Cook, Eat, and Explore Sicily In September

During Stirring Sicily, our hands-on cooking in Sicily tour from September 19-26, we’ll delight in a boat excursion to see L’Arco Azzurro (the Blue Arch), pictured here, among other sites, along Sicily’s coast at Capo Zafferano. Join us! Contact me today at AllisonScola@ExperienceSicily.com to take advantage of a special offer. Let’s cook, eat, savor wine,…

Fishing For My Sicilian Heritage

Yesterday, I spent a heartwarming morning with Michelangelo Balistreri at the Museo dell’Acciuga di Aspra in Aspra (Palermo Province). It was a journey into my family history. Anyone with fisherman roots from Sicily’s north coast will appreciate a visit to this outstanding labor of love. Michelangelo and artist Francesco Maglio have created a beautiful tribute…

If These Boats Could Talk

Boats at Aspra, the fishing village of Bagheria In Aspra, there is a museum focused on anchovy fishing and all things anchovy: Museo dell’Acciuga di Aspra. Although I haven’t yet been, since this type of fishing was done by my family (in these waters) for centuries, while in Sicily the next few weeks, I hope…

She’s A Tuff Mountain

Monte Catalfano hosted an important quarry, pictured, of a soft rock composed of volcanic materials such as ash, lava, and magma. This rock is known as Aspra tuff, or “tufa,” in Italian. Down the road from where this photo was taken, the villas of Bagheria such as Palagonia, Cattolica, Butera, Valguarnera, and Spedalotto were constructed…

Heat is on the Way

It’s really cold right now in New York City where I live (-12C, if you must know). So, I’m warming my heart thinking about this hidden swimming spot in the cliffs of Mongerbino called I Francesi. A couple of years ago, my cousin Filippo (who took this photo) brought me here to swim. I can’t…