4/19: Explore Taormina

 We started with a briefing with our new trip leader and got re-introduced with the addition of a couple not on the Malta excursion. We walked to the opposite end of town from the hotel. There are 3 gates in the main tourist district. We learned that the section closest to us used to be the Jewish district. They were driven out, but when the Municipal hall was either built or updated, several 6-pointed stars were added to the building to remind people of the former residents. 

 

There were also a lot of flower pots based on the heads of 2 historic figures. An English woman and an Arab man had a love affair and all was going well until he told her he was leaving the next day to rejoin his wife and children in Tunisia. Predictably, his lover was not happy with this turn of events, so overnight, she cut off his head, and turned it into a planter of basil, which she watered with her tears.

We also walked down into an area where the old Roman walls are still visible.

The red brick is repaired areas

Above/Below: caper plant. It
grows everywhere.

Past the second section of the town is the Greco-Roman Theater Jim and I saw during our 2017 visit. It seemed like we learned more this time or maybe I just forgot it. I do remember that we walked to the top like we did this time, but last time, we were part of just of few of our group, while this time, everybody made it.

Originally built as a theater by the Greeks, the view to
the sea was visible, and there were more seats than now.

The Romans transformed it into half a gladiator arena,
They added front and back walls to highlight statues, and
moved the seating area back for safety and to have an area
for gladiators and animals to be moved along the front
of the staging, hidden from view. Additional seating was
added on the sides that are now open areas and were open
for the Greeks too.

With part of the Roman wall down, you can see a bit
of the view the Greeks preferred.

 

Subsequent rulers treated the arena as a convenient
pre-made quarry. Most of the original seats and pillars
are gone. This is part of one that didn't get a new home.

We walked to the top of the arena and
the following are some of the views.

This gondola system transports people to and from sea
level to the main town.

After our local guide left, Annunziata, our trip leader, treated us to a giant cannoli. We got to watch them being built and I discovered how difficult it is to eat one neatly. With my first bite, I managed to get some on my sweater, jacket, and personal listening system, called a whisper.

This gets filled with a creamy sweet ricotta (Protein!
Good for you!) and garnished with things like chocolate
chips and pistachio pieces.

The narrowest street here. I was
going to see what was at the top,
but it was much higher that I
thought.

Annunziata took us to a couple local art displays. The first was a truly large and enormously detailed nativity. Unfortunately, it was behind glass with sun shining in so I could only photograph 1/3 of it. Then we went to a former church which became the recipient of a large collection when the owner died. It was quite eclectic (or maybe just odd).

A small section of the nativity

Paintings depicting personal miracles
with thanks to God

Italian puppets, which are quite large

A wedding dress from a woman of
another culture...probably Albanian.