Category: History
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Messina’s Clock Tower, Part 1
When you visit Messina, be sure to be at the cathedral in front of its bell tower at noon sharp. That’s when, daily, the renowned astronomical clock puts on a show. Commissioned in 1930 by the Archbishop of Messina, Angelo Piano, the timepiece consists of a complex mechanism that governs the sound effects and movements…
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Commemorating Messina’s 1908 Earthquake
This calendar (and the astronomical clock on an adjacent wall, not shown) was built in 1933 on the renowned bell tower next to Messina’s Cathedral. The tower was rebuilt after the December 28, 1908 earthquake, from which approximately 75,000 people died in a metropolitan area of 160,000 people. Measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, the first…
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Ancient And Modern Music-Making In Sicily
Female figure on a stool playing the lyre (4th – 5th century BCE), from the ancient city of Lilibeo (modern Marsala), seen in the Museo Whitacker archeological museum on Mozia Island. Speaking of music-making, join Villa Palagonia duo on Sunday at 3PM (Eastern)/21:00 in Italia for an online concert of Sicilian folk music (and a…
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When Planning Your Sicily Trip, We Personalize The Details
When planning for you, we always consider what time is sunset, especially if you are a photography enthusiast. Yes… when I talk with you about your desires for your itineraries, I get into a lot of details about your interests and how you like to travel, and I customize your tour to the hour (If…
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The Red Domes Of Palermo
Whenever I see the church of San Cataldo, I feel Palermo is welcoming me home. The red domes of this ancient church overlook Via Maqueda and Piazza Bellini. San Cataldo was built during the early-Norman era in the 1150s by Maio of Bari, William I’s top emir, or commander. Its cherry-on-top domes and elegant window…
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Western Sicily’s Salt Pans
The salt pans of Nubia, near Trapani along Sicily’s west coast are renowned by cooks throughout the world for the delicious sea salt Sicilians have harvested from here for centuries. The tuna fishing industry, which has existed here since Phoenician times (c. 800 BCE), prompted the development of the salt pans because salt is an…
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World War II In Sicily: Thank You Veterans
Thank you, Veterans! In July and August 1943, during World War II, Sicily was a significant theater in the fight against fascism. German and Italian Axis forces occupied the island, and the Allied forces of the United States, Canada, and Britain aligned for Operation “Husky,” and amphibious and land assault to take Italy and eventually…
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An Ancient Golden Platter In Sicily
The extraordinary Phiale Aurea (or gold platter) of Caltavuturo (a village at the foot of the Madonie mountains of Palermo province) was created by an exceptional Greek goldsmith between the late 4th century/early 3rd century BCE. A bowl such as this one pictured was used during religious rites in ancient times for libations and offerings…
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Seek Great Heights In Palermo
Seek great heights on the roof walk of Palermo’s Cathedral. The climb up the belltower’s cylindrical, narrow staircase offers a whole new perspective on the city and the mishmash of architectural styles that make up this iconic temple that sits where different cultures and sects have practiced their religions for millennia. (Where we would have…