All language subtitles for The.World.From.Above.S03E01.Italy.-.Stromboli.to.Selinunte.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-pawel2006_track3_[eng]

(wind blowing)

(adventurous music)

(inquisitive music)

- [Narrator] Our journey
begins at the volcanic island

of Stromboli, before joining
Sicily's northern coast

where we head west, past
hilltop villages to Cefalu

and its ancient cathedral.

From there we continue

to the island's capital city, Palermo.

Inland to the southwest is
one of many ancient Greek

archaeological sites on
the island at Segesta.

Back on the coast in the northwest corner

is the city and harbor town of Trapani

and nearby a magnificent
hilltop town and castle.

From there we head south across vineyards

to the coast, to Triscina
and our final location,

the ancient Greek ruins at Selinunte.

(inquisitive music)

(mysterious music)

Rising out of the early morning mist

covering the Tyrrhenian Sea,

just off the north coast of
Sicily is an island volcano

which has been continuously
erupting for thousands of years

and is one of the most active
volcanoes on Earth, Stromboli.

(mysterious music)

The island is one of eight
in the Aeolian group,

forming a volcanic chain
in the shape of an arc.

Every 15 minutes or so
there is a small eruption,

throwing up incandescent bombs
of ash and lava fragments

which shoot about 100 meters into the air.

For centuries Stromboli's
nickname has been

the lighthouse of the Mediterranean

because at night the
red-hot rock and sparks

can be seen from miles
away across the sea.

(mysterious music)

This type of small eruption, or venting,

which typically only
lasts for a few seconds,

occurs in other volcanoes around the world

and the effect has become
known as a Strombolian.

The island began to be
formed around 160,000 years

after it emerged from the seabed

in a blast of molten lava and ash.

Amazingly, there are
people living on the island

and most of them can be
found on the east side

at San Bartolo and San Vincenzo.

In the early 1900s, the
population was over 1,000 people

but today it's only a few hundred.

Major eruptions have been
recorded for well over

1,000 years and the
most recent was in 1932.

And more moderate ones in 2002 and 2007.

Even the regular smaller
eruptions are a spectacular sight.

(mysterious music)

(volcano rumbling)

The eruption may only last seconds

but the ash plume takes
many minutes to clear.

To the south of Stromboli

are the rest of the Aeolian Islands

which comprise extinct,
dormant and active volcanoes.

And the nearest island to Stromboli

in this volcanic chain is Panarea.

(gentle instrumental music)

The island is an extinct volcano

and has been inhabited
for over 3,000 years.

Today Panarea has become
one of the most fashionable

and chic destinations in the Mediterranean

and in the summer swells
the permanent population

of roughly 300 people to over 1,000.

In 2000, UNESCO declared
the whole Aeolian chain

of islands a world heritage site.

(gentle instrumental music)

The last major eruption
on the island of Salina

was about 13,000 years ago

and since then it has been dormant.

Lipari is the largest of the
Aeolian volcanic islands,

the last recorded eruption
was in the fifth century

when pumice covered
the old Roman villages.

Today the volcano is considered active

with a few steaming
fumaroles, or small openings.

Lipari is also the name of
the main town where most

of the permanent population
of 12,000 people live.

The very word volcano
derives from the small island

to the south of Lipari,

as it was named Vulcano by the Romans.

They mined the sulfur which
can be seen around the rim

of one of its volcanic centers.

(gentle instrumental music)

The last major eruption was in 1888

and lasted for two years.

Today the local population
of 500 derive their income

from tourists who come to see the volcano

and perhaps take a sulfur mud bath.

Sicily is the largest
island in the Mediterranean

and an autonomous region of Italy.

The economy here is driven by agriculture

with citrus fruits, olives
and wine cultivation,

as well as an increasing
emphasis on tourism.

The island has a beautiful coastline,

great historical buildings,

as well as some of the most
dramatic hilltop villages.

(gentle instrumental music)

There are also some of the
greatest ancient Greek sites

to be found outside Greece.

Running along the north coast of Sicily

is the A20 motorway toll road,

also known as the
Autostrada Messina-Palermo

which joins the two cities.

(adventurous music)

This dramatic road of tunnels and bridges

offers some spectacular views
of the coast and mountains.

The Italians are well
known for some of the most

breathtaking road building in Europe

and even a spur road off the
motorway seems to defy gravity.

As the motorway cuts
through the mountains,

drivers get some great views

of some of the many hilltop villages.

(birds chirping)

One of the most dramatic is Pollina,

perched on top of a steep hill.

(gentle instrumental music)

On the summit is a castle
dating back to the time

of the Normals who occupied
Sicily during the 11th century.

From the castle keep, a watchful eye

could look out for a potential invader.

It has been suggested by archeologists

that the ancient Greek city of Apollonia

might possibly have been built here.

Certainly the name
Pollina, which goes back

well over 1,000 years, gives
some weight to the argument.

But true or not, the
village is a dramatic place

and the views are outstanding,

though it must've been a
tough climb from the coast

in the days before the motorcar.

(gentle instrumental music)

Cefalu is a town founded by the Greeks,

captured by the Romans and then
occupied by the Byzantines.

In the ninth century, the
Moors from North Africa

took the old town and built
a new one on top of the rock.

This was later enlarged when
the Normans invaded Sicily

in the 11th century.

The Normans also built the large cathedral

in what is called a Romanesque style

and it stands in front of the main square

which today caters for the
enormous number of tourists

who come to Cefalu each year.

The town is now one of Sicily's
major tourist destinations

and in the summer, the
population can treble

to around 40,000 people.

The coast has been developed with hotels

and holiday apartments.

Old Cefalu, with its narrow streets,

has become an attraction in its own right.

Dominating this area is the cathedral

which is a popular place to visit

but it is also important
for the local population

as a place of worship and has
been for nearly 1,000 years,

during which time it has
seen countless weddings

just like this one where the happy couple

who have just been married
greet family and friends.

(murmuring)

(gentle instrumental music)

(birds chirping)

Over the past few thousand years,

Sicily has been tramped
across by conquering armies.

As they came and went,
they left behind a rich

and varied architectural legacy.

On a hill overlooking the
fishing village of Porticello

is the ruined town of Solunto

which was built by the Greek
tyrant Dionysius the Elder

who sacked the original town

and built a new one in 397 B.C.

(gentle instrumental music)

Just over 100 years later,
Solunto was taken by the Romans

who later abandoned it around 300 A.D.

It was only rediscovered
in the 16th century.

(gentle instrumental music)

(birds chirping)

This is Castellaccio, perched
on top of Mount Caputo.

The 12th-century fortress
was built by the Normans

and intended to guard Palermo,
the capital of Sicily,

from an attack through the mountains.

But its strategic position also gives it

one of the best views of
the whole of the city.

(swanky music)

The city is a mix of oriental
and European architecture

and it is Sicily's cultural,
economic and touristic capital.

It is also rich in history,
art, music and food.

The city proper has its
roots back in the time

of the Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans

who all in turn built here.

(swanky music)

They were followed by the Arabs

who built mosques and libraries.

In 1072, the Christian Norman invaders

conquered the island and left their mark

in a number of castles and churches.

And just over 100 years
later, the Holy Roman Empire

conquered the island
which in turn gave rise

to the Kingdom of Sicily and
Naples during the 18th century.

It was not until 1860 that
Sicily and its capital Palermo

became part of the new, unified Italy.

As a result of all this change,

the city can boast some fine buildings.

In 1184, the Normans
began building a cathedral

on the site of a Muslim
mosque, which in turn

had been built over a very
early Christian church.

The Archbishop of Palermo
wanted his new cathedral

to surpass the glory of Monreale
which we will see later,

and the battle of the
two cathedrals began.

Palermo's cathedral is a
mixture of periods and styles.

During the 14th century it
was given a Gothic makeover.

In the 15th century the
bell tower was constructed

in a Spanish style and
joined to the cathedral

by two archaded stone footbridges.

Later still, at the end of
the 18th century, the style

changed again and a lot of
the cathedral's exterior

was given the latest neoclassical look,

including the addition of the large dome

as well as the smaller
ones over the side aisles.

With all its mixture of styles,

the cathedral is a living history
of the architectural whims

of Sicily's various
occupiers over the centuries.

Palermo's opera house is
one of the largest in Europe

and renowned for its perfect acoustics.

Building began in 1874

but was not completed until 1897.

Equally impressive is the concert hall

which is home to the
Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana.

No Italian city would be complete

without a football stadium

and the Stadio Renzo
Barbera, more commonly known

as the Stadio La Favorita,
is home to Palermo's

football team which has the grand name

of the Unione Sportiva Citta di Palermo.

(crowd cheering)

The club was formed in 1900

and in 2006 provided four
players for the Italian Team

who went on to win the
World Cup in Germany.

(gentle instrumental music)

Overlooking the stadium
is Monte Pellegrino,

a favorite place for local
people to visit at the week end.

However, a head for heights
is required if driving up

from the west as the Via Monte Ercta

is a very dramatic road to negotiate.

(gentle instrumental music)

Once on the top, the views
to the west are stunning

as you look down on the curved bay

and resort town of Mondello.

The town's most striking feature

is the Art Nouveau pier
jutting out from the beach

which was built at the
end of the 19th century

and has recently been restored.

(gentle instrumental music)

All along the coast are
small bays and seaside towns.

This is the harbor and
resort of Sferracavallo,

sheltered by mountains on three sides.

(gentle instrumental music)

The much larger Gulf of Carini

is once again sheltered by mountains.

And on the far side is the
main airport of Sicily,

built on a peninsula
alongside a large mountain.

It may be a beautiful sight

but the turbulence caused by the mountain

often makes landing and
taking off a tricky affair.

And over the years, there
have been a few accidents.

Several years ago,
another runway was added

with an approach from the north

which helps lessen the wind shear,

making landing a more
comfortable experience.

Palermo Airport is one
of the busiest in Italy,

handling just under five
million passengers a year.

It is also known as the
Falcone-Borsellino Airport

in memory of the two
leading anti-Mafia judges

who were murdered in 1992.

Inland from the Gulf of Carini

and set amongst the mountains

are two spectacular monasteries.

(ethereal music)

This is the Benedictine Abbey
of San Martino delle Scale.

The original monastery was
probably founded around 600 A.D.

and 200 years later burnt
down by invading Arabs.

It was not until the 14th
century that it was rebuilt,

though much of what we see today was built

over the next two centuries
around the Medieval sections.

Close by in the next
valley is another monastery

and a cathedral which is
one of the greatest examples

of Norman architecture in the world.

This is the cathedral of Monreale

and a National Monument of Sicily.

It is one of the island's most important

historical attractions.

Building began in 1174 following
a dream the Norman King,

William I, had that he
should build a cathedral

to the glory of the Virgin Mary.

The construction only took eight years,

the result is one of the
finest 12th-century cathedrals

in Europe.

The outside decoration is a
mixture of Norman, French,

Byzantine and Arab styles.

The apse at the east end is covered

with intricately-carved interlaced arches.

(ethereal music)

The cloister at Monreale
dates from the same period

and is one of the finest
examples of its type in Italy.

(ethereal music)

Unfortunately, much of the
rest of the original monastery

and Bishop's palace have been
rebuilt over the centuries.

Today thousands of
visitors come to explore

this outstanding example of both Christian

and Islamic architecture.

(ethereal music)

(triumphant music)

Sicily's architectural heritage

stretches back thousands of years

and at Segesta there is
a magnificent example

of a Greek-style temple.

This Doric temple is
part of the ancient city

which also includes a magnificent theater.

(triumphant music)

The temple and theater
may look Greek in style

but they were actually
built by the Elymians

who were the Indigenous people
during the Greek occupation.

However, it's clear they
were heavily influenced

by the style of colonists.

(triumphant music)

The temple was probably built
between 430 and 420 B.C.

and is one of the best
preserved in the world.

It has been built on a
platform with three steps

and a total of 36 plain Doric columns,

12 on each side and six across each end.

Several pointers suggest that the temple

was never actually finished.

The columns have never been fluted

which they would have normally been

in a Doric style temple.

And there is no evidence
that there was ever a roof.

Another clue can be
found in several places

around this remarkable
survival from the ancient world

and they are the lifting bosses

which were used as lifting points

to help raise the stones into place

and would have been removed
when the building was complete.

(triumphant music)

One theory for the
temple not being finished

was a possible war with a nearby city

but there is little evidence to prove it

so the building of the
temple remains a mystery

and today makes it all the more
intriguing and fascinating.

What is known is that during the time

of the Roman occupation the
city was largely abandoned

and later the vandals from northern Europe

destroyed most of it.

(triumphant music)

On top of a nearby hill is
the semi-circular theater,

built around the same time as the temple.

Its position with views across the valley

created a natural backdrop

for the popular Greek plays of the day.

In fact, much of the
theater was literally hewn

from the side of the hill
like a giant sculpture.

When it was finished,
there was seating room

for 4,000 people.

Today, two and a half
thousand years later,

Greek plays are still performed
during the summer months.

In the northwest corner of Sicily

is the harbor town of Trapani

which was also founded by the
Elymians in ancient times.

The town suffered a great deal of damage

in World War II when the Allied Forces

bombed this German-occupied stronghold

prior to their successful invasion.

Overlooking Trapani is Mount Erice

and the historic fortified
city of the same name.

Over the centuries the
name has been changed

according to which
occupier was in residence.

It was only in 1934 that
the name returned to Erice

which was close to its
original Greek name of Eryx.

In the 12th century the Norman invaders

who named the city Monte San Giuliano

built a castle where
there was once a temple

dedicated to the Venus of
Eryx, the Goddess of Love.

On the south coast of
Sicily is our final location

and one of the largest and most impressive

archeological sites in the
Mediterranean, Selinunte.

(awe-inspiring music)

This ancient site is on
a par with pretty much

anything found in Greece itself

and has lain abandoned
for over 2,000 years

with its temples, acropolis
and street layout.

In about 409 B.C., Selinunte,

with a population of about 20,000 people,

went from being one of
the most progressive

and eminent cities in the Greek Empire

to a large expanse of rubble.

The reason for this collapse
was the Carthaginian Army

from North Africa who
laid siege to the city

and after nine days
forced it to surrender.

Selinunte was then utterly destroyed

in an orgy of torture,
rape, murder and looting

that was considered abhorrent

even by the standards of those times.

The city then lay largely
hidden for centuries

until it was rediscovered
in the 19th century

and excavations began
along with rebuilding.

The main part of the old
city was the acropolis

with a large temple at its center.

(awe-inspiring music)

Even though the city was
pulled down and broken up,

most of the stonework survived
and so it was possible

to slowly reconstruct some of the temples.

Temple E was partially rebuilt

at the beginning of the 20th century

and amazingly, all the
sections of fluted columns

were found scattered nearby.

The temple was dedicated to Hera,

the Goddess of Fertility,
protector of lovers,

marriage and pregnant women.

Visitors are dwarfed by the
sheer size of this temple

and can walk and climb amongst the ruins

soaking up the atmosphere
of this lost civilization

and the various gods they worshiped.

An impressive place to end this journey.

(awe-inspiring music)

(gentle instrumental music)

(dramatic music)