Snow globes from Sicily
The Italian province of Sicily is the largest and most populated island in the Mediterranean Sea. The island has 4.8 million inhabitants. Its capital city is Palermo in the north. Its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe. Catania is the second largest city in Sicily, and among the ten largest cities in Italy, located on Sicily's east coast, at the base of the volcano, facing the Ionian Sea.
This globe is a generic Sicily one containing a map of the Italian Island. We have visited Palermo in the north and Catania in the west, both towns of great character
Palermo globes
These two globes show the cathedral from different angles. The Cathedral of Palermo is one of the most important architectural monuments in Sicily. Built in 1184 by the Normans in their new Christian church built over a Muslim Mosque built over an early Christian basilica. The Cathedral has a unique Arab-Norman architectural style. The marble interior contains some seriously big royal Norman tombs and Constance of Aragon's gem-covered 13th-century crown. We climbed up to the roof for panoramic views over Palermo.
Constance of Aragon's crown contained in the cathedral's museum
The cathedral looks great at night
The view we got from the cathedral roof
Mount Etna globes
The volcano, Mount Etna ( derived from aithō, “I burn.”) Its the highest active volcano in Europe, about 10,900 feet above sea level though this height can change depending on its eruptions and it has minor eruptions often. More than 25% of Sicily's population lives on Etna's slopes, and it is the main source of income for the island, from agriculture on its rich volcanic soil, and tourism.The lava flows themselves thankfully do not move fast enough to threaten humans, but they can spread out slowly destroying crops and buildings. When we were in Catania the volcano was largely covered in cloud so we couldnt see any of the smoke which is often visible at its top. The face depicted in the base of the first globe is the Medusa from Greek mythology, the goddess Athena was protectress of Sicily, and had the head of the gorgon on her shield.
This unusul snow globe has "interesting" music to accompany the (just visible) flashing red fibre lights at the top of the volcano.
Catania globe
A mid 12th centrury travellers book records that in Catania, locals venerated an ancient basalt elephant called “u Liotru” which had magical powers and could predict the eruptions of nearby Mount Etna.
Today, the elephant is on top of a 1730s fountain with an Egyptian obelisk of equally mysterious origin on the elephant’s back. A marble saddle cloth over the elephant bears the coat of arms of St. Agatha, Catania’s patron saint. It is thought the elephant could be from Roman times. The Sicilian red and yellow flag is displayed on the base.
The ancient elephant now situated amid the fountain's combination of features.
