Experience Sicily

Tag: Bagheria

  • Sicily is a Land of Contrasts

    Sicily is a land of intriguing contrasts. A moment like this one that I captured on the State Road in Bagheria is common.

  • Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and a Zampogna Player

    Nativity scenes (presepe or presepio) in Sicily and Southern Italy don’t just illustrate the Holy Family, they also show the folk traditions of the people in the region. For example, at the presepe in Sant’Elia that Experience Sicily’s Filippo Buttitta photographed last week, the life-sized figures include this zampogna, or bagpipe player. Zampogne (plural for…

  • Chef Melissa Muller Leads Us through Sicily

    In Italy, and definitely in Sicily, citizens are most patriotic to the traditions and cultural practices followed within the sound of the church bell that they can hear, a concept called campanilismo. As a result, contrary to popular belief, only a handful places ritually eat seven kinds of fish on Christmas Eve. For example, in…

  • Seasily

    Just because seeing the sea in Sicily makes me happy. I hope it makes you happy too.

  • Fortunate Recipient

    This necklace is the creation of two very talented women. The ceramic piece was designed by artist Mirella Pipia in Bagheria. It was intended to be a decorative ornament of some kind, perhaps, for your Christmas tree. In 2014, Barbara Shiller, an American jewelry maker, came with me to Sicily on our September small-group tour.…

  • Sweet Ride

    I just want to hug it! An antique Fiat 500, photographed in Bagheria, Province of Palermo.

  • Villa Palagonia: Castanets

    Statue of musician playing castanets, Villa Palagonia, 18th century. (NB, further to yesterday’s post… Castanets are often made with chestnut tree wood.)

  • What’s in Season

    You’ll know what fruits and vegetables are in season in Sicily once you see what the guy on the corner is selling from his truck. (This one: In early July, peaches from the mountains)

  • Traditional Dress of a Sicilian Cart Driver

    According to “Il costume popolare in Italia,” a book by Emma Calderini published in 1934, this is an illustration of what Sicilian cart drivers, or carrettiere, typically wore. So, if you need a last-minute Halloween costume idea, you might be able to pull this off! Just know that in addition to transporting goods–often through the…