Liberty Call, Catania

AUGUSTA BAY, Sicily (NNS) -- Sailors from amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15) walked among ancient history as they explored the 2,700 year old city of Catania during a port visit to Sicily March 17.

Founded in 729 B.C. by Greek settlers, Catania has thrived for more than two millennia despite being destroyed six times by earthquakes and eruptions from nearby Mount Etna. The resilient city became one of the most powerful cities of the medieval world and remains one of Sicily's most prominent communities.

"It was definitely different," said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Leonard Cornelius. "We got to see the town and see this history."

The chance to tour such places is one of the highlights of Navy life for Cornelius. The young Sailor said he found that getting off the ship and taking advantage of tours enhances his experience and opens new worlds to him. When Ponce pulled into Sicily, Cornelius said he was eager to take advantage the opportunities offered by the moral, welfare, recreation of Naval Air Station Sigonella.

The chance to travel was one of the incentives that also drew Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Salvador RonquilloEscobar to the Navy. Touring Catania for RonquilloEscobar, as he explained it, took his breath away.

"It was quite the magnificent area," said RonquilloEscobar. "This was my first big European stop. It was cool."

During the evening, Sailors from Ponce attended a traditional Sicilian wine tasting while visiting a small wine shop. They found bottles of Italian wines spread out on the table, surrounded by serving dishes of traditional Sicilian finger foods. The shop keeper gave the group a brief explanation on the finer points of wine tasting as various vintages were uncorked and tried.

"The wine tasting was great," said RonquilloEscobar. "It was nice to interact with the Italians. We all had fun."

Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Joshua Leach, also on his first sea tour, has had the opportunity on this deployment to experience cultures from Bahrain, Greece and Sicily. Catania has ranked as his favorite port of call so far.

"It's definitely the best one yet," said Leach. "I got to see the history, the culture,the architecture."

The Ponce Sailors visited centuries-old cathedrals, Roman ruins that lie below the modern city, and the ancient Urisino Castle. Situated on what used to be a prominent hill overlooking the sea, the castle ended up being the favorite stop on a tour for most Sailors with multiple destinations that was filled with wonder.

The castle was first built in 1239, and has seen use as a fortress, a prison, and today as a museum. During the 1669 eruption of Mount Etna, a 30-foot deep lava flow buried more than half the castle as well as extended the coastline several thousand feet from the base of the hill. Now almost fully excavated, Urisino Castle serves as one of Catania's most famous museums.

Inside the building are paintings and priceless artifacts that have been collected for centuries from all over the Mediterranean world. Greek statues and vases, fragments of ancient Egyptian monuments, and famous Italian paintings are all there. The items demonstrate the city's involvement in Mediterranean commerce for centuries.

"I liked the history. I like walking places where many years ago people built something and defended it. I just like being a part of that," said Leach.

RonquilloEscobar and Cornelius both agreed with Leach that Urisino Castle was by far their favorite historical site on the tour.

"It was definitely a lot different than you think castles would be like," said RonquilloEscobar.

Cornelius said Americans are used to something being "old" at two centuries.

"Here is a structure that is almost a thousand years old and still in use despite earthquakes and volcanoes. It was amazing," said Cornelius.

Leach and his shipmates recommend taking tours whenever possible. A Sailor's life is a busy one, and tours are a good way to experience the culture, food, and history of the far off ports Navy ships visit without trying to navigate your way around an unfamiliar nation by yourself.

"You know, ports like this, it makes being in the Navy worth it," said Cornelius.

Ponce is part of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.


For more news from Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4, visit www.navy.mil/local/phibron4/.