Experience Sicily

Tag: Bagheria

  • View of Sant’Elia

    View of Sant’Elia (Fraction of Santa Flavia) from Solunto on Mount Catalfano.

  • Tatting and a Little Chatting

    Signora Pipia, the mother of artist Mirella Pipia, is quite a talent herself! Here, she proudly displays earings that she crafted. With beads and specially chosen thread, really a type of high quality strings of different colors and fibers, she utilized tatting to make these exquisite pieces of jewelry. Tatting in Italian is known as…

  • Villa Palagonia: Guitarist

    Statue of musician with a Spanish Guitar, Villa Palagonia, 18th century.

  • Conca d’Oro, 1950

    I recently read Dacia Maraini’s memoir “Bagheria.” In her book, the well-known Italian writer details returning to Bagheria after World War II. She describes in detail the natural beauty of the Conca d’Oro in the 1940s and 1950s before massive over-development changed the landscape. This photo was taken by my Uncle Stefano in June 1950.

  • Sicily’s Hot Table

    If when in Sicily you are on the go and looking for something hearty to eat, stop into a “tavola calda” or rosticceria (Literally, “hot table” meaning cafeteria or rotisserie). There you will find “Pezzi di rosticceria” or according to my cousin Filippo, “Pezzi” for short. Pezzi (pieces) consist of pizzette (small pizzas), calzoni (pictured…

  • Peter Won

    According to the handwritten description on the back of this photo, my uncle Stefano lost the argument, and my father Peter got to drive the cart. (Photo: Stefano Scola, Bagheria, June 1950).

  • Hand-painted Wishes

    “Auguri per il Matrimonio” (“Best Wishes for Marriage”), detail from my father’s toy, hand-painted Sicilian cart. Painted in Bagheria by Onofrio Ducato.

  • Meet Mirella

    After our recent tour, during my stay in Bagheria, I was fortunate to meet graphic and ceramic artist Mirella Pipia in her beautiful store. I am a great admirer of Mirella’s designs, and thanks to my generous cousins, I’m fortunate to have many pieces decorating my apartment in New York. What a pleasure to have…

  • Crochet

    Crochet is an age-old tradition practiced by Sicilian women. This bookmark, pictured, was made in Bagheria by the mother of ceramic artist Mirella Pipia.