#noemiknows

[thekentmonologues]

Toretta Pepoli, built in 1881, privately owned turreted mansion

Erice, Sicily

Erice is a medieval walled hilltown founded by the builders of the temple in Segesta, the Edymians, an indigenous Sicilian people. The history of the town mirrors that of Sicily as a whole: taken over by the Greeks, then the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Arabs, then the Normans. 

The best part of the visit is taking in the jaw-dropping views of the surrounding area. The road up and down had Kayo quite anxious with its switchbacks and narrow shoulders. 

[thekentmonologues]

The hilltop surrounding the doric temple of Segesta is green from the recent rains that have brought out the snails. The countryside is covered in a broom-like bush, looking very much like North American sagebrush. Kayo looked up the plants that we saw. They included wild myrtle, thyme and acanthus. Acanthus is the inspiration for the curly capitals on Corinthian columns.

[thekentmonologues]

The valiant six from Canada and our intrepid guide, Noemi. At the panoramic lookout in Monreale, Sicily.

The valiant six with our driver Giuseppe, always travelled with his guitar and sang as he drove the van. 

[thekentmonologues]

Our guide for the next few days covering Northern Sicily, Noemi. She explains the three-legged Sicilian symbol called a trinacria which represents the three cornered shape of the island.