Sicily - Part four- Villa Romana del Casale

Villa Romana del Casale is a Roman villa built in the fourth century and located about 5 km outside the town of Piazza Armerina in the south east of Sicily.

It was hidden under mud for 700 years until excavations began in 1950.

It contains the richest, largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world. It is one of 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy.

The Villa was the centre of a large agricultural estate. It was abandoned in the 12th century AD when a landslide covered the villa.

The Villa was almost entirely forgotten until the late 19th century when some excavation work was carried out.

The first professional excavations were carried out in 1929 but the true extent was not discovered until 1950.

The Villa owner was probably a member of the Roman senatorial class if not the imperial family itself.

The Villa appears to have served several purposes including residential, administrative and official.

In 1959 a floor area was excavated now called "Chamber of the ten maidens" or Coronation of the winner. The young women perform sports including weight lifting, discuss throwing, running and ball games. The maiden with the crown is the perceived winner of the games.

And we thought the bikini was a modern day invention!

Amazing quality of tiles considering they are over 1600 years old. Being covered by the mud slide for a considerable time helped to preserve the tiles.

It is thought that this Villa was also a staging post between North Africa and Rome for capturing and transporting wild animals from North Africa back to Rome for "the games" at the Colosseum and other like places.

The following floor tiles depict various scenes of the hunt, the capture, animal traders and animal pictures.

Quite remarkable and......

..the restoration and excavation continues meticulously.

An amazing experience and site to visit but beware of the coach tours - they are here in their hordes - just keep your elbows out and be patient - it is worth the look!

Baci a tutti

Carolyna e Alan

Sicily - Part Three - Taormina

Taormina, many would say, is the jewel in the tourism crown of Sicily. A sophisticated town perched on the top of a rock face overlooking the sea at 300 metres above sea level. It is on the north west coast of Sicily just below the active volcano Mount Etna. Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and eruptions of varying proportions have occurred right through to 2010.

The main street of Taormina, mostly only pedestrian, is Corso Umberto, which houses many boutique shops, restaurants with small laneways running off either side.

Corso Umberto

One of many small laneways leading off the Corso.

In the middle of the Corso is Piazza Carmine.

Piazza Carmine at night (is that rain falling again).

And during the day.

and at night Carolyna and Alan at one of the many fabulous restaurants

This Street, off Corso Umberto, leads to the ancient Greek theatre

This Greek theatre is one of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily on account of its remarkable preservation and its location perched high above the sea

It was built mostly of brick and therefore dates probably from Roman times.

It is the second largest of its kind in Sicily and is still used today for operatic performances. It was possibly built on a more ancient Greek theatre.

The seating area

 

The theatre overlooking Taormina

Jacqueline, Lisa and Carolyna at the Greek theatre in front of the stage (temporary only for summer performances).

Stunning

The town sits above stony beaches which are accessible by cable car. Here are Jacqueline and Lisa enjoying a casual lunch "by the sea"

And as it rained most days, the only solution that Carolyna e Alan could come up with for the rain to stop was to drop a coin in the well and....wish

Baci a tutti

Carolyna e Alan

Lipari

Lipari is an island just off the north coast of Sicily. It is part of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago that straddles the gap between Vesuvius and Etna. It is the largest of the Aeolian Islands with a population of just over 10,000 people. Other islands are Salina, Filicudi, Vulcano (from which the name Volcano was derived), Stromboli, Panarea and Alicudi. Stromboli has one of only three active volcanoes in Italy and last erupted in 2009.

 

The main town of Lipari is.....Lipari

Lipari is a rustic seaside town, heavily reliant on tourism.

This area is one of the main archaeological sites in Lipari, positioned on a rocky outcrop overlooking the town.

Lipari has two main harbours. This one on the north side of the town in front of Piazza Sant'Onofrio houses more of the pleasure craft in Lipari. The southern harbour takes all of the large ferries.

One of the main churches in Lipari, the Basilica of St. Bartholomew built inside the fortifications. St Bartholomew's remains were kept here between 600-800 AD. The fortifications which were built on a rocky outcrop in 1556 under the direction of Charles V of Spain now includes the wonderful Aeolian museum of Lipari. This museum houses many fine pieces from the various occupations of Lipari. This fortified area high above the main town was a safe haven for the populace of the town in the event of raids by foreign enemy.

The small boat harbour and Piazza Sant'Onofrio

with the locals just relaxing and enjoying a few rays of sun as it rained every day in Lipari while we were there.

One local relaxing by the water

Another two locals on their front door step.

The island of Lipari is about 40 square kilometres is was created by a succession of volcanic eruptions around 10,000 BC. As a result of its volcanic origins, the island is covered with pumice and obsidian.

Pumice cliffs on north east of Island.

Porticello on the north east coast.

Carolyna ready for the road....we hired scooters and rode around the entire island twice....but caught out the second time and ended up a little wet!

Coastal view looking toward the island of Vulcano

Carolyna looks the part for the rain...but who is Luigi?

It is believed Lipari was inhabited from around 5,000 years BC. It was colonised by the Greeks in 580BC who successfully fought the Etruscans for control. The Romans took over around 250 BC and remained that way until the 9th century when the Arabs took control. The Normans conquered the Arabs in the 11th century and repopulated Lipari. Then followed various battles and occupations by the Spanish,  Austrians, French amongst others before it returned to Italian rule.

The Terme di San Calogero on the west coast of Lipari Island dates back over 3,500 years. The water that flows is known for its therapeutic properties and is high in carbon dioxide, sodium chloride and magnesium and comes out of the rock at 40 degrees centigrade!  Amazing!

Inside "the sauna" at

Terme di San Calogero. This sauna is a domed circular stone structure and still remains hot even though access to the outside is open.

Hot mineral water flowing into "the sauna" at 40 degrees plus

The water flowing into these baths at around 40 degrees provided wonderful therapeutic baths.

Alan with our tour guide, Angelo, who has written an extensive book on the Terme

View looking toward the town of Lipari from the fortress

The old monastery adjoining the Basilica of Saint Bartholomew

The monastery grounds

Wow...he looks like he is raring to go

Beautiful azzure sea

Porticello on the north coast

Porticello

Lipari town dominated by the fortress. During fascism Lipari Island was a destination for the confinement of members of the political opposition.

Easy Rider

Lipari in the foreground and the island of Vulcano behind

Lunch...owner and tourist

ps - two famous people come from Lipari - one is Natalie Imbruglia's family and the other is Carolyna's boss at work - John Cincotta!  Cincotta is a famous and well-known name in Lipari!

So for now arrivederci Lipari

Baci a tutti

Carolyna e Alan