Tag: ortigia
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Themes of Women’s Worlds in Sicily
Traveling with mostly women, I decided to focus on a subject that warms my heart, that of Santa Lucia. We started with seeing the Caravaggio, painted in 1608, that recreates the moments surrounding her martyrdom. One of the things that has recently come into focus for me about this painting is the two women grieving.…
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The Mystery Of Eyes On A Plate
You can easily identify Santa Lucia because she holds eyes on a plate. In my last post I mentioned that she denied her promised dowery and hand in marriage to a young pagan man during a period in the early 4th century when Christianity was illegal. Well, she wanted to devote herself to Jesus, and…
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Not So Secret Siracusa
Siracusa, pictured, is one of Sicily’s many must-see highlights. Note that even with the village of Licodia Eubea being the base of July’s Secret Sicily tour, you spend many days touring the eastern part of the island. So, on Day 2, for example, you will be here, in Ortigia, listening to the fish mongers sing…
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Piazza Duomo Ortigia Glistens
Evening stroll through Piazza Duomo Siracusa (Ortigia) after the rain
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Serendipitously Seen In Sicily: Lucia’s Relics Come Home
My friend Ed, who lives in Siracusa, sent me this photo (along with some video). On the Tuesday evening, the night of the solstice, he and his wife serendipitously came upon a marching band in the Piazza Duomo proudly performing as the fire department escorted the sacred relics of Santa Lucia back to their usual…
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Celebrate Santa Lucia 2021 With Experience Sicily
In Siracusa, veneration of Santa Lucia may be found in many locales, for example at this grocery store that I frequented last February during an extended stay. I saw this tamburello (frame drum) with the patroness of light, eyes, and grain on it, and I lept for joy! I want one! Join me next Monday,…
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Stunning Sicily October 2021, Days 5 and 6
Our group had many laughs during a market tour and cooking experience with Smile and Food. Alessia is always entertaining with excellent tips, like how to peel and cut a prickly pear without getting the thorns in your fingers. That afternoon we descended three stories below the street level to the ritual Jewish baths in…
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Stunning Sicily October 2021, Day 4
Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 4! Siracusa has one of the largest and most extensive Christian catacombs outside of Rome, and we explored the dark, damp, and mysterious underground pathways of San Giovanni’s Catacombs and San Marciano’s Crypt with our local, expert guide Lucia. After a visit to the Orsi archeological museum to see the breathtaking statue of…
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Get Lost Before Breakfast In Sicily
Go out early, before the hustle starts. Wander through the alleyways and get lost before breakfast. What you’ll find will delight you — the simplicity of discovering a place as it wakes offers you a personal magic. (Ortigia around 7am)