Visit to the Greek Theatre

Monday March 14 started with some sun.  Alonso went out for his second run of the trip.  He did 5.1 km through the city and had some great vistas of the sea and Mt. Etna.  However, the sun did not last long.  When we headed out at about 1:30 p.m. after doing some grocery shopping, there was a light rain.  High today was about 15C.

Picture Alonso took on his run- Mt Etna has the snow cap

Alonso is still learning how to do selfies

Our favourite bell tower about one minute from our apartment

Cat on a hot tin roof

Another elegant cat

An alley off the main street

We passed a sign indicating another mosaic from the 2nd century A.D. just off the main street.  It featured a lovely flowered pattern.  The accompanying plaque suggested that the mosaic was from a private home.  There was an old portico nearby.  It is amazing to see these pieces of ancient history incorporated into the city fabric.  While one cannot enter the area where the mosaic is located, one can get close.

Mosaic from the 2nd century A.D.

Of course, it had started to rain again.

Looking in at the mosaic

Plaque on left, gate where mosaic on floor was located and portico on right

Our destination was the Greek Theatre, which is located on a street perpendicular to Corso Umberto I, with fabulous views of the sea and on clear days, Mount Etna.  Just before we got there, we passed a sign for the 60th Taormina Film Fest which took place in June, 2014.

Poster for 60th anniversary of Film Fest

Another ceramic head on street leading to Theatre

Just beside the Greek Theatre was another plaque from the Cultural map series.  It was about the Grand Hotel Timeo that was founded in 1850 and served as a hotel to the stars.  There was always a cocktail party at the Grand Hotel Timeo just prior to the film festival awards which were presented in the Greek Theatre.  Unfortunately, the Hotel was not reopening for the season until March 24, two days after we leave town.  We took a few pictures- it would have been lovely to have had a drink out on the Terrace facing the sea.

Picture through window of Hotel looking out at the sea

Entrance to Grand Hotel Timeo

Two birds waiting for the Hotel to open

View from terrace of Hotel

The Teatro Greco (Greek Theatre), built in the 3rd century B.C., is the most dramatically situated Greek theatre in the world as it sits between sea and sky.  What remains today is largely the Roman reconstruction that took place in the 2nd century A.D.   The Greek Theatre is the second largest in Sicily (after Siracusa).  It had a seating capacity of 5000.  Some of the Corinthian columns are still standing.  In summer, the theatre is used as the venue for international arts and film festivals.

Layout of Theatre

Entrance to Theatre

Lots of wonderful cacti

Arches outside of theatre

Name on seat

Corinthian columns on one side

From the bottom of the theatre

Another view near the columns

Passage to the stage

A mosaic displayed in a separate room

A beautiful vase

View from the top

From even higher

Alonso with view looking north of Taormina

Looking south

The Theatre in all its glory

After our visit to the Greek Theatre, we went to a bakery our host had recommended to get a bread, and then on to our favourite cheese/charcuterie shop to get some more prosciutto.  We passed a small shop where a ceramics maker was working.  He had some beautiful ceramic heads on display.

Ceramic heads by Gaetano Mirisciotti

The bakery where we got our bread- more heads above

We then decided to go for a glass of wine at a small enoteca near the cheese shop.  We had a lovely glass of Sicilian Syrah and a plate of bruschetta.  We chatted with an Australian couple and a lovely woman down for the weekend from Rome.  While we were there,  a thunderstorm started.

Alonso with wine and bruschetta

Al Grappolo d'Uva was the name of the enoteca

Inside of Enoteca- good place to hang during the thunderstorm

We had to leave when it was still raining.  We stopped at a pharmacist to get some drugs for my back, which is still bothering me a lot.  We hurried back to the apartment, where Alonso made a lovely pasta dinner with fresh tomato sauce and a salad with fennel.  On Tuesday March 15, we are taking a cooking class with Chef Massimo.  Stay tuned!