I can’t emphasis enough how significant the infamous earthquakes of 1693 were to eastern Sicily. First of all, it wasn’t just one day or one event. “The earthquake” was a series of tremors that started on January 9, 1693 with a hypothetical 6.2 magnitude (there was no Richter Scale at the time) followed by a…
Tag: experience sicily
Your Sicilian DNA Will Bubble Up
Lo Schiavo Genealogica, a company that researches Italian heritage and genealogy and helps Americans be recognized as Italian citizens, interviewed me last week on their program “For the Love of Italy.” It was a lot of fun to discuss Experience Sicily, why I love hosting people for tours in Sicily, and how amazing it feels…
La Befana In Sicily
The visit of the friendly witch La Befana is celebrated on Epiphany Eve (January 5) throughout Italy and Sicily. La Befana is recognized because of her broomstick, shawl, and sack filled with sweets and gifts for children. Legend is that she originally set out to meet the Baby Jesus, but never found her way to…
Hiking In Sicily Takes My Breath Away
Yesterday with naturalistic guide Nanni Di Falco and the Italian hiking organization Compagnia dei Cammini, I traversed more than 12 miles of stupendous landscape in Trapani province on foot (Yes, I’m on the move!). In the distance of this photo are Scopello and the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline leading to Lo Zingaro Nature Preserve. We hiked…
January 2, 2023 In Sicily
Today… Oh, today. I apologize to my friends in New York. Yes, this was the absolutely perfect day we had in Sicily today at my favorite place to swim (If you follow me, you’ve seen this view from Capo Zafferano looking at Palermo before.). In my opinion, the Tyrrhenian Sea this time of year is…
Family Lunch in Caccamo, Sicily
I was blessed to spend today, New Year’s Day, with my family in Caccamo. This is the view from the agriturismo where we had lunch (NB a three and a half hour lunch!). We ate local sausages and cheeses cultivated and created from these hills. We also celebrated my cousin Tanina’s 80th birthday, and of…
Santa Lucia In New York City 2022
Eyes on a plate: This is how one identifies Santa Lucia, the patroness of light, grain, wheat, and eyes. Legend is that her eyes were gouged out either to make herself unattractive to her pagan betrothed or upon her arrest when Roman soldiers could not move her from where she stood. She was a determined…
Sicily And The Cyclops
This is a cyclops. Well, sort of. It’s actually the skeleton of an elephant. A small elephant that at one time was indigenous to Sicily. Yup, that’s right. This animal, which is the size of a Vespa motor bike, once roamed the ancient landscape of Sicily. (Remember, part of Sicily is on the African tectonic…
Borgo Parrini Inspires
Yesterday, I took a side trip to Borgo Parrini, a tiny neighborhood of the town of Partinico, which you’ll find a few miles west of Palermo. Originally developed in the 16th century by the Jesuits (Parrini means priests.), the division of homes has been occupied over the centuries by various residents, mostly supporting agricultural activities…
The Tour Exceeded Our Expectations
It’s hard to summarize a tour like May’s Enchanting Sicily. We cover so much ground during the two weeks that we spend together on this magical island. I want to thank our wonderful clients for their trust in us! When I hear feedback like, “The tour exceeded our expectations!” and “We thank everyone for enriching…