Volendam 2026, Messina, Sicily, Italy...

We had a time change for daylight savings time but somehow my iPhone failed me. After a call from Ann, I was up, shaved, dressed and out the door taking sail in pictures without missing a beat. Our guide Giovani met us at the cruise port and we were off on a Sicilian journey. Today we had our crew friends Joena and Neil join us for the tour. With the rains our boat tour to Isola Bella was cancelled from Giardini Naxos. Instead, we walked the Giardini Naxos seafront promenade to the Archaeological Site. The seafront is lined with palm trees, seafood restaurants, gelaterias, and beach clubs overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. Giardini Naxos was the first Greek settlement founded in 734 BC and grew from a traditional fishing village into a popular coastal destination. We next visited the Archaeological Site and Museum before heading to Taormina. Taormina is a historic hilltop town on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, perched on Monte Tauro at an altitude of 204 meters/670 feet. Famous as a premier Mediterranean resort destination since the 19th century, it blends dramatic sea cliffs, views of active volcano Mount Etna, and ancient Greek and Roman history. We entered Taormina by the Messina Gate. By the time we reached Taormina’s Corso Umberto or Main Street the rain was really coming down and we took shelter in the Duomo di Taormina, just as Sunday mass was starting. Corso Umberto is a vibrant, pedestrian-only main shopping and walking street running from the Messina Gate to the Catania Gate and is nothing short of charming…Taormina is just stunning. Every corner you turn is more beautiful than the last! IX April Square is located in the heart of Corso Umberto. This spacious checker board tile square is famous for the spectacular view it offers over the Mediterranean. We detoured off the Main Street and called along the remains of an old Roman wall in the center of town. Next, we visited the town's peaceful public gardens filled with exotic plants and Victorian-era architectural decorations. The garden was created in the late 19th century by Englishwoman Florence Trevelyan; these public gardens were another great place to admire the view over the Bay of Naxos and Mt Etna. It was very quiet when we visited, a lovely escape from the crowds. Making our way back up to Main Street, we stopped at Antica Rosticceria da Cristina for Arancini, a local Sicilian cuisine speciality of deep-fried rice balls with bolognese sauce…they were delicious! After lunch we tried to visit the Roman Theatre but the line was so long to enter we would have missed the ship…oh well I have visited it before. We continued our return along Main Street and stopped at the Clock Tower and St Catherine’s Church. On Corso Umberto if you look to either side, you find narrow alleys winding up steep steps towards the mountains or down towards the sea, where bars and restaurants spring up around the slopes…it is a lovely scenic town. On our return to Messina, we stopped at a lookout point over Isola Bella. Isola Bella is a small island in Mazzaro Bay, turned into a nature reserve by the World Wildlife Federation. To fill in our time we had Giovani stop in Messina at the Tempo di Cristo, a Baroque-style memorial shrine, perched on a hill overlooking the city and the Strait of Messina…unfortunately the church was closed but the views were fantastic. We had another great day sailing and visiting in the Mediterranean. Thanks to Giovani for a great day!!!