Sicily - Catania - Mount Etna

 Under the shadows of the clouds that Mount Etna was creating as it is erupting made for a very interesting sight on our arrival back into Sicily and this time on the south coast of the island into the industrial port city of Catania. 

The air quality today was so poor in the city, one would expect this with the smoke from Etna and the city pollution sitting very heavily in the air and already a truely stifling hot day. 

I did a earlier walk and reported back to Sandy perhaps today for her was better as a ship day! It was already just so dam hot, the pavements so uneven and sadly just too difficult and unsafe a place for my bella today. Sandy has been so supportive that if she can’t do or go somewhere that I should still go and report back with pictures and stories.

But there are amazing sites to see … so backpack, my 😷 on and asthma meds I braved another walk around the old town so I could get some pictures and stories. We had been here years ago so Sand’s was happy to sit back and enjoy the views of Mount Etna from the clean air of our room and read her book.

The Colosseum partly excavated on a very high hill with the new/old city looking over it, all made with Etna’s black volcanic bricks.

Some of the exposed walls of the buildings giving a glimpse of the building methods using the black volcanic stone and other plus rubble to create the city.

My mission today was to get to the monastery even farther up the hill, had to pass several other ancient ruins that the “new city” has opening up as dig sites to reveal glimpses into the past of the ancient city.

Pass through some very dogie parts of town!

 Definitely not a place to come at night 

😱

Finally arrived at Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolo

This place is huge

And once was all hand painted … well, I suppose the monks had to do something with all that free time and no wifi!!

Stunning doorways into now office appartments ect.

Some lead out onto small balconies for views back over the ocean and city.

  This gave me a chance to see up close the outside decorations on the buildings walls.

There is a HUGE central courtyard, complete square walking track so one would never need to go out the front doors. 

Overlooking what looks small in proportion to the courtyard another place for quiet meditation and today gardens, but in the past the veggie gardens.

Leaving via the same grand marble stair case that I came in through. 

The stairs were a delight to walk up and down with their wide treads and small riser.

One could very easily imagine the Monks gliding quietly around in their long robes.

I’m loving all the amazing workmanship 

The high vaulted painted ceilings … Stunning!

Once back outside I saw the administration office and 

I think 🤔 I may have had to pay to get in … Opps!

Oh well I didn’t get arrested and could always plead 

“Sorry Lost In Translation” !!!