September 8 Marks A Rebirth

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…

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…

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…