MYVOYAGES

Passion for exploring and photography

A TRIP ROUTE

Sycylia - trasa wycieczki


INTERESTING FACTS

The first Pole to visit Sicily was Jan Dantyszek, ambassador and royal secretary of Sigismund I the Old. During the Enlightenment, travel to Italy became a passion for Poles seeking to deepen their knowledge of antiquity and Renaissance Italian culture. At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Sicily was visited by the writer and one of the first Polish archaeologists Jan Potocki, the poet and historian Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, the bards Adam Mickiewicz and Zygmunt Krasiński, the poet Antoni Edward Odyniec, and the philosopher and historian Michał Wiszniewski. The experiences and memories from the journey were used in their works by Potocki in "The Manuscript Found in Saragossa", Krasiński in the letters "From a Sicilian Journey, Several Cards" and Mickiewicz in "Pan Tadeusz" (when the Count talks about Captain Rykov - I punish him, as I punish the robbers under the rock that the Sicilians call Birbante-Rokko, Book IX - "The Battle"). The interest of Poles in Sicily did not cease in the 20th century. The island was visited in search of inspiration by: composer Karol Szymanowski, poet and prose writer Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, expert in antiquity Jan Parandowski, poets Zbigniew Herbert, Adam Zagajewski, Wisława Szymborska and sculptor Igor Mitoraj.

Skarzę go, jakom zbójców skarał pod opoką, Którą Sycylijanie zwą Birbante-rokko (pojedynek Hrabiego z kapitanem Rykowem, Pan Tadeusz, Księga IX - Bitwa)


INTERESTING STORIES

After Poland lost its independence at the end of the 18th century, many of our compatriots emigrated. Successive Poles joined its ranks after unsuccessful uprisings, fighting in legions, legions and insurgent armies of other countries for your freedom and ours. One of them was Ludwik Mierosławski - a general, writer, poet, military theorist and political activist. During the Spring of Nations, he was invited by the minister of the revolutionary Sicilian government, Giuseppe La Farin, who entrusted him with the chief of staff over the insurgent Sicilian army fighting against the Bourbons. In March 1849 he took command of the most important eastern section. He planned an attack on Messina, but was forewarned by the attack of General Filangieri. Mierosławski completely ignored the situation and it is not known why he was convinced that Filangeri would not attack the city on the move. In the lost battle of Catania, he was wounded, and two weeks later he was dismissed and returned to Paris. Despite the fact that his posterity and contemporaries accused him of ineffectiveness in command and excessive ambition, he became a symbol of Polish and European revolutionary struggles.

generał Ludwik Mierosławski


IT IS WORTH KNOWING

The mafia is a very complicated phenomenon and should be considered on many levels. The name and roots of the first organizations hailing from Sicily. Initially, the goal of the mafia's activities was to protect the population, mainly rural, against abuses by foreign troops and robber attacks. With time, it transformed into criminal organizations infiltrating the apparatus of power, and exploitation, murder and struggle for money became part of everyday life. The rapid growth of the mafia took place after the Second World War, when its members made huge fortunes from alcohol smuggling, gambling, prostitution and construction investments. During economic emigration in the 20th century, the mafia developed a strong activity in the USA as well. The American drama "The Godfather", directed by Francis Ford Coppola, tells about it. In the lead role as the head of the "Don" family Vito Corleone, he appeared in the unforgettable performance of Marlon Brando, and many viewers became fascinated by the world presented there. Honor, respect and silence are the three most important concepts emanating from the film. The author of "The Godfather", Mario Puzo, was convinced that the first criminal family were the Borgias, the first "Donas" heirs of St. Peter, and the most powerful of them - Pope Alexander VI.

Plakat z filmu Ojciec chrzestny


Italy - Sicily

June 2018

Sycylia, wulkan Etna

At the beginning of June we went with the Net Holiday travel agency to Sicily . As usual, we chose the HB option to combine leisure with sightseeing. The hotel in which we stayed could not be faulted, but the town of Torre Faro itself, located at the end of a narrow headland, created a lot of communication problems.

The weather was good, so at the beginning we had a little laziness on the beach. However, our patience did not last long. On the third day, we kicked ourselves on a day trip to Messina. After that, it only got better. I rented a car and for three days we went wild around the island, remembering each other in sightseeing. First we headed west along the coast, then south. The trip to Cefalu and Palermo was particularly troublesome, as the long stretches of the journey significantly limited the time that we could spend on sightseeing.

    DUE  TO  CHANGES  IN  OUR  LIVES,  PHOTOS   DEPICTING  MARTHA  WERE  REMOVED  AT  HER  REQUEST !   

Julek is resting


Strait of Messina, where Scylla and Charybdis rule Beach with a view of Calabria Messina Pylon Marina from the side of the Strait of Messina Fishing boat Swordfish Beach from the side of the Tyrrhenian Sea Who will play with me Maybe go surfing Trying it out Dress rehearsal That's enough for today We jump up high like kangaroos Happy moments There must be order I've been waiting for this all day Local vibes Cockle farming Mafioso To wait, or not to wait Real Italian pizza Heavenly taste

During our stay, we rested in Torre Faro, a small town located on the northern tip of the island just above the Strait of Messina. Unfortunately, but apart from the picturesque view of the Calabrian coast, this place has no attractions. To make matters worse, each time we returned from the trip, we had to stand in a gigantic traffic jam, and the short drive from the highway to our hotel took over an hour.


Messina


Via I Settembre Griffin on the townhouse facade Balconies Four Fountains Romanesque cathedral Bell tower One of the figures of the astronomical clock Astronomical clock Aren't I a cutie Gothic portal Grape harvest Interior of the cathedral Decorated ceiling Norman capital Apse with a mosaic Orion Fountain Orion Fountain Sgraffito Putto sculpture Mailbox Monument to John of Austria Church of Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani Blind arches Two little ones Calapaj-d'Alcontres Palace Inner courtyard Decorative facade of a tenement house on Garibaldi Street Piazza Antonello Victor Emmanuel III Gallery Monumental interior It is impressive Marina Nostalgia Madonna della Lettera Weary from sightseeing The big blue Ferry to Calabria Neptune Fountain Sea god Renaissance sarcophagus San Gregorio polyptych Two eagles

Messina is almost a stone's throw from Torre Faro, so we went sightseeing by public transport. Since we planned a day trip, we had plenty of time to explore and explore the nooks and crannies of the old town. We particularly liked - the Romanesque cathedral with a tower with the world's largest clock mechanism and Caravaggio's paintings, which unfortunately "did not want" to be photographed.


Cefalu and Palermo


View of the city from the promenade We are here The rock Lemons The fortified stone facade of Osterio Magno Paparazzi In front of the Purgatorio Church Norman cathedral Cathedral stairs Main nave of the cathedral Nave arches supported by ancient columns Byzantine mosaics in the apse Norman capital Granite baptismal font Souvenir photo Alley Medieval laundry Lion heads fed by the waters of the Cefalino river Balconies Porta Pescara Posing for a photo while looking tired Maybe some cannoli for the road New gate Telamones structural supports Palazzo dei Normanni Teatro Marmoreo Rooftops Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Holy Mary Souvenir photo On the way to Mass Gothic portal Capital Interior of the cathedral Statue of Saint Sebastian Relic chapel Baroque vault Zisa gardens Zisa Palace Monument to Emperor Charles V Photojournalists in action Conversation Quattro Canti Conversation Church of Saint Catherine Praetorian Fountain One of the 48 marble sculptures Water spouting from animal muzzles Uncanny resemblance Dome of the Church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini Opera dei Pupi knight puppet Local specialties Church of San Cataldo Bell tower Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio Trinacria (symbol of Sicily) Capuchin catacombs Silvestro da Gubbio Mummies of the laity Bishop Agostino Franco Mummies of friars Skulls Rosalia Lombardo

The trip to Cefalu and Palermo was our longest trip. Cefalu delighted us with its fabulous location and picturesque maze of medieval streets. In Palermo, on the other hand, we admired the monuments of Arab-Norman architecture inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List. However, the most memorable are the macabre-looking mummies located in the catacombs under the Capuchin Monastery.


Etna volcano


View of Mount Etna Mount Etna volcano Souvenir photo Cable car cabin Here we go Panorama of the area from the Funivia terminal Observation deck Celebrating the first success On the way Del Laghetto crater Nothing to be envious of Snow in June New eruptive cones No match for this Next stage completed He couldn't make it So much traffic here Access road for excursion trucks Walk around the Barbagallo crater View facing southwest Smaller cone of the Barbagallo crater Time to move on Lava field Path around the central crater Gases rising from the volcanic vent Volcanic fumes issuing from the crater Sulfur deposits Time to return Monte Frumento Supino summit Barbagallo crater Heading down headlong A moment of respite The road to the Funivia terminal Upper Silvestri crater The force of nature Silvestri crater Interior of the crater Panorama of the area from the summit of the crater

We reached the tourist base of Nicolosi by car and then took the cable car to the Funivia terminal. From there, a truck took Marta to the Torre del Filosofo plateau , from where it set off on foot to the crater. I had to stay with Julek, but this is a good excuse, because I certainly would not be able to reach the top of mount Etna. So we wandered around the area, admiring the picturesque views that were not lacking around.


Catania and Taormina


Garibaldi Street, cathedral in the background Waiting for customers Balcony Church of Saint Francis of Assisi Amenano Fountain The monumental stone Uzeda Gate In the Cathedral Square Baroque facade of Saint Agatha's Cathedral Interior of the cathedral Holy water stoup (aspersorium) 16th-century fresco depicting the coronation of Saint Agatha inside the Norman apse Pipe organ Baroque statue of the Virgin Mary Statues on the balustrade enclosing the church courtyard Baroque decorations above the entrance Crystal chandelier Decorative brackets Greco-Roman theatre The basalt elephant protecting Catania from Etna's eruptions Norman Ursino Castle View from the beach to Capo Taormina Souvenir photo View of the coast from the observation deck Ferry Excelsior Palace hotel Church of Saint Anthony Abate Porta Catania gate Welcome to Taormina Machicolations with the coat of arms of Aragon below Man versus machine Terrace Cathedral Square and the Basilica of San Nicolò di Bari Baroque fountain Interior of the cathedral Byzantine Madonna Stylophorous lions Ordering a gelato specialty in Taormina Souvenirs for tourists Ubiquitous lemons Tired tourists Sicilian planter Piazza IX Aprile Picturesque alley Panoramic terrace with a view of Mount Etna My godfather Gossip Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria Single-nave Baroque interior Marble sculpture of Saint Catherine Sculpture fragment Palazzo Corvaja Original advertisement Porta Messina gate View from Porta Messina

We visited Catania and Taormina during our return from day trips, in the late afternoon. So we had definitely too little time to visit, and what's worse, most of the attractive places were already closed. It is for this reason that we did not see the ancient Greek theater for which this place is famous. Despite these inconveniences, the particularly picturesque Taormina made an electrifying impression on us.


Syracuse


Remnants of the Altar of Hiero II Monolith Latomia del Paradiso Ear of Dionysius Interior of the cave Sicilian wall lizard Bored photographer One of the largest Greek theatres Rock-cut tombs Roman amphitheater Space where stage machinery operated Church of Saint Nicholas Head of Asclepius Sarcophagus of Adelphia Detail of the sarcophagus chest Sanctuary of Our Lady of Tears Plaster image of the Virgin Mary with allegedly weeping tears Church of Saint John Column capital Christian symbols Side arches Ponte Umbertino Huge anchor Lucchetti Cassola Reale Palace Archimedes monument Facade Fresh juice Souvenir photo Garden inside the ancient Temple of Apollo Temple of Apollo Mercato Ortigia Marketplace Local specialties Old town street I like this one Souvenirs for tourists Maybe we can have a snack Diana Fountain Palazzo Beneventano Del Bosco Artist at work Metropolitan Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mary Two-tier facade Statue of Saint Marcian Spiral column The historic interior of the main nave Ancient Doric columns built into the cathedral structure Crucifix Chapel, Saint Zosimus painted by Antonello da Messina Cathedral Square Basilica of Saint Lucy In front of the entrance Baroque interior Street musician Montevergine monastery A moment of respite Balcony I'll choose something in a moment Fountain of Arethusa A bite to eat Castello Maniace Marina Grande

Syracuse has been included in the Unesco World Heritage List for a reason. This ancient colony of Greek Dorians, founded in the 8th century BC, still captivates with the picturesque location and the magnificence of monuments from Greek and Roman times. However, the quarries with the famous Ear of Dionysius made the biggest impression on us. The island of Ortygia, with its magnificent cathedral built on top of the temple of Athena, turned out to be equally attractive.








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