Category: Observations about Culture
-
An Act Of Prayer For Saint Joseph
Probably the most distinct ritual of Saint Joseph’s Day, which is celebrated annually on March 19, revolves around the celebration of bread, which in Sicily and southern Italy is sacred because wheat, its principle ingredient, is the most important crop of the region. The preparation of altars, or tables, known as le tavolate di San…
-
Marzamemi: Tuna Fishery Turned Tourist Hotspot
Evening in the ancient tuna fishing village of Marzamemi
-
Masques For Carnevale In Sicily
Buon Martedì Grasso! Happy Fat Tuesday! Today marks the final day and pinnacle of Carnevale, a topsy-turvy, days-long party of letting go, hidden identity, and mischief that has been celebrated since ancient times. Today’s Carnevale is observed similarly to our American Halloween–children dress in costumes that they plan for weeks and adults attend parties during…
-
Finding Their Roots in Palazzolo Acreide, Sicily
“Thank you Allison. This experience has totally changed us forever. Rosa [our guide] is truly amazing and what she accomplished for us has touched our hearts ♥ forever, ” wrote our Experience Sicily clients today after their visit to their ancestral town of Palazzolo Acreide. This was thrilling to hear! Lena obtained official birth certificates…
-
Lena’s Sicilian Ancestral Town Visit
Today we have clients visiting the Late Baroque Sicilian Town of Palazzolo Acreide for a heritage experience. They’ll start their day here, at the Municipal Hall’s office of vital records with their local, expert English-speaking guide. Lena and her children John and Carole, will visit la Chiesa di San Sebastiano where Lena’s parents married before…
-
Celebrate Alongside The Locals In Sicily
At the beginning of the Corso Umberto I, otherwise known as La Strada Lunga (the Long Street), sits La Chiesa di Santa Margherita, Licodia Eubea’s mother church. Come on! Eat gelato with the locals during Life In A Remote Sicilian Town, July 16 to 25, when the citizens of Licodia Eubea celebrate their patroness Santa…
-
Pan Versus Cupid: Lust Versus Love
In art, look for Pan, who personifies carnal lust, and Cupid, the god of love, fighting it out. Come on, you know your own struggle of earthly “thirst” versus divine love! At the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina in Sicily you’ll find many age-old stories, such as this one, depicted on its remarkable…
-
The Bust Of Sant’Agata Of Sicily
Replicas of the bust of Sant’Agata appear all over Catania. The actual bust is made of precious metals and is encrusted with jewels, making it extremely heavy. During these days of the feast, February 3 to 5, Catania’s faithful engage in back-breaking activities to illustrate their devotion and honor their patroness, Sant’Agata. Through rituals, they…
-
Say YES2020 By February 1 And Let’s Go To Sicily
I’m going to Sicily in 2020 – – and you can too! Amuni’: Let’s go! Say YES2020 when you reserve your spot on a small-group Sicily tour hosted by Experience Sicily by 11:59PM on February 1, 2020, and save an additional $150 per person. Immerse yourself in this fascinating region of the world featuring 3000…