Giuseppe “Pino” Puglisi was killed in Palermo on September 15, 1993, his 56th birthday. A courageous defender of the poor in the Sicilian capital’s inner city neighborhood of Brancaccio, Blessed Father Puglisi worked tirelessly to convince young people that there was a better life than organized crime. He was extremely outspoken about the Mafia and…
Tag: Palermo
Dance the Tarantella with me this Sunday in Tappan, NY
Whenever I have an opportunity to dance, I take it! This one was in May, during our Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below tour when we were at Villa Palagonia in Bagheria, Sicily. You don’t have to be in Sicily or wait until May 2020 for our next tour to dance a tarantella…
Cheese, Glorious Tuma Persa Cheese
Cheese, glorious tuma persa cheese! Even my Sicilian cousin Evelina didn’t know what tuma persa was when I mentioned it to her this summer. It’s *that* unique! Back in July, during our heritage experience day with a family from New Jersey who have roots in Castronovo di Sicilia, our guide Pierfilippo organized a wonderful visit…
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…
Paying Homage To Palermo’s Santa Rosalia
Palermo’s patroness, Santa Rosalia (Pictured: her likeness illustrated in Palermo’s Immaculate Conception Church), is recognized annually on September 4, the day she died in 1166, with a solemn pilgrimage to her sanctuary at the top of Mount Pellegrino.Tomorrow, pilgrims will arrive from far and wide to process up Mount Pellegrino, often barefoot or on their…
Palermo Watches The Bustle
Palermo is a wise woman. An antique postcard next to a photo from May 2019 of the Martorana Church in Piazza Bellini illustrates that. We change, and she watches. Music about Palermo, written by Allison Scola and Joe Ravo. Performed by Villa Palagonia music duo… https://villa-palagonia.com/music/palermo-2/
Frittola In Il Capo Market, Palermo
“Parts unknown” in Il Capo Market, Palermo… Eric and I ate the frittola! How adventuresome are you? What is frittola? You ask? Sicilian street food… And you don’t really know which parts of the animal you are eating…. Let’s explore Palermo’s markets together during Stirring Sicily this September. More at https://experiencesicily.com/tours-of-sicily/2019-tours-of-sicily/stirring-sicily-west-sept-2019/
Peacocks From Roger II’s Hall In The Norman Palace
The original mosaic artwork from Sicilian King Roger II’s Hall in the Palazzo dei Normanni (12th century) in Palermo and the print copying it, created by Gioaria di Marilena Trovato. I can’t wait to hang this art in my home with the others in the set I purchased in the Norman Palace.
Fishing For My Sicilian Heritage
Yesterday, I spent a heartwarming morning with Michelangelo Balistreri at the Museo dell’Acciuga di Aspra in Aspra (Palermo Province). It was a journey into my family history. Anyone with fisherman roots from Sicily’s north coast will appreciate a visit to this outstanding labor of love. Michelangelo and artist Francesco Maglio have created a beautiful tribute…
Southern Secrets, Day 9: Charging Palermo
Live from Sicily! Southern Secrets, Day 9: Do you have what it takes to take on Palermo? We started our day at the splendid Monreale Cathedral walking through the storybook of stupendous mosaics that it is. Then on to Il Capo market to eat frittola, babbaluci, cazzilli, panelle, arancine, sfincione, sangue, and pane ca meusa……