Wheat. Hard durum wheat. To truly understand Sicily, one must understand that the act of cultivating grains on the island has probably been the main economic engine of the region for millenia. The Greeks started it, but the Romans made it their main business in Sicily. They had an empire to feed, after all. From…
Category: History
January 1693 Leveled Everything
I can’t emphasis enough how significant the infamous earthquakes of 1693 were to eastern Sicily. First of all, it wasn’t just one day or one event. “The earthquake” was a series of tremors that started on January 9, 1693 with a hypothetical 6.2 magnitude (there was no Richter Scale at the time) followed by a…
Sicily And The Cyclops
This is a cyclops. Well, sort of. It’s actually the skeleton of an elephant. A small elephant that at one time was indigenous to Sicily. Yup, that’s right. This animal, which is the size of a Vespa motor bike, once roamed the ancient landscape of Sicily. (Remember, part of Sicily is on the African tectonic…
The Ancient Theater At Palazzolo Acreide
Above the modern city of Palazzolo Acreide, on top of a limestone platue, those who love ancient history will find the ancient Greek city of Akrai. This amphitheater, originally constructed in the late 3rd century BCE, seats about 600 people. During the spring, local school theater companies present performances here.
Selinunte Was Never The Same
The ancient Greek city of Selinunte was brought to its knees in 409 BCE by the Cartheginians. Although it was reestablished by the victors, it never reached the same beauty or prominence as it had during the Greek era, when this temple, Temple O, was constructed.
If You Must, A Mafia Museum In Sicily
The town of Salemi, photographed, is a gem in western Sicily. Not only does it boast a very cool castle that dates back to Arab times, but, in addition to a remarkable St. Joseph’s Day feast tradition, its civic museum is outstanding. Before I tell you more about that, I must mention the busiate pasta…
It Came Crashing Down In January 1693
Pictured are the ruins of the Chiesa e Collegio de Gesuiti (Jesuit Church and College) built during the 17th century in Noto, Sicily. Today, you may visit this site in “Noto Antica,” or Ancient Noto, more than six miles away from the renowned city of Noto. Founded by Baron Carlo Giavanti, it’s hard to imagine…
Greek Temple In The Moonlight
The Temple of Concordia at Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is magnificent under the full moon. Whenever possible, plan to see the temples at night (as well as during the day), at least from the roadway. Another place one can see the Valley lit up at night is from the front stairs of the…
The Two Bell Towers of Palma di Montechiaro
The 17th-century Chiesa Madre of the town of Palma di Montechiaro holds court at the top of a long flight of stairs. Palma di Montechiaro was founded by the Prince of Lampedusa, ancestor of the novelist Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, in 1637.The famers of the area cultivate grapes for wine and the table, almonds, melons,…
Artemis In Sicily: Her Realm Is The Wilderness
A 400 BCE statuette of the goddess Artemis riding a deer, found in Siracusa (now on display at Museo Orsi). Such votives were used to venerate deities throughout the ancient Greek Mediterranean. Artemis is the mistress of animals and wild, untamed things. The wilderness is where you’ll feel her presence. She is the goddess of…