Oosterdam European Adventure, Giardini Naxos, Italy... Part 2 of 2

It was a beautiful sail in today with Taormina, Castelmola and Giardini Naxos in the distance… I took way too many photos! I can live with that… This was my first-time seeing Taormina from the water and our first stop at port of Giardini Naxos. We met our Guide Manuel on arrival at the Giardini Naxos tender pier. The journey to Catania took about one hour…with Mount Etna in the distance but unfortunately partially shrouded in clouds. Catania is sandwiched between the Ionian Sea and a volcano, a city shaped by lava and reborn from under 17th century ashes, offers up a wonderful window into the Sicilian palate and place in history. Upon arrival in Catania’s old city center, a Unesco World Heritage site, you immediately see the baroque style architecture and its unique streets built with lava black stone. Manuel parked the vehicle, and we started our walk about the old town. Our first stop was the fish market. The market has been operating since the 19th century, and fans out from under the low black and white arches of the Marina Arches. Entering the Plaza Duomo, you are drawn to the magnificent Cathedral, a symbol of devotion to the patron Saint Agatha. The cathedral was built in the baroque style and the inside is lovely. The inside has a vaulted interior design and a beyond its impressive marble facade sporting two orders of columns taken from the Roman Amphitheatre. The Duomo Square is also home to the famous Liotru statue (black lava stone elephant carrying the obelisk), the symbol of the city. This statue and the fountain atop it were built in the 1730s. Next, we visited the Church della Badia di Sant'Agata a much smaller church located on a side street running alongside the Cathedral of Saint Agatha. The church's octagonal interior houses a 14th-century crucifix, beautiful high altar adorned with marble and home to the best view of Catania. I climbed to the church dome with its panoramic views over the city and Mount Etna looming in the distance. Leaving Duomo Square, we walked through the narrow streets of downtown to the old town to Castello Ursino. This 13th century castle once guarded the city from atop a seafront cliff. However, the 1669 eruption of Mount Etna changed the landscape and the whole area to the south was reclaimed by the lava, leaving the castle completely landlocked. Leaving the city, we stopped at the amphitheater in Plaza Stesicoro to see the ruins largely encased in lava. On our return drive we followed the coastal route known as the Cyclops Rivera to see the seaside towns and made a stop at Aci Castello, a Norman Castle. The castle stands on a promontory of lava rock, overlooking the sea. Today the castle is home to the Civic Museum. Climbing up this majestic castle offered some great photo opportunities of coast and fishing village. Next, we drove to Aci Trezza fishing village. From the village promenade you see the "Faraglioni", three prominent tall column-shaped islands full of myths and legends. According to local legend, these were the great stones thrown at Odysseus in the epic poem. The Odysseus by the one-eyed monster Cyclops. The islands are thus referred to as the "isole dei ciclopi" (islands of the Cyclops, or by locals. Aci Trezza is a seaside resort whose rocky beaches with their dramatic rock formations in the sea are the main attraction, and the village itself has some pastel-colored houses. Unfortunately, our visit to Aci Trezza was cut short due to the rain. Manuel dropped us back at the pier. We were very fortunate that rain held off for the majority of our tour. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Sicily and my first visit to Catania and the Cyclops Riviera. Over did it in the photo department today, as a result, the blog is in two parts.  That’s what happens when I’m seeing new places…