Somewhere in Caltanissetta province, Sicily
Tag: grano
Wheat Fields In Ragusa, Sicily
Stone walls mark the fields where the wheat harvest in the countryside of Ragusa province is now taking place.
Castronovo Di Sicilia: The Golden Heart Of Sicily
In the heart of Sicily, Castronovo di Sicilia is tucked between the Platani River, Mount Kassar, and the Mount Carcaci Nature Preserve. Although in Palermo Province, it feels very much part of the Sicanian region that is to its south, probably because of the activity along the ancient thoroughfare — the Platani River — that…
Pine Cones, Palm Leaves, And Wheat
Live from Italy! Pine cones, palm leaves, and wheat–what do they mean? The past two days, I’ve been in Bari, a major city in the region of Puglia. While in Bari, I visited two of the major churches, the late 12th century Basilica of San Nicola and the late 13th century Cathedral of San Sabino….
Wheat
Wheat is one of the key elements to understanding Sicily. For millennia, wheat was Sicily’s main agricultural product and economic engine. The Greeks cultivated grain from the time they arrived on the island 700 years before the Common Era. Demeter, goddess of grain and the harvest, was central to eastern Sicilians’ religion because of her…
Tumminia, Sicily’s Ancient Grain
Tumminia (pictured at Molini del Ponte in Castelvetrano), also called Timilia, is an ancient grain variety cultivated in only a few locations in the Belice Valley in western Sicily. Once milled, it plays the role of principal ingredient in Castelvetrano’s Slow Food designated pane nero (black bread). Filippo Drago, owner of Molini del Ponte in Castelvetrano, makes…
Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride
As you travel between Modica, Scicli, and Ragusa in south eastern Sicily, take note of the wheat fields and the long, man-made stone walls.
Sowing is Sacred
November is a month dedicated to sowing wheat seeds. For agricultural communities like those in the center of Sicily, the work done now determines a successful crop later–and sustenance for the next year (This photo was taken in June, after the harvest.).
Why the Romans Loved Sicily
Sicily’s interior is rich with wheat.