The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1950-07-20
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES
by Hczel Brannon Smith
Messina, Sicily
Delayed

(DelayeQ)
AS we looked out across the vi
vid blue Mediterranean and
watched Egypt fade in the dis
lance, we wondered how we had
been able to see and do SO much
in such short time. We hoped
some day to return and perhaps
visit the upper Nile valley, but at
the moment we were tired out
and only too happy to enjoy the
three day voyage to Sicily.
Sicily, the largest island in the
Mediterranean, is a part of the
republic of Italy and looks on the
maps like a football that has been
kicked by the boot of Italy. As
we approached Sicily by way of
the Straits of Messina we first
sighted Mount Etna towering
over 10000 feet above the islano.
This famous volcano dominates
the island and has a record of
over 40 eruptions. At its base,
on the east, directly across the
narrow straits from the toe of
Italy, lies the port Of Messina
where we docked. The approach
through the Straits of Messina is
very picturesque. One sees on
either side the rugged mountains
dark with evergreens, the round
ed hills gray-green with olive
trees and terraced vineyards. Now
and then small village comes
into view usually situated by a
river that can be seen winding
down from the mountains to the
sea making d really delightful pic
ture.
The city OF Messina has faced
many disasters in the past includ-
ing the terrible earthquake of
1908 which almost completely de-
stroyed the city and more recent
y the terrific bombings which
laved the way for the American
toops to enter Italy. The harbor
has been rebuilt surprisingly well
70. this is the area that was COM
pletely flattened in World War
II.
The buildings in the city were
substantially constructed after the
earthquake and the heavy bomb
ing during the war simply Quilted
them. From a distance they look
as if they hadn't been hit, but
as you approach them ysu find
only the walls remain. The Sicil-
ians have made excellent progress
in rebuilding their city. We no.
ticed that they were using the
standing -nsalls -andethe old -6oun1
dations.
Messina, because of its location,
is and has been for centuries a
very important commercial sea
port. Unfortunately, due to the
many disasters il has experience
ed, its numerous historical monu-
ments have either been destroyed
or greatly damaged. The cathed-
raj, now restored, dates from 1892
and contains many interesting
works of art of the 18th century.
We took delightful drive south
of Messina along the winding
coast drive to the resort town of
Taormina. This lovely village is
situated high on a cliff affording
magnificent views combining
the sea and the sky, miles of curv-
ed coast line, thanked by beautiful
scenery and dominated
by Mount Etna in the distance.
Sicily has been called "the melt
ing pot of the Mediterranean" for
the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans,
Goths, Saracens, Normans, French
and Spaniards who have ruled
here have all left distinctive
marks. At Taormina we saw the
famous ruins of a theatre which
was originally built by the Greeks.
The columns of the theatre are
Greek, but the arches are Roman.
This is because the original thea
ire was entirely reconstructed
by the Romans. This theatre had
perhaps the finest site of any
theatre in the ancient world. 1t,
is situated high on a hill over
looking the sea and built in a
semi-circular shape It's perfec-
ton Of construction was celebrat-
ed as voice on the stage could
be heard in every part OF the
building when it was occupied by
an audience of 10000.
The cathedral at Taormina is
very beautiful and distinctive for
its Gothic portal. The culture of
the various races which have rul-
ed Sicily are in evidence not only
in the buildings themselves but
in the rich art treasures on dis
play within.