By request of some folks…
I’m down in Sicily with a couple of folks that have never been here, so have been drafted as the tour guide and driver (since they are both scared s**tless to drive over here)…
The “attractions” have been Motta which I linked yesterday (Food Pron); here is a pic from the battlement of the castle… Now ya gotta remember, this was back in the day (1050 AD appx) when the Lord was literally master of ALL he surveyed… Motta is probably 20 miles as the crow flies from the coast, which you see in the distance. He also owned Mt. Etna!
Siracusa, which is the ancient Greek city of Syracuse where they have the largest intact Greek Amphitheater outside Epidaurus, GR. In Ortigia, the old town of Siracusa, there is also a plaza named for Archimedes since he died here of “unfortunate” circumstances…
The Theatre Greco is still used on occasion for special performances and can hold about 10,000 people. It was built in 500BC!!! At one time it was all covered with marble. The original water supply is still flowing too!
And additionally the Romans built a small coliseum adjacent to the Theatre… And stole most of the marble…
Here’s a picture of Archimedes Fountain in Ortigia, complete with Italian couple…
Next was Taormina, a sea side fortification and the only other Greek Amphitheater (but on 5400 seats) outside Greece. It was built around 300BC, and modified by the Romans in 200AD.
Here’s a pic and I have a short video- sadly, our ears are MUCH better than the mics on the cameras, we could actually hear each other fine, and he could actually hear me scuffing my shoes over the ancient stones as I walked out at the bottom on the stage area…
And the Odeon, a small Roman speaking area inside the city walls (held about 500)…
And a pic of the original wall and port cochure with original Roman engraving (this ain’t Disney land, this is REAL)…
Seeing what the ancients were able to do with mathematics and sweat should make all of us feel a little humble.
I’m glad the many wars that swept Sicily since the days of the Romans left these treasures intact.
Thanks for posting this. I wish I was there in your “tour” group.
WSF- It REALLY does… when you stand there and look at things like the theater and realize that was built in the days of Archimedes without power (other than manpower) and math was a NEW science, you realize how insignificant we really are…
LL- Luck has played a part… I’d GLADLY have let you drive :-)Ú
You make a fantastic tour guide. As I well know. 😀 Thanks for the pics. I already have one as my wallpaper!
FM- I’ve got a bunch more but I’ll have to wait till I get back stateside to put them up.
Thank you! I love pictures from about anywhere. I may not be able to get there myself but I can still visit by proxy!
Sooooo beautiful! 🙂 I’m glad you got a vacation. Well, I hope it was a vacation.
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