Tag Archives: Sicily

Gianluca, Ignazio, Italia ~~ Italian Life, Piero

Italia – Sicilia

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We all know that Sicilia is the Italian island Piero and Ignazio call home, so lets start our virtual tour of the region with a little overview by our own MN.

Tidbits on Sicily by MN (mlla)

“Sicily ( Sicilia) is an autonomous Region in Italy. The island of Sicily has a surface of 25,708 km², and has about five million inhabitants. It is also the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and it includes some groups of smaller islands like Isole Eolie, Egadi and Pelagie.

In Sicily you find, close to the cities of Messina and Catania, the Mount Etna the tallest active Volcano in Europe.”

Thank you MN for your contribution to Sicilia Part 1!

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There are a number of ways to arrive in Sicily, of course you could fly, but you may also take a train, ferry or a hydrofoil. Our bus tour took us across the Strait of Messina  (Stretto di Messina) from Villa San Giovanni in Reggio Calabria by ferry. We arrived in Messina in about twenty to 30 minutes.  I think it took longer to load the ferry than to cross. If you travel by train, the train is loaded in a ferry and you are free to get out and roam around as we did.

CAR CARRIERS FOR MESSINA

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Welcome to Messina

City of Europe

On the way to Mount Etna by tour bus

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 Inside a crater

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Walking around a rim on Mount Etna

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 Numerous cones on the Etna

Etna continues to erupt and even though from a distance it looks as if it may have one symmetrical cone there are actually many cones across the mountain, visible in the pictures above.  There have been numerous lava flows on the Etna, after past explosions, authorities in Sicily have been forced to build dams or dig ditches to divert lava away from homes, some have been abandoned.

 

Additional Resources 
– Hydrofoil or Train
http://www.thethinkingtraveller.com/thinksicily/travel-to-and-around-sicily/car-sea-and-rail.aspx

– Sicily Getting there & away
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/sicily/transport/getting-there-away

– Let’s Go For a Ride! How to Take a Train Across the Strait of Messina
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/19/14341/1507/travel/Let’s+Go+For+a+Ride!+How+to+Take+a+Train+Across+the+Strait+of+Messina

– Mount Etna volcano tour and Sicily tours
http://www.mountetna.net/

– There she blows: Mount Etna erupts for 13th time this year spewing lava and ash hundreds of feet into the air    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2316365/Mount-Etna-sends-lava-ash-hundreds-feet-air-volcano-erupts-thirteenth-time-year.html

Italia – Sicilia Part 1

Credits – MN and MFA

 

Gianluca, Ignazio, Il Volo, Italia ~~ Italian Life, Piero

Italia – Let’s Go! Part 3

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co

Roman Colosseum (Colosseo) at dusk

The Flavius amphitheatre is the biggest and most imposing in the Roman world, but is also the most famous monument in Rome and is known as the “Colosseum” or “Coliseum”. Started by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavia family, it was opened by his son Titus in 80 A.D. http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/colosseum.htm 

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Waiting to enter Capri’s Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra)

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Inside the Roman Colosseum

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Venice

A Canal in Venice

 


Looking down on a street in Assisi

Italia  – Let’s Go!  Part 3 concludes the Italia – Let’s go series.  All of the pictures in the post “Italia – an Il Volo Flight Crew Special Feature” have been identified.  As this series of Italia comes to a close, I am not exactly sure where we will travel next, there are unlimited possibilites. We may hop around Italia as if we are on a private jet and can go anywhere we want at a moments notice.  Won’t this be fun!

Soon though, we will travel to Assisi where Il Volo recently performed in Rai’s Concerto di Natale at the Basilica di San Francesco. Assisi, a medieval city built on a hill, is the birthplace of Saint Francis and according to Rick Steves’s “The Basilica di San Francesco is one of the artistic highlights of medieval Europe.” http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/0400basilicatour.htm

Some photos originally from film.

In Case You Missed It

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT……..

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Report

Hi Everyone,

Take a deep breath and wipe away those tears. The time has come for “Our Boys” to go home to their family and friends. Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca have given us the gift of themselves for more than a few months now. We have seen them live, seen some great videos and wonderful photos! We have all that to remember them by while they take a little time at home. We don’t know when they’ll be back here in America, but we’ll keep in touch the best ways we have. Remember Gianluca loves to keep in touch with his fans and Piero and Ignazio usually will send Tweets and the occassional Keek to let us get a glimpse of their lives. We respect their privacy, but we do like the little updates they share with us.

I thought you might like to see a little of where they call home!

Piero calls Naro a town in Sicily home. In his beloved Naro, Piero likes to hang out with his friends and his sister, Maria Grazia.

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Ignazio goes home to Marsala, also in Sicily. He enjoys hanging out with his friends and driving his new car!

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Gianluca calls the Hamlet of Montepegano, in the Abruzzo Region, home. When he’s home he enjoys going to the beach with friends and watching his brother, Ernesto play Soccer.

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Twitters, Tweets and Keeks:

Gianluca: “A girl with intelligence is sexy” Last night: “Buenas night” See his Keek “Greetings from NY” On Mundial.

Piero: Shopping and smiling around #NYC with @barbaravitali”

Ignazio: “Sushi heart for everyone” with a picture, and today, ” Snowing!! Good morning New York, last day!!!” See his picture in the snow on All Things Il volo.

See Connie’s Il Volo story under “my Il volo Experience” .

Dates coming up in Italy: December 14th, concert at The Basillica of St Francis of Assissi in Assissi, Italy. December 18th in Scala at The Bascillica di San Lorenzo. It is unsure if we  can see these concerts here in the USA, but i’m sure there will be videos available on UTube.

Of course we’re all sad today, but the sadness is somewhat tempered by their joy in going home!! Until you come back again, Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca, stay well, enjoy your Christmas and God speed for your flight to Italy!!

OOPS got to run, have to find Marie!! The last I heard she was seen at the airport running after a jet heading for Italy!!

Linda