A visit to Sicily was long on my 'to do'-list and after some serious doubts and various scenarios this year it finally happened. I have an interest in photography of all sorts, e.g. history and also like to keep moving.
Italy is one of two favourite European countries and the fact that Sicily is flooded by tourists saves it from the annoying daily Italian 'curfew' between c.12:00-c.15:30...
I hope you will be able to enjoy my 'travelogue' here.
|
Going airborne from Schiphol, for 45 years my place of work
I had booked with the Austrian Airlines website but flew 3 airlines: Air Baltic, Austrian and Lufthansa
For my #OnReading series
Coastline of Siciliy, we'd soon drive that road to Messina from our stay in Catania
On many locations were fires burning: farmers burning their wast on their lands
Naval Air Station Sigonella - Aeroporto Aeronautica Militare di Sigonella. Shortly before landing @
Fontanarossa Aeroporto di Catania.
Splendid view on Mount Etna, but in the next few days it would cover its head in the clouds.
|
CATANIA
The evening
after our arrival in Catania a stroll for dinner took us to nearby Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, with
the splendid Teatro Bellini.
It was very pleasant to still be able to enjoy summer evenings, day temps went up to 26 Celsius.
For my #OnReading series: people reading -in public- a book or newspaper in print. He kindly allowed me a photo.
Courtyard of the B&B we stayed for 3 nights: B&B IVANA.
Recommended!
FREE PALESTINE!
Teatro Bellini in daylight
Polizia on horseback, in Catania
'Instituto di Vigilanza - EUROPOLICE'
The first of these bodies was created in 1870 in Padua, on the initiative of Giuseppe Lombardi, a former Garibaldian. The latter, with a few men, began to carry out an urban surveillance service with the support of the then prefect of Padua Luigi Berti (who later became chief of police) creating the institute called "Citizens of the Order".
Since 2010, thanks to the public security protocol "A thousand eyes on the city" implemented in many Italian municipalities, the institutes, through their patrols, collaborate daily with the Italian police forces in the surveillance and surveillance of the territory. ¬ it.wikipedia.org:_Istituto_di_vigilanza_privata
A Vincenzo Bellini statue and a FREE PALESTINE' protest being prepared
Making a living
selling merchandise in the Via Etnea
Bookstore la Feltinelli, they always have a good selection and a fair chance for something in English
With some help by the kind staff I found what I was looking for, see below:
Came away with two photobooks with photography harking back to the 1980s, when the maffia ruled.
Letizia Battaglia and Franco Zecchin.
Mafia victim, photo by Franco Zecchin.
!
|
SYRACUSA/SYRACUSE
After we finally found a spot to park our car on Isola di Ortigia in Parcheggio Talete, we entered the city
through the Antico Mercato di Ortigia.Tourists, both from Italy as well as abroad, seen browsing.
Italians 'talk' with support of their hands.
Cats know how to be endearing to people and get some 'TLC', like having their bellies scratched.
Temple of Apollo
Dating to the 6th century B.C., this temple is one of the most ancient Doric temples in Sicily, and among the first with the layout consisting of a peripteros of stone columns. This layout became standard for Greek temples.
The temple underwent several transformations: closed during the persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire, it was a Byzantine church, from which period the front steps and traces of a central door are preserved, and then an Islamic mosque during the Emirate of Sicily.
After the Norman defeat of the Saracens, it was reconsecrated at the Church of the Saviour, which was then incorporated into a 16th-century Spanish barracks and into private houses, though some architectural elements remained visible. [¬ Wikipedia] |
Tuktuks have found their niche in touring tourists tired of walking in the heat or walking those cobblestones
Cattedrale Metropolitana della Natività di Maria Santissima
Unfortunately the exterior was covered in scaffolding upon our visit
Worlds apart
Castello Maniace
This 13th-century seaside military fort has impressive stone walls, round towers, and expansive views.
It is, however, rather empty...
The Castello Maniace is a citadel and castle in Syracuse, Sicily, southern Italy.
It is situated at the far point of the Ortygia island promontory, where it was constructed between 1232 and 1240 by the Emperor Frederick II.
It bears the name of George Maniakes, the Byzantine general who besieged and took the city in 1038.
Originally, one could only enter the castle over a bridge spanning a moat (now filled). A feature of the castle is the decorated portal.
Today the castle is open to the public and is a local tourist attraction in Syracuse. |
The first fort was built here in 1038 by George Maniakes, a Greek general and later the Catepan of Italy, after he captured Syracuse from the Arabs on behalf of the Emperor Michael IV the Paphlagonian.
Frederick II, as King of Sicily, had his architect Riccardo da Lentini build it in 1232–1240.
King Peter III of Aragon resided here with his family in 1288.
During the War of the Sicilian Vespers, the fortress became a lynchpin in the Sicilian defense of the city.
In 1298 the fortress withstood an assault by an Angevin–Aragonese fleet during the Angevin invasion of Sicily.
From 1305 to 1536 the castle was used as a residence by numerous queens of Sicily.
In the 15th century it was used as a prison. In the following century it was included in the fortification defending the harbour and the city.
A huge explosion damaged it in 1704, after which it was renovated and adapted to the use of guns.
[¬ Wikipedia] |
Italians love sunbathing and seem to go only into the water to cool off, not for swimming
or play
Cats are loved all over Italy!
Artist at work
Romantic selfie
at the Fountain of Diana (Fontana di Diana).
Classical fountain built in 1907 by Giulio Moschetti featuring a statue of the goddess Diana.
|
EAST SICILY
Scooters and motorcycles will pass you left and right, it pays to be very aware!
 There doesn't seem to be any control of speed
limits... Where restrictions of 60 or 80km/h apply some
drivers pass you with 120-140km/h! In the end I too didn't bother much with speed restrictions.
Tourist shop in MESSINA, right next to the docks for the cruisships so the tourist won't have to go far
Australians shopping, shocked there were no fitting rooms to try on the clothing they had selected...
Back in the day these Sicilian carts were much in use for heavy loads, navigating the small streets
The places we visited: CATANIA - SYRACUSA - MESSINA - CEFALÙ - SEGESTA - ERICE - MOTYA - AGRIGENTO
'Technically' the summer was over but with clear blue skies, warm sunshine, 26 Celsius, it certainly wasn't autumn yet!
Going crisscross over Sicily we were in awe of the very many bridges everywhere
Local roads could be very poor at times..
Mist blowing in from the sea into the mountains
|
Created: 10NOV2025 - Updated:
09-Mei-2026
|
