Tag: archeologia
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Life is a Banquet
I’m getting ready to go to Sicily today … and this is what I’m thinking about: Banqueting! Stirring Sicily, our hands-on cooking experience starts in 12 hours! This late 6th century BC statuette of a banqueting figure on a bed is housed in Palermo’s Museo Archeologico Salinas. It was found in a Punic (AKA Carthaginian)…
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An Enthroned Goddess’ Ancestor
Annually on September 6, 7, and 8 the town of Grammichele in Catania Province pays homage to Our Lady of the Plan, or the Madonna del Piano. Today, Grammichele is a baroque town with a fascinating hexagonal central piazza that was built after the devastating earthquake of 1693. Its history, however, runs deep. One of…
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Rejoice! Progress in Palermo!
Palermo’s archaeological museum, Il Museo Archeologico Regionale “Antonio Salinas,” houses one of the world’s most robust collections of ancient Punic and Greek art and artifacts. Priceless pieces from sites across Sicily are represented; however, for the past 5-6 years, the museum has been closed for renovation and its collection has remained behind the locked doors.…
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Still Hosting Shows after 2300 Years
Taormina’s Ancient Theater, or Teatro Antico, is outstanding. In 2003, I was fortunate enough to have seen Elton John perform a 2.5 hour concert here. What a night! With the Ionian Sea and the Bay of Schisò as the backdrop along with the real showstopper, Mount Etna, fuming to the south, few other views are…
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Sicily’s Modest Venus
Found in the Acradina quarter of Siracusa in 1804, the Venus Landolina is named for the archeologist, Saverio Landolina (1743-1814), who discovered the statue. Made from Greek marble in the 2nd century AD, the Roman era work is a copy of a Greek era work from the 2nd century BC. Because it is an unclothed…
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Look History in the Eyes
This theatrical mask (with wig originally fixed to the holes) from the beginning of the 5th century BC is on display at the archaeological museum in Siracusa, the Museo Orsi. This and thousands of other artifacts in this outstanding museum tell Sicily’s 3000 years of human history.
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How are the Acoustics?
The Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio) is an enormous cave in the archaeological area in Siracusa. It was a prison for centuries. Legend is that the tyrant Dionysius could hear prisoners’ whispers utilizing the former quarry’s acoustics. On the morning of Day 8 of September’s Savoring Sicily tour, we’ll see how true that is!…
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Antelope Roam Here, sort of
The Villa Romana del Casale may not be as well-known as other UNESCO sites in Sicily, but once you’ve seen it for yourself its magnificence and historical significance will astound you. We’ll tour the sprawling estate on Day 5 of Experience Sicily’s Savoring Sicily tour (Sept. 22 to Oct. 4). I say, “sprawling” because so…
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Today, Wear Comfortable Shoes
On Day 4 of Savoring Sicily, you’ll start the morning by greeting the gods at Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples. First stop, the 5th century B.C. Temple of Juno (or Hera, if you are Greek!). This magnificent monument is just one of seven in the UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans 2 kilometers. So wear…