We left Alberobello and drove along the sole of the boot, through the Calabria region to the toe of the boot and boarded a ferry to Sicily. We passed olive groves and vineyards. Interestingly, the grape vines in this region were covered with plastic tarps to protect them from hail storms. We were told that in order to get insurance, a certain percentage of the vines must be covered. The Calabria region has rich oil reserves and supplies 16% of the oil requirements of Italy.

Our ferry across the Tyrannian sea took only 35 minutes, including loading, crossing and unloading. We landed in Messina on the island of Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands. Then we were driven to our hotel near Taormina, the Sant Alphio Garden Hotel and Spa. We spent the afternoon exploring the grounds and lazing around the pool. We could see Mt. Etna from our balcony. That evening, we enjoyed a delicious dinner in the hotel. We helped Colleen and Mark celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary with a surprise Tiramasu cake.

The following day we were driven by minibus up to the hilltop town of Taormina. Taormina's old town clings to the side of Mt. Tauro, overlooking the Ionian sea and Mt. Etna. We walked with a local guide to the Greek Theatre. It was built in the 3rd century BC by the Greeks and used for theatrical performances. When the Romans took it over in the 1st century AD, they changed it to an arena where gladiators fought. They added the walls and columns which were adorned with statues. Today it is used for plays and concerts by renowned artists such as Elton John and Andrea Bocelli. From the top of the seating area we had spectacular views of the surrounding villages, sea and Mt. Etna.

The rest of the day we were free to wander and shop the beautiful streets of Taormina. The area is noted for its ceramics and of course we had to purchase one with the symbol of Sicily. This is a face with 3 legs coming out which symbolizes the 3 corners of Sicily.

In the evening we enjoyed a typical Sicilian dinner at a hilltop restaurant, Al Fuedo, along with entertainment from local musicians.

To view more photos from Taormina, please go to Taormina Photo Gallery. To read about the next location visited, go to Savoca.

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