My heart is heavy knowing about the loss of life because of the Milicia River spontaneously swelling in Casteldaccia, Sicily over the weekend due to torrential rains. When I heard the tragic news, I immediately thought of the Madonna of the Milicia, the sacred painting, pictured, that is venerated in Casteldaccia and Altavilla Milicia, coastal…
Tag: Palermo
Pupaccene For The Day Of The Dead in Sicily
Orlando and Rolando, our heroes from the opera dei pupi theater, make an appearance off-stage, today, for the Day of the Dead, known in Sicilian as, un juornu re muorti; yet this time, as sugar dolls, or pupaccene, pictured. Pupaccene, which today are only made by a handful of artisans in Sicily, are traditionally produced…
The Key To Success Is Who You Know
Because when you know the right people, you can get insider access to the cool places with the breathtaking views. (Sicily has a lot of castles, and I love that the key to this one actually says, “Castello” to open the gate to the castle!) Grazie Giuseppe Sciurca for your hospitality!
Hot Sausage Sounds Good
In Medieval times while in Caccamo, you definitely would have wanted to be on this side of the view from the castle, because if not, you may have been in line to have hot oil poured on you as a means of defence! However, this Sunday, you won’t mind being down on the streets below,…
The Great Debate of Sicilian Rice Balls
When you cross over from western to eastern Sicily, you’ll see some clear differences. One of the most significant is in the rice balls. Note these pictured. Some are round and the one on the top left is a cone shape, almost like a vulcano (hint, hint). Can you guess which might be from eastern…
You Won’t Want To Look Away
Piazza Pretoria in Palermo, Sicily better known as Fontana delle Vergogna (the Fountain of Shame). What’s so shameful? Learn the full story at https://experiencesicily.com/2017/12/15/grace-and-shame/
In Good Company in Termini Imerese
Treasures can be found in every town in Sicily. In Termini Imerese, on Sicily’s north coast between Palermo and Cefalù, there are a number of fascinating relics of its extended history. The one that has sparked my curiosity the most is the 14th-century Chiesa di Santa Caterina, which has 15th-century frescoes depicting the life of…
Return To Sicily For The Harmony Of Ferragosto
Ferragosto is upon us! And that means throughout Sicily (and Italy) there are feasts, music festivals, and gatherings of all sorts, like Ypsigrock (pictured) that took place over the weekend in Castelbuono, Palermo province. My cousin Filippo attended, and he sent me this photo of one of my musician heros, Alfio Antico, who performed on…
The Beach at Mondello, Back In The Day
Antique postcard, Mondello (the beach resort of Palermo)
Listen for The Chants During Il Festino
“Il festivo,” which takes place in Palermo on the evening of July 14 in honor of Santa Rosalia, is a big street party that unifies the city’s citizens through a procession that symbolically purifies the metropolis from the evils that have long afflicted it. The events of the party are a mix of folklore, religion,…