September 8 is considered the birthday of the Blessed Mother by the Catholic Church. As a result, throughout Sicily this week, there are festivals to celebrate the Madonna. It’s not clear why this date was officially chosen as such; however, let’s consider the cycle for cultivating grain — an essential crop for sustaining life in…
Category: Nature, Seasons
Eat What Is In Season In Sicily
Artichokes are in season in Sicily right now. They are everywhere. And so, what do you order? Artichokes! (And fennel too!). For an “insider” place to eat in Palermo: Trattoria Club Rosanero.
Stupendous Mountain Walk On The Sea Near Palermo
Riserva Naturale Orientata Capo Gallo is another magnificent corner of Sicily. It is an accessible hike along the coast, west of Palermo. Go there to take in outstanding visits of mountains meeting the sea with the islands of Ustica and Isola delle Femmine in the distance. Thank you to my guide Salvo for having shared…
Almond Blossoms In Sicily
The almond blossoms are starting to bloom in Agrigento province. This one I photographed two days ago in the Sicani Mountains north of Agrigento. Soon the hillsides of southern Sicily will be painted white! It’s a beautiful season to be here.
February and March In Sicily
Sicily’s center during February, March, and April offers travelers outstanding scenery for walking and taking it all in. And then there are the villages that must be visited to truly understand Sicily’s soul. Temperatures range from 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning to 65 by midday. It’s perfect for hiking and enjoying the stupendous views…
Majestic Vistas of Mountains and Sea While Hiking in Sicily
Untamed nature reserves with majestic vistas of mountains and sea greeted me at Monte Cofano and Lo Zingaro in Trapani province. Wow, this day took my breath away! Hiking is Sicily can be simply walking or it can be more challenging, depending on what you seek. We’ll show you the way with or without a…
Hiking In Sicily Takes My Breath Away
Yesterday with naturalistic guide Nanni Di Falco and the Italian hiking organization Compagnia dei Cammini, I traversed more than 12 miles of stupendous landscape in Trapani province on foot (Yes, I’m on the move!). In the distance of this photo are Scopello and the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline leading to Lo Zingaro Nature Preserve. We hiked…
Images Of Spring In Sicily: Trapani Vineyard
Spring vines in Trapani Province
White Spring Flowers In Sicily
In the United States, we call this perennial herb Summer Asphodel. In Sicily, where during these months of February and March it grows seemingly on every hillside making many hungry sheep happy, it is called Asfodelo Mediterraneo. The snow-white flowers with a thin red-brown ribbon down their centers were associated with Persephone and the Underworld…
The Green, Green, Grass Of Sicily
No, not Ireland. No, not Scotland. No, not Wales. This is the green, green, grass of home… I mean Sicily… in the winter and spring. (Somewhere near Aragona, Sicily in late February)