Margaret Cowling Arts

Siracusa abounds in archeological and mythological sites such as the Font of Aretusa, the Greek theatre, and Roman Amphitheatre.

Even the cathedral was originally constructed in the 5th century BC as a temple dedicated to Athena. Some of its doric columns are still visible, in spite of many architectural transformations and reconstructions over the last two and a half thousand years, including an astounding baroque facade from the 18th century.
 

Our final destination is Catania. Sitting at the foot of Mt Etna, it is little wonder that much of Catania’s architecture reflects the Spanish baroque style of the period immediately after the eruption of 1693, and that the primary building material is volcanic stone.

The character of Catania has been strongly affected by the presence of the volcano. Sicily’s second largest city (after Palermo), Catania exists at several levels, physically and historically, according to the path of the lava flows.

We visit the Roman theatre and odeon, very much part of living Catania, whose residents have built on the very perimeters of the theatre, and we paint in amongst the hive of activity in the fish market with its striking red umbrellas and crusty sword fish sellers.

In the evenings we can join the locals in the passeggiata up the elegant Via Etnea.