Syracuse (Siracusa) was the most important city in Ancient Greece, housing over 300,000 in its heyday.  Aligned with Sparta they defeated the Athenians in 413 BCE.  Home of the mathematician, Archimedes, Cicero proclaimed Siracusa the most beautiful of all Greek cities.  The old city Ortygia is reached by walking over a bridge and and immediately the ruins of the Temple of Apollo from the 7th Century BCE.  Strolling up the street through narrow streets to the Ionian Sea reveals turquoise waters and swimmers.  Circling back brings us the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, the real center of Ortygia and the cathedral where you can see the original Doric columns that were used in the construction.

Catania is our last stop in this two week tour of Italy and we immediately see the beautiful main square, Piazza Duomo as we walk into the city. The cathedral dominates the square and is dedicated to St. Agata, the patron saint of the city.  The festival of St. Agata is celebrated annually.  She is celebrated to invoke her ability to kept the city safe from eruptions, earthquakes and epidemics.

 In the shadow of Mt. Etna, Catania has been devastated after eruptions, most notably in 1669 it was covered by lava. The building material to rebuild the city was the lava it self.  Gray streets and steps are everywhere. Elsewhere in the Piazza lies the Diocesan Museum and the Municipo, (town hall). In front of the town hall stands a lava elephant (the city’s symbol) in a fountain carrying an obelisk.  The mysterious elephant was the symbol of the city going back as far as the 9th century.  In 1239 Catania rebelled and became a royal city and the Catanese chose the elephant to replace St. George.

Exploring the old city further, the lively fish market is front and center adjoined by many markets and eateries serving Sicilian specialties.

While in Catania we are reminded of the vital role played by Italy and Sicily in World War II by a visit to an Allied cemetery and a museum.