMap location='Syracus, Sicily, Italy' zoom='10'}] with well (Fonte Ciane)
%%center
[{Image src='865.jpg' class='image_block' caption='The lower part of river Ciane is large enough for boating' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='870.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='875.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='880.jpg' class='image_block' caption='As the river gets smaller the trip turns into a pleasant walk' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='885.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Man flowers, but most surprising: Papyrus is growing here!' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='890.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Reportedly Papyrus is growing wild in Europe only here' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='895.jpg' class='image_block' caption='This is the pool/ well where the river starts' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='900.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='905.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='319'}]
[{Image src='910.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='915.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='River Ciane near Syracus' height='250' width='333'}]
%% 

!Oldest part of Syracus on Island Ortigia [{GoogleMap location='Ortigia, Sicily, Italy' zoom='16'}]

%%center
[{Image src='920.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Artemis fountain in Piazza Archimede' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='317'}]
[{Image src='925.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Artemis fountain' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='930.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Ruins of the Temple of Apollo' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='935.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Remant of Temple of Apollo' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='940.jpg' class='image_block' caption='A glimse through the wall' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='950.jpg' class='image_block' caption='The cathedral' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='955.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Tower of church' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='188'}]
[{Image src='960.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Well of Arethusa' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='331'}]
[{Image src='965.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Fish in the well' alt='On Ortigia Island' height='250' width='338'}]
%%

!! Weitere [Bilder zu Syrakus von Franz Leopold|Geography/Europe/Italy/Pictures/Impressions_of_Syracuse]


!Etna [{GoogleMap location='Etna, Sicily, Italy' zoom='10'}] and hikes in the area of Taormina [{GoogleMap location='Taormina, Sicily, Italy' zoom='10'}]

%%center
[{Image src='970.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Mt. Etna from top end of road' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='349'}]
[{Image src='975.jpg' class='image_block' caption='One of the smaller craters' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='980.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Lava field' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='985.jpg' class='image_block' caption='House on lava field' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='323'}]
[{Image src='990.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Hiking with Etna in the background' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='990a.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='344'}]
[{Image src='990b.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='990c.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='990d.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='321'}]
[{Image src='990e.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='990f.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='990g.jpg' class='image_block' caption='' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='990h.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Amphitheatre of Taormina' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='333'}]
[{Image src='990i.jpg' class='image_block' caption='With luck Mt. Etna can be seen as backdrop of theatre' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='355'}]
[{Image src='990j.jpg' class='image_block' caption='Main square of Taormina' alt='Around Etna and Taormina' height='250' width='188'}]
%%

[{Metadata Suchbegriff='Etna,Syracus,Taormina,Palermo, Cefalu, Monreal, Segeste, Segesta, Selinunte, Casa Romana de Casale, Ciane, Bikini girls, Ortigia, papyrus ' Kontrolle='Nein'}]