Italy
15 July 2016
Left the ferry around 10am and headed south west towards Sicily, stopping at Matera on the way.
Matera has gained international fame for its ancient town, the "Sassi di Matera". The Sassi originated as a prehistoric settlement, and the dwellings are thought to be among the first ever human settlements in what is now Italy. The Sassi are habitations dug into the rock on the slope of a rocky ravine created by a river that is now a small stream. In the 1950s, the government of Italy used force to relocate most of the population of the Sassi to areas of the developing modern city.
Until the late 1980s the Sassi was considered an area of poverty, since its dwellings were, and in most cases still are, uninhabitable. The present local administration, however, has become more tourism-oriented, and it has promoted the regeneration of the Sassi with the aid of the Italian government, UNESCO, and Hollywood.
Left the ferry around 10am and headed south west towards Sicily, stopping at Matera on the way.
Matera has gained international fame for its ancient town, the "Sassi di Matera". The Sassi originated as a prehistoric settlement, and the dwellings are thought to be among the first ever human settlements in what is now Italy. The Sassi are habitations dug into the rock on the slope of a rocky ravine created by a river that is now a small stream. In the 1950s, the government of Italy used force to relocate most of the population of the Sassi to areas of the developing modern city.
Until the late 1980s the Sassi was considered an area of poverty, since its dwellings were, and in most cases still are, uninhabitable. The present local administration, however, has become more tourism-oriented, and it has promoted the regeneration of the Sassi with the aid of the Italian government, UNESCO, and Hollywood.
Church of San Agostino to the right.
The Sassi of Matera
16, 17, 18 July Sicily
We drove south to Villa San Giovanni and caught the ferry across to Messina, Sicily. As we drove south along the coast towards Taormina we watched a Canadair firebomber scooping water from the sea and dumping it on fires on the steep slopes west of Sant' Alessio Siculo.
We drove south to Villa San Giovanni and caught the ferry across to Messina, Sicily. As we drove south along the coast towards Taormina we watched a Canadair firebomber scooping water from the sea and dumping it on fires on the steep slopes west of Sant' Alessio Siculo.
Canadair CL215 in action near Taormina, Sicily.
It was party night at the very full family campground. A small religious flotilla sailed up the shoreline, then the fireworks and then the party started and we were camped right next to the action! Happy when midnight came and the noise stopped. By 6pm on Sunday the campground had barely 10 campers left.
We enjoyed many swims in the crystal clear water and spent a day in Taormina which is built on a hillside overlooking Isola Bella.
We enjoyed many swims in the crystal clear water and spent a day in Taormina which is built on a hillside overlooking Isola Bella.
19 July
After a relaxing couple of days by the water we drove towards Mt Etna with steam slowly rising from its peak. Great views as we drove up.
We bought tickets for the cable car and the 'bus' which was a 4WD unimog. At 9,500 feet it was cold and very windy at times but a spectacular sight. A bit of coughing when SO2 gas wafted by but it did not last. Cloud quickly started to descend just as we were leaving.
We camped the night in the carpark. But we were woken around 4am by extremely strong winds for about an hour. No damage.
After a relaxing couple of days by the water we drove towards Mt Etna with steam slowly rising from its peak. Great views as we drove up.
We bought tickets for the cable car and the 'bus' which was a 4WD unimog. At 9,500 feet it was cold and very windy at times but a spectacular sight. A bit of coughing when SO2 gas wafted by but it did not last. Cloud quickly started to descend just as we were leaving.
We camped the night in the carpark. But we were woken around 4am by extremely strong winds for about an hour. No damage.
Local doing some watering.
20 July
Driving through the Sicilian countryside with its grapevines, stonefruit, vegetables, olive and citrus trees and walled towns on hilltops in sunny weather is a real treat.
Left the island for a long drive north on the mainland.
21 July
Another day of driving with a stop at Tivoli to see the UNESCO listed renaissance gardens of Villa d'Este before driving on towards Siena.
Driving through the Sicilian countryside with its grapevines, stonefruit, vegetables, olive and citrus trees and walled towns on hilltops in sunny weather is a real treat.
Left the island for a long drive north on the mainland.
21 July
Another day of driving with a stop at Tivoli to see the UNESCO listed renaissance gardens of Villa d'Este before driving on towards Siena.
22 July Siena
Siena in Tuscany was our next stop. Medieval brick buildings, the Cathedral, the Piazza del Campo, the museum and a great view of Siena from the Facciatone (a facade of a cathedral that was never completed) were some of the highlights we enjoyed.
The floor of the Cathedral is a spectacular inlaid marble mosaic. Much of it is cordoned off for protection but this also allows a better view of the various scenes. The library has some beautiful paintings and huge pages of old script.
Siena in Tuscany was our next stop. Medieval brick buildings, the Cathedral, the Piazza del Campo, the museum and a great view of Siena from the Facciatone (a facade of a cathedral that was never completed) were some of the highlights we enjoyed.
The floor of the Cathedral is a spectacular inlaid marble mosaic. Much of it is cordoned off for protection but this also allows a better view of the various scenes. The library has some beautiful paintings and huge pages of old script.
Piazza del Campo in central Siena
Although the weather was overcast and at times showery it was still pleasant to drive through the Tuscan countryside with its hilltop walled villages and churches, farmhouses and flowing fields below.
23, 24 July Florence
A day off to relax and catch up and then in to Florence for some sightseeing.
We had lunch at the Piazza del Mercato Centrale which has a huge market downstairs and lots of interesting foodstalls including truffles for sale upstairs. I opted for pizza and Guy had ribs while we watched the Hungarian Grand Prix on the huge screens.
It was amazing to see the huge Cathedral as a back drop when we walked along the narrow streets. It is so much larger than all the other buildings and many narrow roads lead to it.
A day off to relax and catch up and then in to Florence for some sightseeing.
We had lunch at the Piazza del Mercato Centrale which has a huge market downstairs and lots of interesting foodstalls including truffles for sale upstairs. I opted for pizza and Guy had ribs while we watched the Hungarian Grand Prix on the huge screens.
It was amazing to see the huge Cathedral as a back drop when we walked along the narrow streets. It is so much larger than all the other buildings and many narrow roads lead to it.
Carrara marble quarries
25 July
We stopped at Pistoia to look at a nursery I had heard about at home but being a public holiday it was closed. We could see some of the huge potted plants and trees inside though. There were also extensive nurseries along the highway extending for kilometres. Very impressive.
A few kilometres further on we saw quarrying of mountains on a huge scale, the famous Carrara marble.
Then disaster struck. Our flexible solar panels blew off! No one hurt except our pocket. Fortunately we were heading towards Monza where we had bought them last year. We would revisit them after Genova.
We stopped at Pistoia to look at a nursery I had heard about at home but being a public holiday it was closed. We could see some of the huge potted plants and trees inside though. There were also extensive nurseries along the highway extending for kilometres. Very impressive.
A few kilometres further on we saw quarrying of mountains on a huge scale, the famous Carrara marble.
Then disaster struck. Our flexible solar panels blew off! No one hurt except our pocket. Fortunately we were heading towards Monza where we had bought them last year. We would revisit them after Genova.
26 July
Morning visit to see the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno on the outskirts of Genoa. The cemetery covers a huge area and is famous for its sculpture.
Morning visit to see the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno on the outskirts of Genoa. The cemetery covers a huge area and is famous for its sculpture.
The sculpture works were impressive and varied; some religious, some poignant, some conservative. We found ourselves wondering what we'd choose?
We cross Italy's northern border to Switzerland tomorrow.