52 Reasons to Love Sicily #25. 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…
Category: History
Happy Mother’s Day! 52 Reasons to Love Sicily | The Mother Goddess’ Presence is Everywhere
Happy Mother’s Day! 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…
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | Castles and Their Stories
52 Reasons to Love Sicily #21. 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…
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | Pasta
52 Reasons to Love Sicily #17. Pasta! Need I say more? Well, of course I will! Let’s start from the beginning, and by that, I mean 1154 CE when the court geographer under Norman King Roger II, Muhammad al-Idrisi, documented that a pasta factory existed in Trabia, a coastal town east of Palermo. He explained…
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | Catania, Sicily’s Second City
52 Reasons to Love Sicily #13. Sicily’s second city Catania recalls Roma, while holding fast to its local character. Its historic downtown boasts broad avenues that are lined with baroque palazzi and that lead to sweeping views of the volcano, Etna. The center not only supports its beautiful cathedral dedicated to Sant’Agata and Liotru, the…
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | Pinch-me Moments At Valley Of The Temples
52 Reasons to Love Sicily #9. Sicily’s iconic landmarks give you pinch-me moments, like this one at Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO recognized site that plays host to the ruins of seven ancient Greek and Roman temples. The magnificent Doric-style Tempio di Concordia (pictured) was erected by the ancient Greeks between 440-430…
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | Royal Fairytales Are Real
52 Reasons to Love Sicily #6. In Sicily, “fairytales” about knights and ladies and kings and queens are not fiction. Throughout the island exists displays of centuries of royalty. In fact, you’ll find castles seemingly on every hilltop with a view! Perhaps the most particular evidence of majesty is illustrated by the crown of Constance…
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | Be Surprised By Jewish History
52 Reasons to Love Sicily. #5. Sicily is full of surprises. Check out the Jewish baths of Siracusa! Huh? You ask? Yes! Before the Spanish Inquisition of 1492, when Sicily was under Spanish rule, scholars believe 7 to 10 percent of Sicily’s population was Jewish. Thriving neighborhoods existed in Palermo, Mazara del Vallo, and Siracusa…
52 Reasons To Love Sicily | Take The Train
52 Reasons to Love Sicily #2. Taking a daytrip on the train from Palermo to Cefalù (or from Cefalù to Palermo) is convenient and offers excellent people watching (both at your destination and on the train itself). The north coast rail corridor between Messina and Palermo presents a reliable schedule and very prompt trains (Arrive…
Buona Festa! International Women’s Day
Mimosa, the flower and tree pictured, is the symbol of International Women’s Day or la Festa della Donna in Italy. It is currently blooming in warmer climates of the Italian peninsula. International Women’s Day is celebrated throughout the world. It recognizes the contributions of women to society, originating in the labor and suffrage movements of…