The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1950-07-20
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES.
BY iGzel Brannon Smith
Messina, Sicily
(Delayed)

(Delayed)
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 a short time. We hoped
some day to return and perhaps
visit tibet 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 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 island.
This famous volcano dominates
the island and has a record of
over 100 eruptions. At its base,
on the east. directly across the
narrow straits from the toe nof
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 a small village comes
into view usually situated by a
river that can be seen winding
down from the mountains to the
sea making a 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
ly the terrific bombings which
paved the way for the American
troops to enter Italy. The harbor
has been rebuilt surprisingly well
for 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 you 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 walls and the old foun-
dations. +
Messlna, because of its location,
is and has been for centuries a
very important commercial sea
port. Unfortunately, due to the
many disasters it 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 !
Taor1nina. 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 |
mountain 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
tire was entirely reconstructed |
by the Romans. This theatre had !
perhaps the finest site of any
theatre in the ancient world. It j
is situated high on hin over |
looking the sea and built in a
semi-circular shape. It's perfec-
ton of construction was celebrat- |
ed as a voice on the stage could
be heard in every part OF the
building when 1t 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 |
an the buildings themselves but |
an the rich art treasures on dis
play within.