Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 10! After an inspirational discussion about Santa Rosalia, our emotions were conjured. The will and faith of the people of Palermo touched our hearts — especially the stories about father Puglisi and his work supporting the young minds of the city, aiming to undermine the power of the Mafia. After…
Tag: Palermo
Stunning Sicily October 2021, Day 9
Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 9! After bidding farewell to our wonderful hosts in the Sicani mountains, we made our way to Bagheria to the fantastic Villa Palagonia. There our guide Giulia Scalia explained the curious Villa of the Monsters and its historic owner’s motivations for the mysterious statues that decorate it. The hall of…
Getting High In Palermo
One view of Palermo’s skyline | Whenever possible, I suggest going up. If there is a steeple or spire or tower to climb, do it! The reward is feeling like a bird and gaining a new point of view.
Palermo Next Level: Salinas Archeological Museum For Antiquities
Palermo’s Salinas archeological museum hosts many treasures from antiquity. Many of the findings from Selinunte are housed here, including these late-4th/mid-3rd century BCE terracotta statuettes, made in the style of those traditionally made in Tanagra, Greece north of Athens. They were found in a Punic grave site.
Celebrating La Santuzza, Santa Rosalia, In Palermo
Viva Santa Rosalia! Viva Palermo! Annually on July 15, devotees of Santa Rosalia, the patroness of Palermo, solemnly process her sacred relics through the city. The ritual is held in commemoration of the miracle that she performed in 1624 and 1625 when Sicily’s capital was under siege from a plague that mortally cursed more than…
Sicily Travel Information Session on Tuesday
Join me for a Sicily travel Q&A Session on Tuesday! Sample question: Is it safe to fly now? Answer: Yes, it is. According to the CDC, when you are fully vaccinated, air-travel is safe. Importantly, because of the continuous air circulation and filtration on airplanes, viruses like COVID-19 do not spread easily such an environment….
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #43. Historic Opulent Villas
Goethe visited Villa Palagonia in 1787 and noted that it was remarkably unique, commenting that the statues were a menagerie of egos. Indeed, each statue seems to hold its own story or perhaps represents a caricature of someone you may know. You’ll have to visit to see for yourself.
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #35. Amazing Architecture
What exactly is it? Built in 1905, Stand Florio was constructed for the industrious Florio family as a daytime seaside resort for their friends and associates – – members of Palermo’s nouveau riche elite. On its grounds they played soccer/football and water sports and socialized. The complex was designed by Palermo architect Ernesto Basile, who…
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #33. Human Super Heroes
The blast, which registered on earthquake monitors, was the masterwork of the Sicilian mafia. Falcone was targeted because of his life’s work: arresting, holding accountable, and imprisoning those involved in the plague of organized corruption that had crippled Sicily for decades. Falcone and his fellow prosecutor, Paolo Borsellino, were super heroes, having risked (and subsequently…