Today is the feast day of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Peter, of course, is the protector of Rome (and popes too). But importantly (For my family especially, since my father is named Peter and I come from a long line of fishermen), he is the patron saint of net-makers, shipbuilders, and fishermen, and…
Category: Architecture
Up On The Hill In Scicli
The ancient church of Saint Matthew (San Matteo) is perched on a high hill overlooking the entire town of Scicli. Now abondoned, the shell of the building was constructed in the 18th century following the devastating 1693 earthquake on top of the ruins of a Norman church and probably (I’ll venture to guess) other sacred…
The Lions Of Palermo’s Royal Palace
The mosaics from the chambers of Roger II (Sala di Re Rogero) in the Royal Palace in Palermo are a spectacular example of Arab Norman secular design. They date to the mid 12th century, the same period that the Cappella Palatina was constructed.
Sicily’s Valley Of The Temples’ First Temple
The Temple of Heracles (or Hercules or il Tempio di Ercole) of Agrigento, Sicily’s Valley of the Temples possesses eight reconstructed, massive Doric-style columns. Built in the late 6th century BCE, it is considered the first temple to have been constructed of the seven that we know of at the Valley of the Temples. Valley…
They Looked For Love In Erice, Sicily
The town Erice (pronounced Èh-ree-chay) is named for Eryx (or Eros), the mythical son of the goddess Venus and her lover, King Bute of the ancient Elimi tribe (NB that makes the Greco-Roman hero Aeneas his half-brother.). Erice boasts a 12th century Norman castle (pictured), known as Il Castello di Venere or the Castle of…
The Palm Tree Represents Unification In Palermo
Artists from multiple cultural origins contributed to these mosaic designs that exist in the Cappella Palatina, the private chapel commissioned by Sicilian King Roger II (1095-1154) and completed by his heir, King William I (1120-1166). The palm tree, the central icon of this photo, has significance to many peoples, many of whom came together to…
What’s Hidden, But Not, In Erice, Sicily
You have to go through the tunnel to arrive at the light. When wandering the medieval streets of Erice, Sicily, politely peek through doorways. The homes, just like the town itself, are fortifications. So, behind the seemingly drab (but functional for protection) front walls are charming hidden courtyards and gardens.
Sicily’s Teatro Andromeda Is A Work In Progress
Shepherd and sculptor Lorenzo Reina’s Teatro Andromeda in the Sicani Mountains in the middle of Sicily, scrapes the sky. Although it feels ancient, the theater, which sits 1000 meters (3280 feet) above sea level, was built by Reina one stone at a time over the past 30 years. When you talk with the Lorenzo, he’ll…
People Watch In Sicily
People watch, find a sanctuary, and take a stroll in the Giardino Ibleo, Ragusa Ibla’s picturesque public garden. Walk to the other end from the garden’s entrance for magnificent panoramas of the Hyblean countryside. It’s one of many beautiful public gardens in Sicily and my favorite. Other major ones are the Villa Comunale in Taormina,…
The Capo Zafferano Lighthouse Lights The Way
The lighthouse at Capo Zafferano, Santa Flavia, Sicily was built in 1884. After years of vandalism and neglect, it is being restored. It lights the way along the rugged Tyrrhenian Sea coast for the fisherman of Porticello and Aspra.