Italy September 2012 Part I

In September 2012, I went to Sicily and Southern Italy with friends. On the way there, I also had a chance to visit Milano. I already posted some of these impressions on this blog, but cramping them all into one entry would be nice. Also, as I mentioned, there are some new pictures as well 🙂

A view over the Bay of Naples.

The world-famous cathedral of Milano. A beautiful piece of Gothic architecture in black and white.

Catania is a fantastic city. Built on the foot of a massive volcano (Etna), it was destroyed and rebuilt a couple of times. A fitting alternative name for the city would be Phoenix, as it has risen from the ashes like a legendary bird. In Catania, the streets and many buildings are made out of lava stone (basalt), and it may happen very well that you end up in the cellar of a bar in which there are still traces of old lava flows under your table (Agora Hostel Bar). If you are on the main square (Piazza del Duomo), visit the Cathedral and enjoy this magnificent view from the rooftop.

Actually, this shot is not from 2012. But it fits pretty well, so here it is 🙂 Personally, I adore Vespas. And a beautiful turquoise Vespa in Rome must be a win, no?

The train station was built by the Fascists under Mussolini. It is colossal and displays various sceneries of Italian life and culture. Today, large commercial ads dominate. It is still a fascinating piece of 20th-century architecture and a prominent showcase for totalitarian gigantism.

It was the beginning of a warm day in late summer, sailing on board a ferry into the natural Bay of Naples. As we came on deck, we witnessed this beautiful sunrise over the Vesuvio volcano. The view was stunning, and we watched with a humbled AAW. Although we didn’t sleep much on the ferry that night and had a long program ahead of us in Naples, this sunrise was enough to carry us through the day.