Santa Rosalia, as illustrated in this year’s Archi di Pasqua… Created in a mosaic style using cereals. She is depicted holding a skull, which is a reminder of our mortality.
Tag: agrigento
Gifts From Mother Earth
The chandeliers that line the main corridor of San Biagio Platini’s Archi di Pasqua (Arches of Easter) are made with natural materials. Citizens of the town spend months creating these works of art that celebrate the gifts from Mother Earth.
Joy In The Community Effort In Sicily
The Arches of Easter or gli Archi di Pasqua continues in San Biagio Platani until June 2. It is truly an extraordinary event to visit. Two brotherhoods of the town–the Jesus side (pictured) and the Mary side spend months preparing artwork with which they line the main street of town in celebration of Easter. Yet…
The Easter Bread Arches of San Biagio Platani
Live from Sicily! We’ve experienced so much during these past two days while in Agrigento Province. A highlight has been seeing the work of the two brotherhoods from San Biagio Platini for their annual Archi di Pane, or the Easter Bread Arches. An Easter Sunday procession that unites Jesus and Mary in the center of…
Sicily’s International Folk Music Festival
Now until March 10 is the annual Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore (Almond Blossom Festival) in Agrigento. The festival is a 10-day extravaganza of events, the heart of which focus on folk music from around the world. I’ve yet to attend the festival that attracts everything from Mexican Mariachi bands to Japanese drummers. During this…
Topsy-turvy Carnevale in Sicily
Today is the final day of Carnevale! My cousin Francesca was in Sciacca this past weekend and took this photo. Sciacca boasts one of the leading celebrations in Sicily and Italy. Locals will tell you it’s been presented for centuries. Carnevale is the last hurrah before the planting season and before Lent, when many traditionally…
Scraping the Sky: Teatro Andromeda
Scraping the sky of the Sicanian mountains, Teatro Andromeda is a modern sculpture created by artist and shepherd Lorenzo Reina. Although it feels ancient, the theater, which sits 1000 meters (3280 feet) above sea level, was built by Reina one stone at a time over the past 30 years. When you talk with the Lorenzo,…
Meet Aldo In Sicily
In May, during our Myths and Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below tour, we’ll be spending a day with Aldo on his farm in the mountains of Sicily. Aldo is an herbalist, artist, masseuse, healer, spiritual soul, and … these words just completely fall short of who he is! I’m going to stop trying with…
Pizza In Napoli And So Much More
Join me, Allison Scola of Experience Sicily, and Danielle Oteri of Feast on History for 10 days of beyond-the-ordinary Italy that includes savoring authentic Neopolitan pizza in Napoli! During Southern Secrets: Campania and Sicily’s Hidden Corners, we’ll spend five days south of Naples in Campania and five days in Sicily sparking your senses and immersing…
Stir Things Up In Sicily With Us In September
Extended! Stirring Sicily, our hands-on cooking in Sicily tour, will take place from Sept. 19-26. Co-hosted by Chef Nino Elia, we’ll have classes with Annalisa Pompeo of GoSicily and Giuseppe Sciurca. You don’t want to miss it! Contact me to sign up by Jan. 25, and I’ll extend to you the $300 early registration incentive…