Vendicari Nature Reserve was founded in 1984 to encourage birds and plant species to thrive on its approximately 3300 acres. The sanctuary, which is on the coast of southeastern Sicily, has had a constant presence of around 241 different species of birds and hundreds of different species of plants that are found throughout its saltwater…
Tag: sanctuary
An Altar For Santa Rosalia
Normally on September 4, devotees of Santa Rosalia, Palermo’s patroness, recognize their protectress with a solemn pilgrimage to her sanctuary at the top of Mount Pellegrino. They pay homage to the maiden who died on this day in 1166, with prayers, solitude, and a trek up the mountain barefoot or on their knees. This year…
Cry For Me Siracusa
Live from Sicily! We had a glorious weather in Siracusa today. Our clients were full of questions about ancient history as well as modern. One of the more fascinating modern stories about Siracusa is this church, or should I say, this upside down ice cream cone, pictured from this morning! It is the Santuario della…
September 4 and La Santuzza
Palermo’s patroness, Santa Rosalia, is recognized on September 4, the day she died in 1166, with a solemn pilgrimage to her sanctuary (pictured) at the top of Mount Pellegrino. The facade you see covers the opening to a large cave, where, in 1624, a sleeping hunter had a vision of the little-known, medieval-era saint. In…
Sacred with a Kitsch
Today we visited the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Tindari. Here, you can see there is always some kitsch… No matter how sacred, nothing is sacred!
Tindari’s Sanctuary of the Black Madonna
September 8 is the feast day in honor of the Black Madonna of Tindari. The spectacular and colorful Sanctuary, “il Santuario della Madonna del Tindari,” pictured, was built in the 20th century to accommodate the flow of pilgrims coming to see the iconic statue of the “Madonna Bruna,” which sports an inscription, “Nigra Sum Sed…
The Extraordinary Sanctuary of the Black Madonna at Tindari
The extraordinary Sanctuary of the Black Madonna at Tindari houses the mysterious Byzantine statue brought from the east at an “unknown time” in history. Citizens and pilgrims of Tindari celebrate her feast day on September 8. #sicily #sicily_travel #sicilia #sicily_tourism #italy #ig_sicily #tindari #blackmadonna #patti #madonnanera #sanctuary