Back to Sicily

From Vulcano along the north coast of Sicily

 It is not always blue skies and sunshine! 41 knots of wind in Vulcano - thank goodness for our Rocna anchor. Other boats didn't stay put but luckily we both did.

 Having waited for better weather we set of between Vulcano and Lipari and passed these amazing rock forms rising straight up out of the sea.

After a refuelling stop at St Agata, we arrived in Cefalu where we anchored outside the marina - a lovely spot.

A lovely anchorage looking back at the coastline. 

                                         The evening skies over Cefalu
 

 Flat Tabacchiera (Saturn) peaches - local to Sicily and delicious!

 Leaving Cefalu and heading west. The cathedral on the right was built by King Roger as a thank you for being saved from a shipwreck. 

 Another lovely anchorage outside Ponticello harbour.

 From here,  we walked the two miles into the town of Bagheria and visited the Villa Palagonia - well known for its eccentric statues. Apparently in the 17th century visitors considered it "the most original in the world" and is now known as the Villa of Monsters. There are numerous statues in Aspra tuf adorning the outer walls. These represent imaginery animals, anthropoid figures and other caricatures. 

 The comical statues around the walls

Detail of some of the statues around the walls.

The grand entrance.

  

The walls in the great hall are covered in marble, coloured glass and marble reliefs.

 We spent several days anchored in the entrance to the marina at Castellamare del Gulfo - another beautiful spot.

 From the town looking back down to the anchorage. Serenity is one of the five boats anchored in the centre of this photo.

 A strange tree spotted in the town. If you zoom in you will see that the trunk is covered in thorns - very strange!

 The walls along the steps down to the harbour are decorated with tiles from many Rotary clubs.

 Dave's "bright idea" moment!

Actually a wonderful meal of seafood risotto on the wall above the harbour entrance.

 Continuing east we rounded the point at Capo San Vito - the north west point of Sicily, heading for the Egadi Islands.