Are you sitting comfortable dear readers? Then let me tell you the tale of the most unsettling tourist attraction ever . . The Capucchin Monk Catacombs in Palermo where around 8,000 mummified and skeletal bodies reside. Apologies for the grainy images. Horrifically for a snap happy manic like myself no photos are allowed in theContinue reading “The stuff of nightmares .”
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San Giuseppe dei Teatini
San Giuseppe dei Teatini is a Baroque marvel of a church opposite the Fountain of Shame. It’s a colourful spectacle that shouldn’t be missed. The church, also close to the Quattro Canti, is considered one of the most outstanding examples of the Sicilian Baroque in Palermo. The church was built at the beginning of theContinue reading “San Giuseppe dei Teatini”
The Fountain of Shame!
In the heart of Palermo’s Piazza Pretoria, stands Fontana Pretoria, the work of sculptor Francesco Camilliani in 1554 and 1555 It’s decorated with animal heads, nymphs, monsters, ornamental staircases and balustrades as well as the gods and goddesses who make up the inhabitants of Mount Olympus. However, this ornate decorative wonder was not exactly welcomed with open armsContinue reading “The Fountain of Shame!”
Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio
The church of Santa Maria dell’ Ammiraglio , commonly known as Martorana, is another ornate delight to be found overlooking Piazza Bellini. It’s a golden, glittering jewel that shimmers with a multitude of religious mosaics. The church is a mix of different cultural styles, all culminating in a glittering array of pattern and texture that bombardsContinue reading “Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio”
Sicily – chaos incarnate!
Finally getting around to document (in painfully minute detail) the latest Italian trip, this time to the island of Sicily. Sicily conquers up images of brooding Mount Etna, the shadowy tentacles of organised crime and chaotic excitement around every grimy corner. Well it certainly does chaos and grime fairly well I will freely admit! WeContinue reading “Sicily – chaos incarnate!”
Flickr favourites
As I impatiently fill in the time till our Sicily trip I’ve been reviewing some of my former favourite trips with a trip down my Flickr memory lane! Just incase you’ve not noticed – I have a tiny bit of a photography obsession . . . . So of course I have a Flickr accountContinue reading “Flickr favourites”
Planning planning!
It’s been a while since I put fingers to keyboard as I’ve been having a break from travelling to look after my lovely mum who’s been in hospital for quite a while. But she’s home and on the mend now so I can start to plan the next adventure!! After lots of deliberation we’ve decidedContinue reading “Planning planning!”
Thirassia, a slower pace of life
Following on from our visit to the active volcano on New Burnt we carried onto the nearby hot springs where the man had a swim and permanently ruined his swimmers with smelly mud!! Then it was onto the little island of Thirassia which is located in close proximity to Santorini. In fact, it was onceContinue reading “Thirassia, a slower pace of life”
New Burnt
Santorini has been shaped by violent natural events and nowhere is this more clear than at its volcanic heart. First on our floaty boaty day trip is a stop off on the Island of Nea Kameni (New Burnt) where there still bristles an active volcano at its very peak. New Burnt and its nearby neighbour OldContinue reading “New Burnt”
Volcano visiting
Following on from our whistlestop tour of the smaller villages we decide to take a boat trip to visit the volcano that formed the Santorini that we see today. So we hop on a traditional boat (along with hundreds of other eager beavers) ready to set sail from the harbour and onto see the two volcanic islandsContinue reading “Volcano visiting”