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Sicily

At the top of a hill overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare, just outside the ruins of the ancient city of Segesta, is a wonderfully well preserved Doric temple. The old structure is thought to have been built around 420 BC by an architect from Athens and is regularly deemed the best surviving example of Doric architecture in Europe. This amazingly preserved Doric temple was abandoned before it was ever completed.

Walking from the restaurant back to the main road we viewed the magnificient temple in the distance and the wild red flowers growing close by the road.

The temple is also without an inner chamber, and it’s believed that the building was never given a roof. Even more, it appears that the temple was never given any painted or sculpted ornamentation, an altar, or any dedication to a particular deity.

The round circular holes are actually tunnels drilled underground for the highways.

In this photo you can see a number of roadway tunnels in the distance with agiculture above the tunnels.

Antonio our local guide is explaining the Norman Arc is the remains of the old Norman Castle built in 1073 and demolished in 1880 on a walking tour of the old part of the city. Mazara del Vallo is a town and comune in the province of Trapani, southwestern Sicily.

Old churches on every corner.

The Basil Cathedral of the Santissimo Salvatore is in front of another symbol of the city, the Piazza della Repubblica, which is surrounded like a crown by the most important buildings. In addition to the Cathedral, there are the magnificent Palazzo del Seminario with inside the Diocesan Museum that give the plaza its distinctive appearance, There is also the Town Hall and the Bishop’s Palace. The cathedral is a mixture of Romanesque, Baroque and Greek.

This guy on the tricycle had music blaring with the Nation anthem of Italy. Giovanni is with him. I think he could have been the official greeter from the Chamber of Commerce.

Every corner of the city seems to have a church or former church.

The current Mayor has been putting tile with art all over th eold part of the city.

More of the Mayor's work on tiles.

The Casbah, the old Arab quarter, is home to many houses in typical Arab style and it is crossed by an endless series of small tunnels. The neighborhood is inhabited by a large Tunisian community, which helps keeping intact the overall style of the neighborhood.

Art painted on roll up garage doors to businesses.

More art on Tile

The low arches in the Arab neighborhood helped to keep out invaders. It was impossible to ride in and invade with the low slung arches.

During the 9th and 10th century Maraza had the largest fishing fleet in all of Italy. Today fisherman still leave each morning for today's catches.

Today Mazara is widely considered to be one of the most important fishing centers of Italy; tussles about fishing rights, especially with the North-African countries, figure large in the town's recent history, boat sequestrations being a common event. Currently the fishing business in the city seems to be withering, mainly because of the increasing lack of people willing to work on boats.

Today Mazara is widely considered to be one of the most important fishing centers of Italy; fights about fishing rights, especially with the North-African countries, figure large in the town's recent history, boat sequestrations being a common event. Currently the fishing business in the city seems to be withering, mainly because of the increasing lack of people willing to work on boats.

The harbor is busy with repairs and maintenance on many ships.

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