Category: 52 Reasons
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52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #25. East Meets West in Sicily
Sicily is a bridge where east meets west, especially in Palermo where north African and middle-eastern sensibilities blend with European ones, as illustrated by the Arab-Norman heritage of Palermo. The Arabs were in power in Sicily from roughly 827 to 1061, and many Sicilians will tell you they are proud of the cultural and technological…
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52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #24. The Mother Goddess’ Presence is Everywhere
Demeter, the goddess of the grain, female fertilization, and the harvest, who is the mother of Persephone, represents the great matriarch in ancient Greek mythology. Her power to cultivate the bounties on the Earth’s surface for us are illustrated significantly during the myth of Demeter and Kore/Persephone. Before the Christian era, the Eleusinian Mysteries (as…
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52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #23. Beaches and Swimming
There are more than 150 beaches to explore in Sicily… This just scratches the surface. I haven’t even mentioned the islands of Favignana, Lampedusa, Ustica, and Linosa, for example, which offer even more enchantment and wild beauty.
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52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #22. Strolls Through Public Gardens
Strolls through public gardens offer a different kind of exploring. Villa Giulia, an oasis of greenery in Palermo that was commissioned in 1777, presents you with a geometric layout accentuated with neoclassical band shells and allegorical statues. In the midst of the park, is the Villa Giulia version of the Genius of Palermo, or the…
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52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #21. Castles and Their Stories
Castles and their stories pervade hilltop towns in Sicily. This castle pictured, Il Castello di Caccamo in Palermo Province, presents travelers an especially interesting glimpse into Europe’s medieval past. Scholars think the site has been home to some kind of fortress for millennia, meanwhile, this impenetrable iteration, the largest in Sicily, was built by the…
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52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #20. Outstanding Ancient Art
There are extraordinary pieces of ancient art throughout Sicily–even in the smallest of museums. One example is in the Museo Whitaker of Mozia off of Sicily’s west coast. The world-renowned “Youth of Motya” or “Motya Charioteer” is a mid-5th century BCE statue made of Parian marble. It was uncovered on the Island of Motya (or Mozia) in…
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52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #18. Sunsets Over the Windmills
Breathe deeply… Trapani province awaits.
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52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #17. Pasta
So, don’t believe that legend about Marco Polo—the Arabs brought pasta to Sicily way before, and the rest is … your happy stomach! Pasta takes on many forms across the island—both fresh and dried and made with different grains as well. I invite you to join me this Sunday, May 2 for an online busiate…
