A few years ago I visited Sicily, an island of history, architecture, stunning landscapes – and of course, Mount Etna. As soon as I got off the plane, Sicily’s warm, scented air assailed my senses in a way that only the Mediterranean can. The island has something for everyone – and the warm climate, great food and even warmer people will make any visit memorable.
Here are just a few of my images, from my trips to some of the magnificent churches of the capital -Palermo, and then on to Syracuse, Taormina, Agrigento and finally the towering Mount Etna and some of Sicily’s beautiful landscapes.
Statue at the entrance to La Capella Palatina, Palermo
Breathtaking – La Capella Palatina, Palermo
Stunning interior of Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (Martorana) Palermo
There is so much history in Palermo – this square is one of many you must try and visit. Fontana Pretoria, Palermo
As this next series of images illustrate – Syracuse (or Siracusa, to give its Italian name) is a city of languid charm and stunning architecture…and tradition. The last image of Siracusa is the Diana Fountain, Piazza Archimede.
Taormina is an elegant and stylish resort but most of my time was spent at its most historic and dramatic location – the Teatro Greco. The Hellenistic theatre was built under Hieron in the 3rd century BC and enlarged by the Romans in AD2; it perfectly frames Mount Etna, far in the distance.
The light in Sicily is incredible – crystal-clear and warm: Agrigento is most famous for the ‘Valley of the Temples’ – a string of Doric temples that stand imposingly on a ridge, south of the city.
Sicily is full of history but also full of colour and humour — from the Sicilian ceramic heads that can be found, adorning houses, throughout the island, to Sicily’s beautiful narrow streets and the many statues and water features, throughout the capital – Palermo.
No trip to Sicily is complete without a visit to the towering Mount Etna – it has ‘mini’ craters at various levels – but all are huge.
Thank you Sicily – I can’t wait to return…
Michael David is a London-based photographer who also worked in digital communications in the British government, where he was also an official photographer. This included photo shoots at 10 Downing street and Buckingham Palace. Follow him on Twitter, and view his photography at http://www.michaeldavid-photography.co.uk . You can also read his photo blogs on https://michaelseye.wordpress.com.
Concierge tip: Why not combine a trip to Sicily with a visit to other enticing exciting locations in the centre and north of Italy? Now you can do this by arranging a bespoke Baglioni Tour itinerary – your Italian dream is just an email away!
We invite you to check out our images and follow us Baglioni Hotels on Instagram for more amazing photos of Italy.
