The Daily Diary of a Wandering Restaurateur
The Road to Cefalu
Today it is Arrivederci to Catania and our snug little apartment. We can't begin to describe the attention to detail and the true sense of hospitality we have received from Marina and Andrea. I wish all rental homeowners were as aware and caring.
But we must move on and leave Mt. Etna looming over the orange groves, as constant a presence as Mt. Rainier is in our home area. Maybe it's something primative about volcanos as living things ...
Villa Romana del Casale was part of a 3rd-4th century AD estate and is regarded as one of the most fascinating attractions in archaeologically rich Sicily. It is known for its exceptionally beautiful mosaics that decorated every one of the rooms of the landowners apartments. These have been preserved through the centuries, thanks to a 12th century flood that buried them in mud until the villa was re-discovered in the 19th century. Additional excavations were made in 1929 and 1935 but the major discoveries in 1950-60 really brought fame to the site.
Located outside the town of Piazza Armerina in central Sicily, the remains of the villa (walls and floors) are now preserved under cover. Visitors view the rooms from an elevated walkway that preserves what have been called the most exceptional Roman mosaics in the world while allowing unrestricted viewing from above. Very civilized!
The mosaics tell stories of life in the period -- hunting scenes, transporting of animals from Africa to compete in the Roman colosseums, allegories, athletic competition, home life and such. The restoration of the property continues.
We pulled into Cefalu (pronounced CHEFF-a-loo) in late afternoon, wiggled our way through the old town to the shore and found our home for the next few days. The apartment has a lot more space than the digs in Catania but has nowhere near the finish and amenities. The bad news is that we have to climb three flights of stairs to get here. The good news is that the view from the terrace makes all that worthwhile. A quick trip around the corner to the market for a few basic supplies and we called it a day.
© 2013 Restaurant Doctor
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