Category: Music

  • Go Out, Go Out Maria

    When we met Fratelli Mancuso in September, they gave us a mini-concert right on a “stradina” (a little street) in Sutera, their hometown. It was absolutely divine! They sang and played for us their song “Nesci Maria” (pictured here). Some of the lyrics in Sicilian, then English, to give you a glimpse, are as follows:…

  • Villa Palagonia: Guitarist

    Statue of musician with a Spanish Guitar, Villa Palagonia, 18th century.

  • It’s a Symbiotic Relationship

    In the beginning of October, Ragusa celebrated the 20th annual “Ibla Buskers Festa di Artisti di Strada.” The Baroque city’s piazzas were full of musicians, circus performers, artists, and–probably most important, spectators. The Associazione Culturale Edrisi and ibla Buskers aims to illustrate the symbiotic relationship between performers and audience and the best street art in…

  • Zampogna, the Italian Bagpipe

    This fellow is playing a zampogna, an Italian bagpipe. Zampogne (plural for zamponga) are found throughout Italy. Sicily has a strong tradition of exploiting the droning sounds of zampogne—created from air vibrating through either a single or double reed—for its folk music, specifically from mountainous regions where sheep and goat herding are prevalent. The air…

  • Body Parts

    Ex-votos, such as these in the shape of body parts, decorate the entrance of the shrine of Santa Rosalia at the top of Mount Pellegrino. They were given to the saint as gratitude for healing received—in this case, for ailments of the lungs, internal organs, breasts, and back. Ex-votos are very common in Sicily. #palermo…

  • Taormina Fashion of the Past

    Traditional dress of a peasant woman from Taormina carrying terracotta jug, which was a common way to transport foodstuffs such as wine, olive oil, and water. #sicily #sicily_travel #sicilia #sicily_tourism #italy #ig_sicily #italia #siciliaph #taormina #dress #costume #peasant #jug #terracotta