Returning along the eastern coast of Sicily, we stopped in Siracusa, one of the first Greek colonies on the island.  We hiked a bit on Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and most active volcano and then continued on to Taormina, known for its magnificent views as well as its Greek and Roman ruins and a rich architectural mix, thanks to its Arabic, Norman and Spanish conquerers.

Our favorite part of Siracusa was the island of Ortigia, said to be its historical center. It is a bustling mix of temples, churches, museums, open piazzas, markets and shops, along with an evocative medieval Greek ghetto.

Our journey from Valletta, Malta to London, England

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⁨Isola di Ortigia⁩, ⁨Ortigia⁩, Sicily, Italy⁩

Greek Theatre,  Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

Greek Theatre, Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

Medieval Greek Ghetto, Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily

Medieval Greek Ghetto, Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily

Medieval Greek Ghetto, Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily

Temple of Apollo, Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily

Duomo, Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily

Duomo, Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily

Piazzetta San Rocco, Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily

Castello Maniace, ⁨ ⁨Ortigia⁩, ⁨Sicily, Italy⁩

Castello Maniace, ⁨ ⁨Ortigia⁩, ⁨Sicily, Italy⁩

Hiking is allowed on the lower craters of Mount Etna.  There is parking to accommodate campers so we were able to spend the night and attack the mountain before countless busloads of tourists arrived.

Hiking Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

Hiking Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

Taormina was the capital of Byzantine Sicily in the 9th century and is an almost perfectly preserved medieval town.  Perched on coastal cliffs, it has amazing views as well as wonderful restaurants and shopping!

Isola Bella, ⁨Taormina⁩, ⁨Sicily⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

Teatro Greco, 3rd century BC, Taormina⁩, ⁨Sicily⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

Teatro Greco, 3rd century BC, Taormina⁩, ⁨Sicily⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

View from Teatro Greco, Taormina⁩, ⁨Sicily⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

Our amazing fresh tuna lunch, Osteria Nero d’Avola, Taormina⁩, ⁨Sicily⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

Corso Umberto, Taormina⁩, ⁨Sicily⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

A ferry took us across the Strait of Messina to Calabria, another beautiful travel destination.  We spent the night in the beautiful village of Scilla which faces the Strait.  An ancient clifftop fortress, Ruffo Castle, overlooks the beach there.  When we explored it the next day, we found a small museum that explained how this village was seriously damaged by two earthquakes, the latter in 1908.

On the ferry from Messina to Reggio Calabria, Italy

View of Ruffo Castle, Scilla, Calabria, Italy

Harbor and view of Ruffo Castle, Scilla, Calabria, Italy

View from Ruffo Castle, Scilla, Calabria, Italy

Beach, Scilla, Calabria, Italy

Parrocchia Maria SS Immacolata, Scilla, Calabria, Italy

View from a residential area, Scilla, Calabria, Italy

After a brief detour at Pollino National Park in Calabria, we continued on to the Matera in Basilicata, an ancient city known for its “Sassi” cave dwellings from the Paleolithic period (10th century BC).  These ancient dwellings have UNESCO status and are well worth exploring. With a map of the ancient caves and rupestrian churches, we had a very enlightening self guided walking tour!

Pollino National Park, Calabria, Italy

Pollino National Park, Calabria, Italy

View of Matera, Basilicata, Italy

View of Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Inside a rupestrian church, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Inside a rupestrian church, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Inside a rupestrian church, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Exploring a Sassi, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Convent San Francisco d’Assisi, ⁨Matera⁩, ⁨Basilicata⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

More innovative and delicious Italian cuisine! Matera, Basilicata, Italy

There wasn’t much time left for exploration and although at some point we will return to this culturally rich and exciting country, for now we continued on London, through the lower Alps into France, stopping in Chambéry and Troyes.  Then we drove to Calais and went through the Eurotunnel on the way to London…

‎⁨Saint-Martin-de-la-Porte⁩, ⁨Rhône-Alpes⁩, ⁨France⁩

Palais du Justice, Chambéry, France

Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England

Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England

Natural History Museum, London, England

Natural History Museum, London, England