Swimming in the Ionian Sea – Day 12

Last – Leisurely Day at the Island of Ortigia – Day 11

So we decided to go out for breakfast. We went to a little pastry shop that had granitas and brioche buns. It was called CCA e DDA. We got a handful of pastries and a round of cappuccinos. I got a prickly pear granita. The pastries were amazing and so was the granita. We headed to Fountain of Diana.
and then made plans to take a boat around the island.

Our appointment was for 1 pm. There was 10 of us all together. Our group, another group of 4 and a couple. We were on a 20-foot boat with a small outboard motor. The skies and water was clear. It was a perfect day. As we went around the island, the captain told us about different buildings around the island and their history. We then headed to the main island and he showed us several caves that outlined the main land. We stopped for a quick swim.

A young couple wanted to go swimming so they stripped down. I had wanted to go but didn’t bring a bathing suit. The young man said he was going in his underwear. So, I decided to do the same. This surprised everyone and myself. The water was frigid and very salty. At first, it took me by surprise. After a while, it was very refreshing. A few jumps back into the water and we were back on our way.

After the boat trip we headed back to the apartment for a quick rest. The captain had mentioned a church on the mainland. It was about 20 minutes walking distance from our apartment. The church had a painting by the famous Renaissance artist Caravaggio. We headed over there before dinner to take a look.

The painting is called the “Burial of Saint Lucy” and it’s massive. It sits over the church altar. We sat and looked at it in the dark for a few minutes. The priest who spoke no English then went and turned on the light that illuminated it. It turns out you had to pay 2 euros to see the painting lit. After we admired the painting and the church we gave the priest 2 euros and headed back for dinner.

Dinner was a pizza restaurant on the other side of our apartment building called Era Ora Ortigia. The reviews were outstanding the food was as good. It was the first restaurant we ate at even though it was only pizza that everyone enjoyed. The waiter was outgoing and helpful and it was a great ending to our last night in Ortigia.