On the road in Sicily
Spending a few days in Sicily gave me a chance to travel around before heading for the towns of Enna and Caltanisseta to see at first hand the famed Easter processions. The map below shows in yellow two round trips starting from Palermo and Cefalu.
Palermo is a city full of wonderful squares, old palaces, churches and markets. The centre of the city is the Quattro Canti (the four corners) in the medieval part of the city.
San Giueseppe ai Teatini near the Quattro Canti.
The historic centre has many traffic-free areas with restuarants and bars.
A rather flamboyant gentleman in Italian army uniform walking down the Corso Vittorio Emanuele from Quattro Canti.
Not far is La Vucciria, one of the main market areas.
Walking down Corso Vittorio Emanuele from Quattro Canti one comes across the Cattedrale (http://www.cattedrale.palermo.it) which is a 12th century building with fine features.
Some sights, just a little way away from the main historic part of Palermo, are less ornate and some might argue even a little bit peculiar.
Not far from Palermo is Mondello, a small seaside resort and fishing village....
.... with typical back streets ...
... and residents.
From Mondello to Alcamo one comes across villages where the facade of most buildings reflect their time-worn age.
Churches are decorated externally ....
.... and internally they are equally ornate.
There are also other sights....
... that left me completely surprised.
Surprisingly, not much activity can be seen in the back streets of some of these villages
Although old folks still gather in squares as in older times.
From the fine town of Cefalu and through the Monti Madonie (http://www.parcoavventuramadonie.com) one climbs up to the town of Gangi, through typical towns such as Castelbuono, Patralia Sorana, and Petralia Sottana ...
... where you can have panoramic views of the mountain and the valleys down below
Most villages are remote, built high up on hills and they feel like impenetrable castles.
Houses are close together on either side of narrow streets ....
.... as if to be protected from enemies and the harsh winters.
Time has taken its toll on some buildings.
But life continues with daily routines for some people like this fisherman who was at the same corner every day selling his day's catch ....
.... or the village baker ....
.... but people also find time to take care of their beloved motors as this guy was lovingly polishing his Harley Davidson one late evening.