We left in the direction of SIRACUSA, most famous Sicilian city of antiquity.
We visited the archaeological zone with a local guide and took a walk through the historic center. "the best Greek city and the most beautiful of all". Its vibrant history has left it with a wealth of monuments, the most important of which can be found in the Neapolis Archaeological Park: the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomia del Paradiso, the Grotta dei Cordari, the Ara di Lerone, Porta Urbica, the Temple of Apollo, the Cathedral and the Temple of Athena, the Temple of Zeus, the Gymnasium, the Catacombs, the Paolo Orsi Museum and the Castle of Eurialo. Almost nothing…
From the attic terrace of the Gran Hotel Ortigia we enjoy incredible views of the port and the city, just before entering Ortigia to discover its history, its monuments and its intricacies, in barely two kilometers long by one wide united to the mainland by a couple of bridges
We enter the city through the "gate of wonders" to begin our tour. 
Immediately we arrive at the square where the foundations of the ancient ruins of the Temple of Apollo which, it seems, was one of the largest among the many Greek temples that were scattered throughout the island. In the photo you can see the two tall Doric columns that were part of the original hall. They are the last of their kind in Sicily and date back to the origins of the temple, built in the XNUMXth century BC. C. Near them you will find the eastern façade, the largest part of the temple that is still preserved. Although the decorative terracotta that covered the wall has disappeared, the temple remains an extraordinary work of classical architecture.
As the Temple of Apollo is located near the center of Syracuse, we continue to discover its wonders while walking through the small streets and alleys that make it up.
We immediately headed towards the most scenic of Syracuse's squares, the Duomo or Cathedral square. Of course, it is precisely the temple that gives its name to the square one of the visits that must be seen in Syracuse. The interesting thing about it, beyond the excellent Baroque façade, is that it was built right on the spot where a Greek temple had been built some twenty centuries before. Even now it can be seen how the ancient columns of the Hellenic temple are still part of the walls of the Cathedral, a fact that, although it is not unprecedented, is quite difficult to find today. Truly amazing.
Syracuse Cathedral
Built on the structure of a classical Greek temple, it is a work by Andrea Palma with a doorway in the late Baroque or Rococo style.
The presence of the enormous columns of the pre-existing Doric temple stands out, giving the side elevations a classical balance. Of the ancient temple, which had 14 lateral columns and 6 frontal ones, some peristyle columns are still visible, while other remains of the temple are in the “Paolo Orsi” Regional Archaeological Museum of Syracuse.
Statues can be seen that decorate the façade and give it a more harmonious and stylistic touch.
The presence of two curvilinear volutes on the sides serves to give movement to the upper part of the façade and unify it as a whole. The set of incoming and outgoing cornices give it undulation.
The presence of windows with colored glass can be observed both on the façade and on the sides of the church that allow the interior to be bathed in bright lights in fresh colors such as white, in the largest window on the façade; blue on the rest of the façade and purple on the sides.
The façade, almost in motion, was rebuilt in the Rococo style after the earthquake of 1693. This repair was carried out by Andrea Palma, the same architect who built it, since when the earthquake devastated Sicily the façade was not yet finished.
The façade is essentially built with marble and granite, as well as limestone for the moldings and engravings and slate for the roofs.
Like most Sicilian Baroque churches, the façade has the typical convex shape and impressive staircases combined with elements of the Spanish Baroque, since during this time Sicily still belonged to the Crown of Aragon.
Wandering through the small streets of the old town of Syracuse is the best way to discover the Sicilian way of life, every time we were discovering new alleys or little unexpected treasures. I show you some of them.
And here I leave it, if it is not going to look more like a photo album than a post...
After strolling through its streets and enjoying all the surprises we were encountering, we went to get our car, which we parked near the market where, by the way, we saw how they make the most amazing sandwiches in the world. Sandwiches made with fresh and typical Sicilian products made by themselves. You go around asking for ingredients and the patriarch of the Borderi family adding what he considers and dressing them with olive oil until you get a sandwich that, although it seems impossible to eat due to its size, you start and I assure you that you finish it without problems.
I leave you their card so that if you go to the market you don't stop trying them, you will thank me.
When we finally managed to get to the car we left for Taormina, where we would have our base camp for the rest of the days in Sicily. To open your mouth, I will tell you that we stayed at the Hotel: Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo 5*, a true marvel for its location, views, facilities... honestly, you cannot ask for more. It made you want to stay all day in that oasis to enjoy it to the fullest but we still had a lot to discover in Sicily.
The next morning after a great breakfast as the weather was good we went hiking for an hour and a half through the craters of Etna. After enjoying the landscapes and passing by a winery on the way, we get to know Catania.
Catania is the second city in Sicily after Palermo, it is a World Heritage Site and currently many of its monuments are being restored to bring them back to their former splendor. Its origin dates back to 730 BC when the Greeks first arrived. Later Normans, Byzantines, Arabs and Spaniards would come to Catania,
Passing through Via Etnea, we find Via dei Crociferi, one of the most beautiful baroque streets in Italy, full of churches, closed in the north by Villa Cerami (Today the law faculty). The tour continued to Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, famous for the Teatro Massimo, we also arrived at Piazza Duomo where we met "u liotru", the elephant symbol of the city and the Duomo.
If something caught my attention In Catania it was the color of most of the buildings, a dark gray in contrast with white moldings and columns, the guide told me that it was because they were built with volcanic rock. The contrast is beautiful and I loved it. Even inside the Duomo that contrast is greater.
After a few stops for snacks and rest, once we finished seeing Catania, the fatigue of such a long day cried out for us to rest and we returned to Taormina to enjoy the hotel, dinner included.
The next day after a well-deserved rest at the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, we went to see the place where a large part of the movie The Godfather (Il Padrino in Italian) was filmed. Although it was registered under its present name in 1415, the town probably dates from the first half of the XNUMXth century when a Norman fortress was built. Savoca It is not a tourist town, it is a "local" town situated in the foothills of the Peloritiani Mountains. What makes it different from other cities? This is where Al Pacino and Cast filmed the movie The Godfather. Following in his footsteps and visiting the locations often shown throughout the film will bring back many memories.
The stop for a lemon granita at the famous Café Vitelli, one of Coppola's favorite places, and seen many times throughout the film, was a "must".
Then we went to the church of Santa Lucia where the wedding scene between Apollonia and Michael was filmed. Continue with a pleasant walk through Forza D'Agro where the scene of Michael Corleone walking with his friends was filmed. We also visited the Castello degli Schiavi, where many of the scenes from all the Godfather movies were filmed. And to round off the trip, we devoted all our desire to discover Taormina, which, although small, has a charm that captivates you, located in the high on a hill is one of the recognized Sicilian jewels. Thanks to the fact that the center of Taormina is pedestrianized, you can walk carefree and calmly, looking at the window displays of souvenir, fashion and antique shops... a delight.
It was a refuge for renowned writers, famous artists, anonymous rich and members of royalty. It is not surprising since its location, on top of Monte Tauros, does not offer unrepeatable panoramic views from the viewpoint of the square where the old Church of San Agostino, the baroque church of San Giuseppe and the Clock Tower are located.
We can only say goodbye to this delight with Goethe's phrase: he said that Taormina was a "paradise on Earth."
Goodbye Sicily, we will not forget you!
END PART THREE
