Sicily V - Scicli & Siracusa - May 2023

Scicli was founded by the Sicels around 300 BCE.

It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I thought that this was once again the Socialist Party. But no, it’s the headquarters of the Scicli Calcio (Football Club in Scicli.)

Pizza on the main plaza of Scicli.

It looked good…

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…so we tried some.

It was the best pizza we had in Sicily.

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The brand, new, Mercedes E 220 d Sicily Driver Service car/taxi driven by Giuseppi, son of yesterday’s driver, Carmelo.

Note the meter that can be hidden out of sight in the center console.

Scicli, Sicily, Italy

Drive to Siracusa, Sicily, Italy.

City of Syracuse - World Heritage Site.

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Città di Siracusa.

Grande Albergo Alfeo balcony view with ceramic pine cones; "ornaments that are a wish for health, good luck, and prosperity."

Grande Albergo Alfeo - balcony view of the Porto Grande before a cruise ship docked & blocked the view.

Grande Albergo Alfeo, Siracusa.

Siracusa but reminiscent of Cuba.

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Isola di Ortigia. It looks like Amsterdam.

The island is considered the historic center of Syracuse.

Isola di Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily.

Jimmy Dean - Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette

“Puff, puff, puff, and if you smoke yourself to death

Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate

That you hate to make him wait

But you just gotta have another cigarette."

APE (Ah-pey) Piaggio truck. Ape = bee. The truck sounds like a bee.

Crates left from market earlier in the day.

Tempio di Apollo - VI century B.C.E.

"Kleomene made for Apollo (the temple), the son of Knideidas and raised the colonnade, the beautiful works".

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The c. 1907 Fountain of Diana (Fontana di Diana) in the Archimedes Plaza (Piazza Archimede), Isola Ortigia, Siracusa.

Piazza Archimede, Isola Ortigia, Siracusa.

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Municipal building on the main plaza.

Cathedral of Syracuse. Isola di Ortigia.

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Harbor Golfo di Siracusa

Isola di Ortigia.

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Castello Maniace on the tip of the Island of Ortigia.

“The Maniace Castle, which is a stronghold built by the Swabians during their rule of Sicily, and a world heritage site since 2005.”

Castello Maniace controlled the port & the city of Syracuse. “It was built by Frederick I, between 1232 & 1240, in compliance with precise rules of rationality, geometry & symmetry…”

“…The name refers to the Byzantine general Giorgio Maniace. who in 1038 reconquered the city from the Arabs.”

Porto Grande Siracusa.

Sunset on Isola di Ortigia, Siracusa.

See if you can find our reflection in a window.

Sunset on Isola di Ortigia, Siracusa.

Sailor on the boat in front was a world cup winner off Malta this year. At least that’s what we thought the sailor behind him had said…

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Porto Grande.

Candy.

While we were meandering about Isola di Ortigia, we had walked by this restaurant. It looked inviting & the menu had items we wanted to try but it was too early.

We returned later…

PESCOMARE Trattoria-Pizzaeria da Seby Specialità Marinare.

Dessert.

Grande Albergo Alfeo - Balcony view of the Porto Grande now with a cruise ship docked & blocking the view.

Grande Albergo Alfeo.

Ketchup on spaghetti is a good way to break up a relationship. So said one of our drivers about his former girlfriend.

Colazione (breakfast) - Grande Albergo Alfeo.

Grande Albergo Alfeo.

Seeing the kids off on a school trip.

On the street of Isola di Otigia, set up to entice you in.

Porto Piccolo, Isola di Ortigia.

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How could an MGA owner resist a photo of a MGB on Corso Umberto going from Isola di Ortigia to mainland Siracusa. Ahead of the MGB was a vintage Triumph. I wasn’t quick enough…

First time we saw something like this was in Paris. They lift the auto up & onto the street before towing it away.

Isola di Ortigia.

Market, Isola di Ortigia.

Archimedes before he got a sword to the neck.. Whoops, wasn't supposed to be killed...

“Archimedes died during the siege of Syracuse, when he was killed by a Roman soldier despite orders that he should not be harmed.”

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Latomia del Paradiso - Tour with Dr.ssa Laura Cassataro.

Stone quarry & prison that was transformed into a garden, a "paradise" of lemon & orange trees. The stone pillar is all that remains of what used to be a roof.

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Greek Theater, Neapolis Archaeological Park, Syracuse.

“It was first built in the 5th century BCE, rebuilt in the 3rd century BCE and renovated again in the Roman period.”

According to Laura, ruts worn by wagon wheels.

laura.cassataro@alice.it

Roman ampitheatre. Look carefully to find the trap door in center. Imagine a lion popping out of there.

A common sighting in Siciiy, Mussolini fascist architecture on the left & much older building across the alley.

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This was the palazzo of a Jewish family. Note the Star of David above one window.

The duke's palazzo.

Sta. Lucia (Lucy) - Patron saint of Siracusa.

Cathedral of Syracuse, Sta. Lucia (Lucy).

Roman columns incorporated into the cathedral.

Passable pizza.

I ate the little cannoli.

In the courtyrard of Grande Albergo ALFEO.

Bicycles of an English couple biking Sicilia. At home they have an MGB, Jaguar E type & are restoring a Triumph Stag .

Vintage VESPA scooter.

Off to ride scooters in Rome, then home.

Momenti salienti di Quattro giorni a Roma - maggio 2023 / Highlights of Four Days in Rome - May 2023

https://photos.app.goo.gl/53sZ1FviKDREiAVc6

Scicli, Sicily, Italy.

Scicli was founded by the Sicels around 300 BCE.

It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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