Striking.

That’s the best adjective I have to describe what I thought when I first saw La Scala dei Turchi here in Sicily. The rock cliff, as you see in the photos, is simply stunning. The rock looks sharp, and at some points, it is, and yet the cliff looks like it’s rolling waves.

I’m staying in Sicily for the holidays with cousins. We went to this beautiful site on a beautiful day that was warm and sunny with a cloudless blue sky almost illuminating the brilliant white cliff. “La Scala” is located along the coast of Realmonte, near Porto Empedocle, in the province of Agrigento.

The name, “The Stairway of the Turks” if you will, is so-called because the formations look like stairs.  The rock is marl, which is white. It also contains calcite and clay.  The second part of the name comes from the fact that, as history tells us, Turkish Moors invaded Sicily on this shore.

I’ve mentioned several times in posts on this blog that the beauty of Italy never disappoints, nor does it seem to end. Today was no different.

We couldn’t leave the area without getting a gelato at my cousin Sal’s favorite place, La Sosta. This was a wonderful way to end the visit.  Well, that and driving by the Greek temples perched on a hill in Agrigento.

Sicily is a treasure. Italy is a treasure.

I belong in Italy.

Approaching La Scala dei Turchi

Getting closer to La Scala

La Scala from a distance

Climbing up La Scala

Up on top of la Scala. The stone is marl.

And we’ve arrived on La Scala

Looking up on La Scala. (Did you see the dog?)

A groupie on La Scala – Claudia, Venera, me

Another beautiful view of La Scala

How about that view?

The cliffs of La Scala dei Turchi. You can’t walk over on that part. Too steep.

Striking view of the other side of La Scala

My wonderful cousins – Salvino, Gabriele, Claudia, Venera

Beautiful day in Sicilia

Venera. On our way down La Scala

A view of the Greek temples in Agrigento.