Catania and Mt. Etna

Monday we drove through stunning views watching Mt. Etna getting closer and closer. We stopped in Catania to see its UNESCO- designated Baroque city and Cathedral. We walked through a lively fish market and saw fresh produce being sold too.

Mt. Etna is Europe 's largest volcano.  Its last big eruption was in 2002.  As we got closer to it, it appeared clouds were engulfing it.  Its height is over 10,000 ft. but we only went up to a crater that was slightly over 6,000 ft.  However, our guide found out later that it wasn't clouds that were obstructing our view.  There was actual smoke coming from one area of the volcano, a fairly regular occurrence.  There is more smoke coming from it now, Tuesday evening.

On the crater

                                    

Food and wine

Since this is billed as a "Flavors of Sicily and Italy" tour, I thought I  should include more photos to prove it.  This was our dinner in a restaurant near our hotel in Giardino Naxos, "the garden of Sicily," Monday night.

Prosciutto and melon

Pasta

Potatoes,  chicken, and sausage wrapped in lemon tree leaves 

Fresh fruit

We also visited a winery where we had a light lunch and sampled red, white and rose' wines from grapes grown in the rich vocanic soil on Mt. Etna ' s slopes.

Agrigento and Valley of the Temples

Traveling toward Agrigento Sunday we made a stop for gas at an Esso station.  Look what we found inside.

Our next stop was at the UNESCO World Heritage site at Valley of the Temples. The Valley contains the remains of 7 temples built in the 5th century B.C. They are considered to be some of the best examples of Greek Doric architecture

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Monreale

Saturday we started by driving to Monreale to see the 12th century cathedral there with its dazzling interior of multicolored marbles, paintings and mosaics.  It is considered one of the most magnificent Norman sites.  William II, the Norman king, had it built by Norman and Byzantine craftsmen which gives it a unique architectural blend.  There are also very striking Muslim elements as well.

 Muslim influence 

Here are some other views from Monreale.

The city is known for its mosaic artisans.  Here's one at work.

This is the one I'd love to have.  Van Gogh's "Starry, Starry Night".   Only $1800.

Everybody loves John, Mick and Elvis!

Mel enjoys a Sicilian pizza in an outdoor cafe 

Visit to a Sicilian Farm

Friday afternoon we had the good fortune to visit a working farm involved in the agritourism industry, Case Varisco.

Welcoming tastes of the farm's products

 It is a beautiful farm where most of the food used by the family, for their bed and breakfast, and for tourists is grown.  The family greeted us with some refreshments when we arrived.

The farmer's wife and our hostess 

 Some of our group helped prepare delicious rice ball appetizers. 

We started with several appetizers  from a variety of home-grown vegetables in different sauces.  One of my favorites was the grilled zucchini. Next came a pasta course, then a meat course of lamb and pork.  Dessert was amazing poached pears in a mint sauce. And a future farmer served our Limoncello on the way out.  Magnifico!