I was blessed to spend today, New Year’s Day, with my family in Caccamo. This is the view from the agriturismo where we had lunch (NB a three and a half hour lunch!). We ate local sausages and cheeses cultivated and created from these hills. We also celebrated my cousin Tanina’s 80th birthday, and of…
Santa Lucia Was Grounded In Her Faith
On Sunday in New York City, we will celebrate Santa Lucia with a traditional lunch at Pasta Eater restaurant prepared by guest che Giuseppe Sciurca. Full, four-course menu (including cuccìa), live concertino of Sicilian songs, raffle of Sicily-inspired products, and an altar and presentation for Santa Lucia. Register at https://experiencesicily.com/events/festa-di-santa-lucia/ Santa Lucia was born in…
Santa Lucia In New York City 2022
Eyes on a plate: This is how one identifies Santa Lucia, the patroness of light, grain, wheat, and eyes. Legend is that her eyes were gouged out either to make herself unattractive to her pagan betrothed or upon her arrest when Roman soldiers could not move her from where she stood. She was a determined…
Sicily And The Cyclops
This is a cyclops. Well, sort of. It’s actually the skeleton of an elephant. A small elephant that at one time was indigenous to Sicily. Yup, that’s right. This animal, which is the size of a Vespa motor bike, once roamed the ancient landscape of Sicily. (Remember, part of Sicily is on the African tectonic…
Santa Lucia in New York City 2022
The shadows come early these days in the northern hemisphere. Santa Lucia, illustrated in this 1526 Gagini statue from the Duomo of Siracusa, reminds us to follow the light. Join Experience Sicily in New York City on Sunday, December 11 to celebrate the Feast of Santa Lucia at Pasta Eater. Featuring guest Sicilian chef Giuseppe…
Not The Cyclops, But Etna
These rock stacks are volcanic. The beginnings of Etna, they were pushed up from the sea floor. So, contrary to the story from Homer’s Odyssey, they were not rocks thrown after Odysseus and his men by the cyclops. I recently finished listening to the Emily Wilson translation of the Odyssey read by Claire Danes. It…
Join Us for Our 2023 Small Group Sicily Tours
We are thrilled to tell you about our 2023 small-group tours! 2022 has been a fabulous year for travel in Sicily. We’ve hosted nine tours total, and dozens of independent travelers have followed itineraries we’ve advised them on or custom designed for them. Read all about our 2023 small group Sicily tours at https://experiencesicily.com/2023-tours-of-sicily/. From…
Sciacca: Our First Base For Photography in Sicily
Yesterday we kicked off Photography in Sicily with Don Toothaker and Hunt’s Photo & Video. I am so excited to co-host this 10-day photography workshop that we’ve been planning for two years! Here we are in Sciacca, where it’s beautiful and off the beaten path and… Fabulously photogenic!
Borgo Parrini Inspires
Yesterday, I took a side trip to Borgo Parrini, a tiny neighborhood of the town of Partinico, which you’ll find a few miles west of Palermo. Originally developed in the 16th century by the Jesuits (Parrini means priests.), the division of homes has been occupied over the centuries by various residents, mostly supporting agricultural activities…
The Tour Exceeded Our Expectations
It’s hard to summarize a tour like May’s Enchanting Sicily. We cover so much ground during the two weeks that we spend together on this magical island. I want to thank our wonderful clients for their trust in us! When I hear feedback like, “The tour exceeded our expectations!” and “We thank everyone for enriching…