The three day mid-winter Feast of Sant’Agata is upon us! Agata was a virgin martyr who died in 251 CE. Legend is that she was the beautiful daughter of a wealthy family from Catania. A faithful Christian, Agatha swore herself to Jesus. Important to know, during her lifetime, Christianity was illegal under Roman rule. So,…
Tag: catania
Sicily’s Inspired Pistachio Pesto
Etna erupted last night! (NB This is an old photo.) Here she is from Bronte on the western slope with glorious pistachio trees in the foreground. Pistachios love the mineral and saline rich volcanic soil of Mamma Etna. It makes them taste so good! That’s why Sicilians invented pistachio pesto to go on pasta! Learn…
The Beginnings Of Etna In Aci Trezza
Gli Scogli dei Ciclopi, the Rocks of the Cyclops, are basalt (volcanic) rocks that protrude from the sea at Aci Trezza, a fishing community on Sicily’s east coast, north of Catania. Local legend says that these are boulders from Mt. Etna, thrown here, into the sea, at Homer’s hero, Odysseus, after he and his men…
World War II In Sicily: Thank You Veterans
Thank you, Veterans! In July and August 1943, during World War II, Sicily was a significant theater in the fight against fascism. German and Italian Axis forces occupied the island, and the Allied forces of the United States, Canada, and Britain aligned for Operation “Husky,” and amphibious and land assault to take Italy and eventually…
Mount Etna’s First Flora
When you walk on Etna’s craters you can imagine how rich the mineral-filled lavic soil will one day become. It takes 100 to 700 years for lava soil to support new vegetation growth. One of the first natural plants to return (and pictured here) is Sicilian astragalus. Others include camomile flowers, Etna rennet, and tansy…
Our Hostesses Taught Us Well
One of the many memorable moments of last year’s Secret Sicily: Life In A Remote Sicilian Town tour was making a pasta lunch with the ladies of Licodia Eubea (and their husbands too!). It was all hands on in order to make fresh cavatelli with a traditional meat ragù. Maria Concetta, Antonella, and Carmen wasted…
The Street Exuded Joy In Sicily
Although today is the feast of Sant’Anna, I’m recalling last July when, along with our Experience Sicily Life in A Remote Sicilian Town tour group, we were communing with the locals of Licodia Eubea for the feast of Santa Margherita, their patron saint. The Strada Lunga was decorated with luminare, the bars and gelaterie were…
The July Countryside In Sicily
Somewhere near Licodia Eubea, Sicily July marks the end of the wheat season in Sicily, when the fields in the island’s center are harvested and the crop is rolled into bails of hay. The green pastures of the spring turned to gold at the end of May into early June, and during this period, the…
A Landmark Staircase In Sicily
The Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte in Caltagirone, Sicily was built in 1609 to connect the old lower town to the new upper town. Since 1954, each of the risers of its 142 steps has been decorated with colorful, handcrafted majolica ceramic tiles. This UNESCO recognized baroque town is world renowned for its ceramic…
The Surface Of Etna Is Rich With Minerals
Fred on one of the Silvestri Craters of Mount Etna… The Silvestri Craters are extinct. Etna’s active calderas that are much further up the 11,000 foot summit continue to spew lava, ash, and gas throughout the year. Etna, on Sicily’s east coast, is Europe’s largest and most active volcano and one of the most active…