In 1950, my father Peter (Pietro), uncle Stefano, and grandmother Lorenzina traveled to Sicily from Brooklyn for a 3-month visit. The five cousins standing on this hill overlooking Porticello and Bagheria–Pietro, Stefano, Franco, Pietro, and Mimmo–bonded that summer. I’m fortunate to have met them all. What a gang! Have you met your relatives in the…
Tag: porticello
The Sea At Zafferano
“The sea at Zafferano flashes cross my mind… I come from a braver kind… I feel so alive, I feel so sure, with the sun on my path and the wind at my back…” Capo Zafferano, pictured, and my grandparents’ immigration from this area, inspired my song and performance, “Jump,” released ten years ago this…
Porticello’s Madonna del Lume Feast
Currently, the village of Porticello, where my grandfather was born and raised, is celebrating the feast of its patroness, the Madonna del Lume (The Madonna of the Light). I’ve experienced the feast a couple of times, 2015, pictured here. Traditionally, on the Monday of the feast, the sacred painting of the Madonna is taken down…
Feels Good To Be Home
It feels good to be “home.” When I see Capo Zafferano, pictured, and swim in the sea below, I am in my land. These are the waters where my grandfather fished and swam more than 100 years ago before emigrating to the United States. It’s an amazing feeling to think of him and my grandmother…
Secret Swimming Spots
On our last full day in Sicily earlier this month, I took my intrepid fellow travelers Fred and Nola to another one of my favorite swimming spots. This one though, is mostly for locals, and definitely for experienced swimmers. Down a long staircase maintained by the Comune of Bagheria, the rocky cliffs are dotted with…
Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and to all of the moms out there! Starting a business is like raising children: it takes a village. I’m so fortunate to have a very supportive family to help me navigate this entrepreneurial journey of Experience Sicily. My mom has been generous and encouraging during these past years,…
A View To Be Thankful
When I see this view, where I was earlier today, I think of my grandfather who came from Porticello, a fishing village along this breathtaking coastline that is punctuated by Capo Zafferano. Each time, I can only be thankful, because it’s his hard work from years ago that makes it possible for me to have…
Let There Be Madonna of the Light
Yesterday, during Day 12 of Savoring Sicily, we witnessed devotees of the Madonna del Lume celebrating their annual fest in Porticello. For 70 years, the fisherman of the village have venerated the Madonna of the Light, which is represented here by a sacred painting that is taken from the altar of the Mother Church each…
Folk It in Life
Folk festivals are a highlight of summer, and this weekend, the 20th Folklore Festival of the city of Vita offers listeners and folk artists from around the world an opportunity to unite through music and dance. Sicilian groups like the one pictured, Gruppo Folk Soluntum, host groups from Georgia, Greece, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Honduras.
The Whites of Their Eyes
Do you see the fervor in their faces? It’s real. It’s authentic. It’s a true moment of Sicily many won’t see. However, you can experience this ritual for the Madonna del Lume up close with us at Experience Sicily on Day 12 of Savoring Sicily, September 22-October 4. Claim your spot in the church by emailing me…