Agrigento

The Valley of the Temples is in Agrigento, an old town on the southwestern coast of Sicily. 

The Temple of Concordia is the most complete temple.  It was built in the fifth century B.C.

and was converted to a Christian church in the sixth century A.D.  That kept it intact.

A 2011 statue of Icharus by Igor Mitoraj now lies to the side of the temple.

The Temple of Juno (Hera) was also built by the Greeks in the fifth century B.C. and

destroyed by the Carthaginians a hundred years later.

Saint John's Cathedral in Valletta, Malta

The exterior of the Knights of Malta's cathedral in Valletta, Saint John's Cathedral, is fairly plain.

Then you go inside.

Wow.

Siracusa in the Daytime

This is the lovely Duomo in Siracusa.  It was built over a 5th century B.C. doric temple.

And the Teatro Greco (Greek theater).

Siracusa at night!

Siracusa is a BEAUTIFUL old city on the southeastern coast of Sicily.

This is the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badio.

The Duomo is on another side of this peaceful piazza.

Old Print Shop

Among the many souvenir shops, bars and restaurants, Taormina

has some lovely antiques stores, including this shop selling old prints.

You might recognize a familiar man wearing one of his signature straw hats.

Weekend Reflections.

Taormina

Taormina is a beautiful town on a cliff above the Ionian Sea on the northeastern side of Sicily.  In addition to many old churches, bars and restaurants, souvenir shops and retail stores, and antique shops, it has an ancient Greek theater overlooking Mount Etna. The white cloud comes from particles being emitted from Etna, but the volcano itself is obscured.

Lipari and Volcano

Lipari is the biggest of the volcanic islands off the northern coast of Sicily.

Lying just south of Lipari is the smaller island of Volcano (at the top left), 

which is still active, and which gave its name to mountains that erupt.
Puffs of sulfuric emissions show as wisps of white smoke or clouds.