After passing through the famous Straits of Messina yesterday evening, we came ashore on the second Italian Island of our journey, the largest and perhaps the most famous of them all, Sicily.
This morning, we landed in the Bay of Naxos at the foot of the great volcano Etna, and made our way up the narrow, winding roads to the beautiful little town of Taormina. Local guides introduced us to the region as we ascended the steep hillsides above the bay, then led us through the lovely small squares, with bright flowers and beautiful little shops of the town.
After some free time for shopping and gelato, we reboarded the coaches and rode out of town to the historic villa of Castello degli Schiavi where we enjoyed hors d’oeuvres in the sunshine followed by a fantastic Italian lunch in the amazing vaulted cellar of the villa.
