Thursday, November 22, 2018

Pickpocketing sign

Palermo train station had a few of these signs posted. The bad guys all wore masks. My favorite was a little child asking for help while her accomplice comes from behind. 

Catania

St Francis church from the theater. 

Catania theater

This ancient amphitheater was home to houses until the 30's, and the perimeter walls were homes until the second half of the 20th century. The building on the right still has homes in it (it still had clothes hanging to dry). The stage was flooded at some point for water choreography. This is a great example of people living in their history, setting these ruins aside seems a very modern action. 

Boats in Ognina

Just north of Catania. A fancy festival boat

Catania

View of the Cathedral from the top of the abbey across the road. 

Etna smoldering in the distance

We live at the foot of an active volcano. This is fine. 

Catania from our room

View from the Hotel biscari of the Badia dome. 

Donnalucata church

Fornace Penna in Sampieri

Another montalbano site, used a few times.  You can take as many risks as you like and enter the grounds. We got there just after twilight. 

Villa Romana del Casale

I will just add one of these, the whole site has been well photographed and cataloged by better cameras than my phone. Cool place, but a bit of a trek from Ragusa. 

Donnalucata lungomare

This is a few blocks from where we stayed. Donnalucata was a filming location for Montalbano, he meets Ingrid here sometimes. 

Donnalucata Lungomare

Donnalucata Lungomare

Donnafugata entryway model

This is a scale model of the castello at the base of the steps. 

Donnafugata trompe l'oeil landscapes

Some of the rooms were incredibly painted. 

Donnafugata interior

This board room had the crests of all the sicilian nobility. The inside was a clothing and furniture museum from the Belle epoque. Beth got a lot of mileage from the clothing displays. 

Donnafugata lions

It's no Sphinx, but it will do. 

Donnafugata sphinx

Who needs lions?

Donnafugata gargoyles

So baroque!

Donnafugata view of the terrace

Taken from on of the watchtowers