The town of Giardini and its amenities such as cafes, restaurants and long promenade along the seafront also makes for a pleasant destination. The sea can also be enjoyed a short 200 yard walk from the camperstop to where the ancient Naxos used to be, now a quiet part of the coast. Good public transport to the nearby hilltop town of Taormina and the city of Catania further south makes for variation and choice. The fact that our immediate surrounds were so pleasant meant that we often spent the days just walking around our immediate neighbourhood, enjoying the sun on the virtually deserted Naxos beach (low season plus point) or having the odd Cappuccino at a seafront cafe.
Giardini-Naxos is a vibrant - in styles, colours and life - destination bringing something for everyone that cares to visit. I can truly say that both Joan and I enjoyed our stay here! We could hardly have wanted a better place to spend the Festive Season at.
Taormina on the hill beyond Giardini bay
Cafe on the promenade
Zeus
Mid town greenery
Mt Etna from where the ancient Greek colony of Naxos used to be
Downtown Giardini
Street art in downtown Giardini
Below is a bust of Guiseppe Garibaldi commemorating his efforts and success in unifying what is today known as Italy. He and his "1,000 red shirts" crossed the Straits of Messina in 1860 in two boats to land on mainland Italy from where he started his march on Rome and the meeting with Victor Emmanuel II, later King of a united Italy.
Guiseppe Garibaldi
Memorial to Merchant seaman near the port
On the Naxos beach
Naxos beach with Mt Etna
Medicine for the soul
We left Camper Lagani on Monday 7 January and headed for the city of Catania, Sicily's second city, for no other reason than the fact that Marius wanted to pursue some of his history interests - in this case WW2 military cemeteries. Yes, again ....
To be continued.
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