Oct 73 min read

Awe InSPIREing

Monday October 7, 2024

This is the Astronomical Clock of the Cathedral of Messina. Absolutely amazing! More information below. (It may not officially be a spire, but it is close, and it made a good title.)

Fun Facts: Sicily, Italy

Legend has it that the phrase "between a rock and a hard place" came from boats passing through the narrowest part of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and mainland of Italy. At that point the strait is only 1.9 miles across.

Mt Etna, on the island of Sicily, is the tallest and most active volcano in Europe, and the second most active volcano in the world. It last erupted on August 14, 2024.

Sicilians eat ice cream for breakfast, usually with a brioche pastry.

Saluti! (Greetings)

Yesterday was a lovely day at sea, traveling from Crete to Sicily, over calm seas. Sleeping in, delicious meals, and a great afternoon wine-tasting were highlights of the day.

Today we are in Messina, on the Italian island of Sicily. We were surprised to learn that Sicily was destroyed by a devastating Tsunami in 1908. The town was basically flattened, 80,000 people died, and buildings were demolished. So the city we see today was basically rebuilt in the 1920's and 1930's, creating a more modern looking city. One interesting story says that a statue of Neptune that survived the tsunami was reinstalled in its original place, but turned to be facing out to sea, so Neptune could better protect the town in the future.

The strait of Messina is very narrow, and connects two seas - the Ionian and Tyrrhenian. This can lead to dangerous whirlpools forming in the narrow strait, and rough seas for ships traveling through. Ancient lore described the whirlpools as being caused by two monsters guarding the strait. Although the strait is only 1.9 miles across at the narrowest point, a planned bridge has never been built, and the locals use ferries (for people, cars and even trains) to cross back and forth to mainland Italy. We saw many ferries crossing back and forth in the short time we drove along the coast to the narrow strait.

Strait of Messina

In the same area of Messina, close to the strait, are two "Salty Lakes". These lakes are connected to the sea by small canals that allow salt water to flow into the first lake, and then from the first lake to the second lake. These lakes are surrounded by homes and the home owners own a piece of the lake where they can fish commercially or raise clams and oysters if they wish. The lakes are calm, shallow and salty!

Salty Lake showing houses and fishing boats.

A fisherman in a salty lake, and actually standing in this shallow part of the lake to check on the young fish they are raising.

A clam and oyster farm in the Salty Lake.

Our final place to visit in Messina was the courtyard outside the Cathedral of Messina. We sat at a cafe and were given a breakfast snack of cannoli, and a granita (an Italian ice that comes in flavors such as lemon, almond or coffee).

Then we walked around the square and gathered in front of the Astronomical Clock for its noon show. The clock was built in 1929, and was modeled on the Astrological Clock in Prague. The 10 minute show involves the lion roaring, the rooster flapping it wings, and crowing, the ambassadors visiting Mary, Jesus with the apostles, a church and dove, and more. And it was all timed to beautiful music. And on the side of the clock tower there is a moon that shows which phase the moon is in, an astrological clock, and a perpetual calendar (see big picture above).