All language subtitles for The.World.From.Above.S06E08.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-AlfaHD_track3_[eng]

(majestic music)

- Our journey begins on
the northern coast of Sicily,

near the capital City of Palermo.

We then head toward the
Province of Agrigento

for a tour of the greatest collection

of Greek temples outside of Athens.

Once in the Province of Enna, we take in

one of the best views in all of Sicily

before traveling east across
mountains and farmland

as we make our way to Syracuse,

reputedly the most beautiful
city of ancient Greece.

From there we explore the
eastern shore at Taormina,

the island's top tourist destination.

We make our way to Mount Etna,

the largest and most
active volcano in Europe.

Finally, we discover the
coastal City of Messina,

the oldest port in Sicily.

As we speed along the
runway of Palermo Airport,

we catch our first glimpse
of what lies in store

for our journey.

More than four million passengers travel

down this same stretch
of runway each year.

Visitors from far and wide are drawn

to the raw beauty of Sicily,

a place forged by fire
which so characterizes

the spirit of this land and its people.

The appeal of the rugged
mountainous terrain

and pristine beaches are matched by some

of the oldest and most beautiful
cities in all of Italy.

The village of San Cipirello,
a more recent addition,

was rebuilt in 1838 after
being destroyed by a landslide.

Continuing south we come to the small town

that was the source of inspiration

for the most infamous crime family

to ever grace a page or screen, Corleone.

Although the Mafia family in
the famed "Godfather" series

is fictional, the bitter rivalry

that once plagued this
hill town was quite real.

But modern times have
brought a welcome change,

marking a new, peaceful era for Corleone.

Sicily's warm Mediterranean climate

and fertile valleys have made agriculture

the cornerstone of the island's economy.

Once densely forested,

the island has been cleared over time.

Deforestation began
when this region served

as the grain belt for the Roman Empire.

Situated on the southern coast is the City

of Porto Empedocle.

For more than 2,000 years
it's been a vital hub

for transporting crops.

And the biggest clue as to its importance

in times past lies just inland.

One of the most breathtaking collections

of ancient Greek ruins outside of Athens,

the Valley of the Temples.

This 1,300 hectare archeological park

preserves the remains of what was once one

of the most prosperous Geek
colonies in Sicily, Akragas.

Founded in 582 B.C., it
underwent a magnificent period

of construction a century later

until their long-standing
enemy, the Carthaginians,

destroyed the city.

Today these remains are a
UNESCO World Heritage Site

and one of Sicily's main attractions.

The most prominent feature
are the magnificent ruins

that overlook a ridge.

At its highest point
is the temple of Juno,

around two and a half thousands years old.

In its day this was where
the goddess of women

and marriage was worshiped
and weddings took place.

When the Carthaginians
finally stormed the city,

it was mostly likely burnt down,
just leaving the stonework.

Though it was never rebuilt,
it was partially restored

by a wealthy Italian
prince as far back as 1787.

It's the first recorded effort

to preserve these ancient
monuments for future generations.

These temples were all
built in what's known

as the Doric Order, a
style of architecture

that was sturdier and less
fancy than later Greek designs,

but nonetheless gave the
building a more commanding look.

In their prime, they would
have been brightly painted

in red, gold and blue.

Amongst the ruins is
the most well-preserved

Greek place of worship outside of Athens,

the Temple of Concordia, built in 430 B.C.

It retains all 34 of its
original limestone columns.

Typically, the walls
were made of mud bricks,

which didn't fare well over time.

But this place is an exception.

Its current state of
preservation is in part due

to its conversion to a Christian basilica

at the turn of the seventh century.

The pagan idols were removed
and the walls were reinforced.

The oldest of the ruins
is the Temple of Hercules,

which dates to around 500 B.C.

Of the original 38 columns,
eight were restored

and re-erected in the early 1920s.

The temple was dedicated to
the divine hero, Hercules.

But while he was an important figure,

the greatest devotion was
for the goddess of fertility

and the harvest, Demeter and Persephone.

This expansive area was
set out for the worship

of these two divinities.

An intricate network of aqueducts

surrounding the site has been covered.

The channels were used to
collect water for sacred rituals.

Academics believe such
practices were evidence

of a society deeply rooted in agriculture.

Archeologists have also excavated an area

known today as the
Hellenistic Roman Quarter.

This ancient settlement
features an urban grid pattern

developed as early as the 6th century B.C.

The archeological museum,
built in the 1960s,

stands next to the ruins
of the Ekklesiasterion,

an amphitheater used
for political meetings.

This settlement was occupied for 900 years

before the entire valley was abandoned

during the Arab incursions
of the 7th century.

Once a thriving and prosperous Greek city,

today these ruins serve as a window

into Sicily's ancient past.

To the east, in the Province of Enna,

is a reminder that the
history of this island

dates far beyond the ancient
towns and temples of Greece.

Overlooking the rugged
valleys of the central region

we find the only major
city of ancient Sicily

not founded by foreign invaders.

Perched on a plateau in the
middle of the island is Enna.

There's been a city here since 1200 B.C.,

but like most of Sicily,
this place has been subjected

to a long series of foreign invaders,

beginning with the arrival
of the Greeks around 700 B.C.

Next came the Romans, who enslaved much

of the local population.

After years of tyranny,
the first great rebellion

against Rome began here in 137 B.C.,

led by a slave named Eunis.

The revolt lasted five
years before Roman forces

were able to sack the city
and crush the rebellion.

Today, Eunis is still hailed as a hero.

Enna's most famous landmark is also one

of the largest forts in Southern Italy,

Castillo d'Lambardia.

Built in the 13th century, only six

of its original 20 towers remain.

The most well-preserved
is the Tower of Pisa,

which offers the best
view in all of Sicily.

On the clearest days, all
three coastlines can be seen.

After the castle lost
its strategic importance,

it served as a prison until the 1930s

when it was transformed
into an open air theater

called teatro piu vicino alle stelle,

the theater closer to the stars.

A variety of musical
performances were held here

until it closed in 1992.

Today the castle is open to the public

and is Enna's most popular attraction.

Across the vast, desolate
landscape of Central Sicily

is another relic of times past.

These are the abandoned
ruins of Castle Graste.

This stretch of rocky crag
has served as an outpost

since Greco-Roman times, but the fortress

was likely built during
the Arab-Norman era.

The crumbling edifice is slowly
being reclaimed by nature.

The arid mountains give way to the rich,

fertile plains of Central Catania.

Agriculture has expanded far beyond

the wheat fields of old.

More than 400 varieties of
oranges are grown in Sicily.

Although it's big business
for towns like Palagonia,

tourism is playing a growing
role in Sicily's economy.

Many visitors come to explore

Orientata Pantalica Natural Park.

It was possibly considered a
mystical place by the ancients

since these valleys
hold around 4,000 tombs,

some dating back almost three
and a half thousand years.

On Sicily's eastern shore lies Syracuse.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Tears

may be an unmistakable modern addition

to the city's skyline, but it's mix

of architectural styles
represent thousands

of years of history.

Founded by the Greeks around 730 B.C.,

Syracuse prospered and soon became

the most powerful Greek city
in the entire Mediterranean.

The famous Roman philosopher Cicero

described this place as the greatest

and most beautiful of
all the Greek cities.

It's made up of five districts,

which have all retained
their original ancient names.

The oldest of these is the
tiny island of Ortigia.

Translating as island of quails,

it measures only one kilometer in length

and 500 meters at its widest point.

Because Sicily was under Spanish rule

at the height of the Renaissance,

the styles that so
characterize this period

seem to have passed the island by.

After the unification of Italy in 1865,

much of the fortification
walls were demolished

and a bridge connecting
the island was built.

In this historic heart
of Syracuse reminders

of past eras can be found at every turn.

These ruins from the
7th century B.C. are all

that remain of the Temple of Apollo,

said to be the first great
Doric temple in all of Sicily.

At the southern-most tip of the island

we find evidence of Ortigia's
strategic importance.

The 13th century Castello Maniace

is an excellent example of
Germanic fortress design,

save for the round towers,
which have retained

their original Arabic style.

Today it's one of the most
visited sites in Ortigia.

Another popular spot is the Piazza Duomo,

or Cathedral Square.

The piazza's elegant
semi-oval form is home

to some of the most prized
architecture in Syracuse.

The Cathedral of Santa
Maria delle Colonnee

features the original Doric columns

of its previous incarnation
as the Temple of Athena.

After two major earthquakes
in 1542 and 1693,

much of the city had to be rebuilt.

The flurry of construction
gave rise to a freer,

highly-embellished Baroque style

that's now so characteristic of Sicily.

The materials used by the Greeks

to build the great City of Syracuse came

from this ancient complex of quarries.

It's estimated that some
4.7 million cubic meters

of stone were extracted from this site.

The labyrinth also served
as a prison where thousands

were sentenced to hard
labor mining the rock.

One of the tourist attractions here is

this 3rd century Roman amphitheater.

But the most visited
ancient site in Syracuse

is the nearby Greek theater,
built in the 5th century B.C.

With 59 rows and a capacity
to hold 15,000 people,

it's one of the largest
of its kind ever built.

It's still used today for
the Greek Theater Festival,

which takes place every summer.

Ancient relics are not the only attraction

Sicily has to offer.

The island boasts more than
1,000 kilometers of beaches.

Among the most popular are
these golden sands of Catania,

which stretch for more
than 100 kilometers.

And perched atop a rocky seaside cliff

on the eastern shore is the
picturesque village of Taormina,

the most popular tourist
destination in Sicily.

Its history as a resort
began with the Greek

and Roman upper classes and continued

with each new foreign invader.

By the 19th century,
Taormina had been elevated

to a must-see destination
on the grand tour

for fashionable English gentlemen.

With such consistent
wealth over the centuries,

the city has always
been spared the periods

of economic hardship suffered
by other Sicilian towns.

The city remains a magnet
for the rich and famous

from around the globe.

The number one site to visit in Taormina

is the ancient Greco-Roman theater.

The original was most
likely built by the Greeks

in the 3rd century B.C.

It was later restructured by the Romans

and most of what we see dates
from the 2nd century A.D.

It's interesting to note
that reserved seating existed

even in Greek times.

The names of the most affluent residents

are still inscribed on some of the seats.

Measuring more than
100 meters in diameter,

it's the second largest
ancient theater in Sicily.

The site was discovered
rather humbly in 1892.

A blacksmith was digging
on the top of the hill

when he hit upon some bricks.

Word quickly spread and
archeologists soon arrived

to oversee the painstaking
restoration project.

Today the theater hosts a
prestigious annual film festival

as well as summer theatrical
performances and concerts.

Taormina may have much to offer by way

of luxury resorts and ancient ruins,

but the city is undoubtedly
most characterized

by its natural beauty.

The tiny island of Isola
Bella, just off the shore,

offers a unique way to experience nature.

This watery path provides the
island's only access by foot.

It belonged to King Ferdinand
the First until 1806

when he gifted it to the City of Taormina.

But it quickly fell into private hands.

It wasn't until 1990 that the
state purchased the island

to serve as a resort and nature reserve

for a variety of marine
and wildlife species.

Today the Isola Bella
is under the protection

of the World Wildlife Fund.

Naturally, Sicily has a deep
connection with the sea.

The Strait of Messina, which separates it

from the Italian mainland,
has been a vital trade route

since the ancient Greeks.

Though sailors no longer
trade stories of sea monsters

and sirens from "The Odyssey,"
they do occasionally witness

the fata morgana, a natural mirage

that appears as a wall of water.

Today these vessels are in luck,

as it looks like clear sailing ahead,

at least for the moment.

This is the view enjoyed
by legions of tourists

as they approach the runway
of Reggio Calabria Airport.

Originally built for the military in 1939,

today it serves over half a
million passengers each year.

Crossing the Strait of Messina,

we find this military vessel
patrolling the waters.

The Italian Navy currently has more

than 60 vessels in commission.

The fleet of the Reggio Marina provides

a significant presence
in the Mediterranean Sea.

As we return to the shore,

a brewing storm cloud looms overhead.

(thunder rumbling)

The rumblings of thunder
add an ominous air

as we near the volcanic
heart of Eastern Sicily.

Though we're careful to keep our distance

from this fearsome cumulonimbus,

it's reassuring that it's
not the deadly billowing ash

that has so often darkened these skies.

Empires may rise and fall,
but none has had a greater

or more profound impact
on Sicily than Mount Etna.

At almost three and a
half thousand meters,

it's Europe's biggest active volcano.

As we start our slow
ascent along its flanks,

clouds begin to obscure the summit.

Fresh lava flow from recent eruptions

has left everything in
its path utterly scorched.

Over the past decade the
volcano has undergone

a period of increased activity

and now erupts several times each year.

(majestic music)

The most violent eruption in
recorded history was in 1669.

3,000 people living on
the slopes were suffocated

by the poisonous gases
alone before the lava

and ash came bursting through.

In all, more than 20,000
people were killed.

As we get ever closer to
the very top of Mount Etna,

we pass several craters that are

in themselves mini volcanoes.

Most eruptions that occur
are from the east side vents,

as they're known.

They sometimes get blocked,
causing the lava beneath

to build under tremendous pressure.

This leads to the violent explosive events

that can cause so much
damage and loss of life.

(majestic music)

This eerie and bleak
sight tells us we're close

to the summit and the
main crater of Mount Etna.

What there is to be seen
through the rapidly building

cloud cover shows very
little signs of life,

something that has probably
changed very little

in the half a million
years of its existence.

But despite its awesome destructive power,

the countless generations
that have lived in its shadow

have always regarded Etna with reverence.

Today it's still referred
to as Mongibello,

meaning beautiful mountain.

And right now the imminent
storm over the volcano

means we'll have to save
our view of Etna's crater

for another time, because it's
simply getting too dangerous.

We take an altogether safer place

that's also our final destination.

The port City of Messina,
the gateway of Sicily.

It's been the most
significant harbor in Sicily

since Greek times.

It's also the setting
for Shakespeare's play,

"Much Ado About Nothing."

Messina has born more than
its fair share of disasters.

Over the past three centuries the city

has endured a plague,
two massive earthquakes,

and a devastating bombardment
during the second World War.

It became known as the City of Ghosts

because so many people fled
to safety in nearby towns.

But in true Sicilian fashion,

Messina forged ahead undaunted.

This island, born of fire,
has produced a people

with a fiery spirit, a fierce vitality.

From the ashes of Mount
Etna rose this ancient

and extraordinary place, a
beacon of hope across the sea,

and a perfect place to end our journey.

(majestic music)