A Wonderful 18 Nights in Venice and Sicily
Sep 27th, 2021, 03:57 PM
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Sep 27th, 2021, 03:57 PM
#22
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MinnBeef, many thanks for the stunning pictures and TR. Venice is undoubtedly a gem, we have made multiple visits over the last 40 years and the spell still enchants…
Sicily is on the agenda for late spring next year, have been to parts of the east, but this time want to tour longer and in greater detail. Your pictures just whet my appetite…😊
Sicily is on the agenda for late spring next year, have been to parts of the east, but this time want to tour longer and in greater detail. Your pictures just whet my appetite…😊
Sep 27th, 2021, 03:58 PM
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Sep 27th, 2021, 04:00 PM
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Great photos MinnBeef! I am glad you enjoyed your trip.
I just left Catania yesterday for Rome. Last week, Etna blew a giant mass of volcanic sand/rock thousands of meters into the air. The ground was covered in it, walking on it sounds like walking on corn flakes. I have seen Etna many times but never this. I agree Catania is underrated and Palermo was so full of garbage this time.. I hope they can get it together.
if you can ever go back to Padova, get a ‘double turn” ticket for the Scrovegni chapel. They only do it at night. You can be inside for 40 minutes. I did it once and it was two groups of people for fifteen minutes but I was the only double turn. So for ten glorious minutes I was COMPLETELY ALONE in the chapel. It was so amazing.. still gives me chills to think about it.
I’ll check out that wine next time I am in Venezia.
I just left Catania yesterday for Rome. Last week, Etna blew a giant mass of volcanic sand/rock thousands of meters into the air. The ground was covered in it, walking on it sounds like walking on corn flakes. I have seen Etna many times but never this. I agree Catania is underrated and Palermo was so full of garbage this time.. I hope they can get it together.
if you can ever go back to Padova, get a ‘double turn” ticket for the Scrovegni chapel. They only do it at night. You can be inside for 40 minutes. I did it once and it was two groups of people for fifteen minutes but I was the only double turn. So for ten glorious minutes I was COMPLETELY ALONE in the chapel. It was so amazing.. still gives me chills to think about it.
I’ll check out that wine next time I am in Venezia.
Thanks for the tip on the Capella degli Scovegni. That must have been incredible having the whole place to yourself. I’m jealous!
Sep 27th, 2021, 04:23 PM
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Your wonderful pictures make me miss Venice (last visit was 2012) and Sicily (visited in 2017) more than ever. We stayed a block away from the "Four Corners" in Palermo and liked the neighborhood a lot. Thanks for posting.
Sep 27th, 2021, 05:21 PM
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Sep 28th, 2021, 11:49 AM
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A few more favorite photos that I managed to originally overlook:
Archangel Michael slays the dragon. Basilica di San Marco
Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore from the top of the Campanille
Bridge of Sighs
Recovery of St.Mark’s Body from Alexandria. Accademia Gallery. Venice
The Magi Worshipping the Baby Jesus while Halley’s Comet passes over. Fresco by Giotto. Capella degli Scrovegni
Piazzetta di San Marco from the water
A gourmet’s delight. Truffle products store. Canareggio sestiere. Venice
Siracua’s Piazza del Duomo
I got this fresh oyster and a glass of fizz for just 2.5 euro at the Ortigia market
Noto
Palazzo Municipale. Noto
Hiking in a lava cave. Mt. Etna
Sunset over Piazza del Duomo. Catania.
Mosaic of Jesus crowning the Sicilian king, Roger II. La Mortorana church. Palermo
Melanzane for sale in the Balaro market. (My Grandma from Naples called these “mullanjohn”. (Sp?????)
The story of Noah and the Ark. L-R: Building the ark, Loading the animals, The Flood, Ark comes to rest on Mt. Ararat, The rainbow covenant with God. Monreale cathedral
Archangel Michael slays the dragon. Basilica di San Marco
Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore from the top of the Campanille
Bridge of Sighs
Recovery of St.Mark’s Body from Alexandria. Accademia Gallery. Venice
The Magi Worshipping the Baby Jesus while Halley’s Comet passes over. Fresco by Giotto. Capella degli Scrovegni
Piazzetta di San Marco from the water
A gourmet’s delight. Truffle products store. Canareggio sestiere. Venice
Siracua’s Piazza del Duomo
I got this fresh oyster and a glass of fizz for just 2.5 euro at the Ortigia market
Noto
Palazzo Municipale. Noto
Hiking in a lava cave. Mt. Etna
Sunset over Piazza del Duomo. Catania.
Mosaic of Jesus crowning the Sicilian king, Roger II. La Mortorana church. Palermo
Melanzane for sale in the Balaro market. (My Grandma from Naples called these “mullanjohn”. (Sp?????)
The story of Noah and the Ark. L-R: Building the ark, Loading the animals, The Flood, Ark comes to rest on Mt. Ararat, The rainbow covenant with God. Monreale cathedral
Last edited by MinnBeef; Sep 28th, 2021 at 11:51 AM. Reason: Typos
Sep 28th, 2021, 12:01 PM
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I was in the Milo area, not Catania.. around Milo the ground, cars, houses were covered in black. It blew in the morning. I was in Catania later in the day and you could see the cloud but it was not coming down in Catania. I guess this has happened a lot this year, more than other years..
Sep 29th, 2021, 07:27 AM
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Oh my gosh, Minn, these photos are beautiful! I have been thinking more and more about a trip to Sicily but had not done much “visual” research, and now it is firmly on my list. Sooooo much to see and experience.
BTW, though all of the mosaics photos are wonderful, for some reason when I saw the one of the hikers in the cave it really caught my attention. I don’t know if it was the quality of the light, the composition, the way one of the figures was blurred, or what - but I really liked it. It seemed timeless.
thank you!
BTW, though all of the mosaics photos are wonderful, for some reason when I saw the one of the hikers in the cave it really caught my attention. I don’t know if it was the quality of the light, the composition, the way one of the figures was blurred, or what - but I really liked it. It seemed timeless.
thank you!
Sep 29th, 2021, 10:32 AM
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Oh my gosh, Minn, these photos are beautiful! I have been thinking more and more about a trip to Sicily but had not done much “visual” research, and now it is firmly on my list. Sooooo much to see and experience.
BTW, though all of the mosaics photos are wonderful, for some reason when I saw the one of the hikers in the cave it really caught my attention. I don’t know if it was the quality of the light, the composition, the way one of the figures was blurred, or what - but I really liked it. It seemed timeless.
thank you!
BTW, though all of the mosaics photos are wonderful, for some reason when I saw the one of the hikers in the cave it really caught my attention. I don’t know if it was the quality of the light, the composition, the way one of the figures was blurred, or what - but I really liked it. It seemed timeless.
thank you!
Sep 30th, 2021, 04:12 AM
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Hey MinnBeef, I love, love, love your photos! I’m so glad you got back to Venice. Our trip there last year was definitely our favorite as well. I agree with you about the mosaics in Monreale. Unreal! We’ve never been to Catania, but adding to our list. Thanks for posting!
Sep 30th, 2021, 06:37 AM
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Wonderful report, MinnBeef, and gorgeous photos. They brought back so many memories! Sicily is my favorite place in the world and it looks like you saw many of the highlights. I have been there 5 times so far and have never seen Etna in action! It has always been asleep during my visits so you were very fortunate to see some activity. I know it has been very busy in the past two years - just when I was unable to travel due to Covid!! BTW, you are the only other person I know - besides me - who was underwhelmed by the mosaics at Piazza Armerina. I even went back a second time, several years after my first visit, to see if I felt differently from a more "adult" perspective, but no. 
Anyway, if you go back to Sicily be sure to see the temples - not just at Agrigento but at Segesta and Selinunte as well. The Greek ruins in Sicily are more impressive than those in Greece!
Anyway, if you go back to Sicily be sure to see the temples - not just at Agrigento but at Segesta and Selinunte as well. The Greek ruins in Sicily are more impressive than those in Greece!
Sep 30th, 2021, 04:02 PM
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Hey MinnBeef, I love, love, love your photos! I’m so glad you got back to Venice. Our trip there last year was definitely our favorite as well. I agree with you about the mosaics in Monreale. Unreal! We’ve never been to Catania, but adding to our list. Thanks for posting!
Sep 30th, 2021, 04:05 PM
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