You're just as crazy as they are....

Into Syracusa we headed today. The biggest most powerful city in Magna Graecia. We hit a traffic jam on the way into town and a roundabout with no lanes; either visibly drawn ones or those made by cars following a predictable path. Only way to deal with is was to drive in and put a little stick about.

Marjan's comment was "That was really good! You're just as crazy as they are!"

We walked into town and at every turn we were impressed. Old Syracusa, the island of Ortigia is beautiful. Obviously there is a little more money than average here. Some of it is being funded by the EU, and there are obvious restoration works at many of the city's fine locations. Greek ruins, an Archimedes science museum, lots of baroque Spanish stuff.

and some shops Marjan loved......

We were particulrly impressed by the Duomo, the cathedral of Syracusa. Of course it started off as a Greek Temple to Athena. The original columns were integrated into the wall of a Byzantine church about 800 years later. Then a mosque, then a Norman church and of course the Spaniards added their baroque touches during their occupation. A quite stunning place, set in the most lovely piazza in Sicily.....at least the most stunning we have seen.

It was beautiful and peaceful so we sat, ate waffles and watched the world go by. And because you can have waffles, ice cream and sambucca laden coffee for second breakfast.

We basically wandered up and down a few alleys and eventually got down to the water on the bay side and slowly walked to the old castle. A castle was built here in the 11th century, but the current one was built in the 13th by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Various royals have used/been associated with it Peter of Aragon, Charles V of Spain, various Sicilian queens. It was also ceded to Lord Nelson at one point and has been owned by several English dukes in succession. It is currently
 undergoing restoration.

Back along the other side of the island and some lovely laneways and side streets. You could probably spend a week exploring each laneway.  Loved the people on a tiny bit of beach.....and the church turned into an art installation.

We ended up at the fresh food market with wonderful assortments of fish and fruit. We found a place near there to sit and have a small ante pasta platter for lunch. It was quite chaotic, and very popular, and we were a little lucky to get a table quickly......I kinda did the Italian thing again and ignored any potential queue. Just as we were paying up the rain started.

We weighed up our options and decided to go back to the car and drive back. We would skip the archeology park. Apparently the Theatre is interesting, but it is not well maintained. The Spaniards plundered/recycled the material for all the other beautiful buildings.

Just as well. Almost the moment we got into the car, it went from an irritatingly insistent drizzle to a mighty downpour. That lasted a little while before settling back into a drizzle. In the meantime the roads became bloody awful. Drainage is not a concept Sicilian traffic engineers want anything to do with.

More rain tomorrow. We'll see how we go in Noto.