Experience Sicily

Tag: saint

  • Another Of Sicily’s Heroes, Father Pino Puglise

    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…

  • Lucia Brought Light

    The pure and beautiful Lucia was known to enter the dark catacombs of Siracusa, lighting her way with a torch in order to feed less fortunate, early Christians. It was the dawn of the 4th century, and practicing Christianity in the Roman-ruled capital was illegal. Already though, inspired by nearby Catania’s patron saint, Sant’Agata, who…

  • Rice Balls, Glorious Rice Balls

    Before I continue with the significance of the December 13 Feast for Santa Lucia, let’s talk about the really serious stuff! That is, that Palermitani celebrate the Saint by eating arancine. Arancine (as they are known in Palermo, pictured right; Arancini, if you’re from the east side of Sicily, pictured left), are rice balls filled…

  • Santa Lucia Lunch Sun., Dec. 9 in New York City

    In Siracusa, Sicily last spring, I thanked Santa Lucia for guiding me through last winter–a particularly long and arduous one for me. Now, days from the winter solstice, I invite you to join me for our annual Experience Sicily luncheon celebrating the patroness of light, eyes, sight, and wheat on Sunday, Dec. 9 in New…

  • 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…

  • Sant’Agata Inspires Community in Catania

    Catania’s faithful engage in back-breaking activities to illustrate their devotion and honor their patroness, Sant’Agata, during these days of the feast. Through rituals, they emulate her suffering over three days of torture. Meanwhile, the “cittadini” also help each other and are kind and communicative with each other to get through the work. For example, to…

  • Celebrating Saint Agatha in Sicily

    Viva Sant’Agata! For the next three days in Catania, Sicily’s second largest city, devotees of Sant’Agata will feverishly celebrate the virgin martyr who is identified by iconography where she is carrying her breasts on a plate. The city’s patroness (pictured as Roman soldiers attempted to burn her at the stake in this painting photographed in…

  • Travel to Sicily For A Feast Day

    Feasts, and how Sicilians celebrate them always inspire me. I recommend you plan your dates around such an event. For example, today I’m envious of our clients who are in Acireale to experience the fervor; for annually on January 20, the town in the province of Catania recognizes one of its patrons, Saint Sebastian, with…

  • Learning from San Sebastiano

    His story is a bit extreme, however, it’s a good reminder to me to keep the faith and get up again over and over. Although San Sebastiano lived and died in Rome, in Sicily on January 20, the early Christian martyr is celebrated with fervor in the towns of Acireale (Catania), Tortorici (Messina), and Barcellona…