Category: Art
-
Teatro Andromeda Is Out Of This World
When my co-host, wellness practitioner Tony Allicino, and I were planning the itinerary for our May 2019’s Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below tour, planning a day at the Teatro Andromeda, one of Sicily’s hidden gems, was an absolute must. So, if you join us, from the top of the mythic Sicani mountains…
-
Peace Dove in Mazara Del Vallo, Sicily
Tile on the a wall in the kasbah of Mazara del Vallo (Photo Credit: Peter DiGeronimo)
-
The Madonna Of The Milicia River
My heart is heavy knowing about the loss of life because of the Milicia River spontaneously swelling in Casteldaccia, Sicily over the weekend due to torrential rains. When I heard the tragic news, I immediately thought of the Madonna of the Milicia, the sacred painting, pictured, that is venerated in Casteldaccia and Altavilla Milicia, coastal…
-
Celebrating Sicily’s Martyr, Santa Lucia
All Saints Day is a day to remember all the saints known and unknown. On All Saints Day, November 1, we also remember martyrs, like Santa Lucia of Siracusa, pictured, who adorns the city’s Duomo. Save the Date: Sunday, December 9, we are hosting our annual Festa di Santa Lucia luncheon at Cacio e Vino…
-
Marzipan for All Souls Day
We are upon the feast celebrations of the Day of the Dead (Giorno dei Morti, or in Sicilian, Un juornu re muorti), All Saints Day, and All Souls Day (Nov. 2). Although traditions are changing as a result of the modern world, in the past, on November 2, Sicilians, who have a profound appreciation for…
-
From Arthur Avenue To Sicily
Congratulations to my friends Danielle Oteri and Christian Galliani, proprietors of Arthur Avenue Food Tours and Feast on History, for this cover feature on this week’s New Yorker magazine! Included in the full piece (at https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2018-10-29, there are a number of beautiful illustrations from their food and shopping tour, including one of Danielle cradling a…
-
Another Black Madonna in Sicily
Tucked away near the castle that gives Castellamare del Golfo its name is the Chiesa di Maria SS del Rosario, which is believed to have been built in such a secluded corner during the Norman era, circa 1100, to hide it from invading pirates. Inside is this alter devoted to the Madonna dell’Agnuni, or Madonna…
-
What A Bear!
One of the outstanding mosaic scenes from the UNESCO site in Piazza Armerina, the Villa Romana del Casale, a Roman era/4th century plantation
-
Euripides and Dionysus in Sicily
The ancient Greek god Dionysus is the central character in The Bacchae by Euripides, pictured here from when I saw the play in 2012 in the amphitheater at Siracusa, produced by the National Institute of Ancient Drama (INDA) as part of their annual Greek theater festival. Last week, I saw The Bacchae again at Brooklyn…