Naxos (Taormina) Italy

  Sicily, Italy
Thursday, April 12, 2007

World Cruise
Thursday, April 12, 2007, 9am-5:30pm

Capt. Dag changed the port of call from Messina to Naxos because he said, "it's a better location".

Excursion: Taormina and Mount Etna, 8 1/2 hours, $115 each, and worth every penny
 
Taormina is one of the Mediterranean's most well-preserved medieval towns. Perched on the side of a hill

2103 Italian village viewed from Taormina

overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mt. Etna, picturesque Taormina has a delightfully unique character. The buildings and shops along the Corso Umberto, in the town center, many with window boxes overflowing with brightly colored flowers, are relatively unchanged and have retained their picturesque charm.
This area of Sicily was the scene of many of Al Pacino's Godfather III shots.

2128 Some of the Godfather was shot around here

There is still a Grecian flavor to this area dating back centuries. We arrived, in fact, in the waters outside the town of Naxos

2084 Naxos from deck 12 of our ship

where we started our coach tour to Mt. Etna along the coastal road to Taormina.

2091 View from our bus enroute to Taormina

2094 Vogager from bus enroute to Taormina

Our walking tour started with a brief stop at the Palazzo Corvaia, a 15-century palace.
We then visited the Greek Theatre,

2098 2500 yr old theater seats

reconstructed in Roman style in the 2nd century A.D. With a diameter of 358 feet, it is the second largest theatre in Sicily and in excellent condition.

2101 Mt Etna framed by GrecoRoman theater

Its marvelous acoustics are still appreciated in contemporary performances of classical plays during the summer months.

2105 This theater is still used for performances

The upper tiers reveal spectacular views of majestic Mt. Etna, Europe's largest active volcano.

2109 The Vogager framed by theater columns!

2111 Cyn removes her MBTs to leave the theater

2112 Taormina hillside has plant John hasn't seen

Strolling

2115 Going into town of Taormina from theater

along the busy main street (including Cynthia's traditional toilette stop)

2113 Taormina toilet is clean, western, free

with many shops

2119 Fragrant orange tree in public square

and cafes and side streets (some of which are just passable by one person)

2129 Restaurant up a "narrow narrow street"

where local handicrafts are sold. These

2118 Puppets are smaller than actual size

pupees or puppets are miniature scale replicas of the full-size ones used even today. Local traditions include the placing of ceramic heads,

2120 Usually one black, one white empty head pot

one white, one black, in the balcony's windows and doorways of homes to ward off evil spirits. The significance of white and black heads is that this area has been under the control of many different ethnic groups, some white (e.g., Greeks, Romans) and some black, e.g., Moors and Turks. Almost every dwelling has a flower box

2121 A perfect Italian balcony

in the window.

Mideaval Taormina was protected by walls surrounding it with gates

2122 Exit gate frames palm tree

strategically placed at main roads entering the city.  

2133 Another city gate, mostly original

Within the main city center shops abound,

2124 Upscale shopping, beautiful venue

2126 Gelati and marzipan are specialties

2138 Shops and tourists are main industry

fanning out in all directions from the

2137 Classic Italian fountain-Taormina

piazza fountain. Truly a beautiful

2134 So beautiful you want to stay here

place.

While we waited

2142 What a view while we wait!

for our group to finish shopping, 

2126 Gelati and marzipan are specialties

we rested with a  cappucino 

2141 Cyn and John waiting for our group

. Cynthia was having a weak day.

We drove along the autostrada then over the narrow

2143 Two busses don't fit on this road

scenic road which winds around the slopes of Mt. Etna, past Giare, Santa Venerina and Zafferana. Orchards of

2148 Citrus orchards are everywhere

citrus, olives,

2151 Also olive trees

and grapes

2152 And grape vines

cover the countryside. Many vineyards have to be planted in terraces because of the hilly terrain.

2164 Terraced vineyards in Tuscany

Many farmers prefer to plant grapevines since the maturing process only takes 5 years or so before harvest, as compared to olive trees that take up to 15 years. Harvesting grapes is mostly by hand and nets are placed under olive trees which are then shook to release the olives. There are mechanized tree shakers, but we didn't see any. Passing through these tiny villages

2161 Passing thru a small town

one finds typical farmhouses

2154 Typical roadside view

and not surprisingly sometimes a more unique structure.

2162 Gas station smack in the middle of the road

As you motor up the steep slopes of Mt. Etna the landscape changes abruptly--there's a very clear line of demarkation showing where the lava flowed recently. It takes about 200 years for normal vegetation to become reestablished.  

2168 Landscape changes abruptly

 Naturally the road winds back and forth, is very narrow and was hewn from the lava flow

2172 This road was built through volcanic rock

 To this day the road is still wiped out by new flows (as recently as 2001).     and the Silvestri crater

2205 About 6000 feet altitude

which is located approximately 6,500 feet above sea level was our first stop. The slopes of Mt. Etna soar to over 10,800 feet with flanks covered with cones and craters and today is still snow-covered. 

2190 It just snowed up here last week

The volcano is very active.

2174 Mt Etna's steam

Notice the black stripe down the side where the heat from the crater still lingers.

2077 Mt Etna from deck 12 of our ship

From our 6,000 foot level we could see across the Catania Gulf as well as the crater

2195 Cyn walked around this crater from 2001

and remnants of the awe-inspiring streams of lava from 2001-2002 eruptions. At this level, the landscape is desolate,

2200 Volcanic flow leaves desolate landscape

  resembling a moonscape.We (Cynthia)  picked up some lava souvenirs, the yellow ones are the most rare.  

2207 Yellow volcanic rocks are hard to find

Our lunch was served in a beautiful restaurant

2183 Lunch at the base of Mt Etna!

and was exceptional. We took heed of the old saying: 'When in Rome (or at Mt. Etna).... wine

2185 A decent bottle of red with lunch

and pasta 

2187 Pasta al dente--best ever!

were mandatory.

This was a very long day, and yet one of the best days we've had. Imagine getting this close to Mt Etna. And the scenery! And the town! Superb all around. Cynthia's struggling with so many port days in a row.