Sicily is an Italian island that is perhaps most famous for it's notorious mafia, a problem that plagues the island to this day. However it's second most famous feature is no doubt the astounding beauty of it's many landscapes, most notably Mount Etna. The Volcanic soils make the farm land surrounding the mountain lush and fertile and have made it's eastern shores and cities great for thousands of years. The ancients said that the volcano was host to a god who smithed the weapons of the gods, including the trident of Poseidon.

I prepare my large format camera as I make photographs of the peak of Mount Etna.

The moon rises over a ridge of volcanic soil and rock, ground that feels and looks like it belongs on a moon more so than here on Earth.

Mount Etna is Europes most active volcano, so active that the face of the mountain changes dramatically over time.

On the eastern edge of the volcano and colliding with the sea lies the resort town of Taormina, it's rocky shores  and beautiful city in the cliffs above attract plentiful hoardes of travellers every year.

Here the moon rises over a small nature preserve perched atop a rocky shoal in front of of beach at the bottom of the city.

That same spot just several hours later is light beautifully by the moon and neon accent lights.

Further south and out of view of Mount Etna is the famous ancient port city of Siracusa. One of many port towns on the eastern seaboard of the island.

Much further south lies the city of Noto, it is a beautiful destination for any would be exploerer.

The "super" moon of June 2013 rises over a bell tower in the city center of Noto.