Tag: sicily travel
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Sicilian Wines Only in Sicily, Please
Cin cin! Look at it. Smell it. Taste it. Enjoy it! Here’s a glimpse at a recent wine tasting I did in Menfi at Mandrarossa Winery. I enjoyed these wines immensely. Sicily is a major grape growing region with many different grape varieties you’ve probably never heard of. These presented here are five grapes for…
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November’s Biscuits in Sicily
Buona Festa di San Martino! November 11 is La Festa di San Martino, or Saint Martin’s Day. It marks the first tasting of the new wine, known as “novello.” September marked the grape harvest, when the grapes are picked, cleaned, and macerated to make juice (must or “mosto”) that was then left to ferment. Traditionally…
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What To Do in Noto, Sicily
Noto can be visited in couple of hours. Its baroque architecture is the feature of most visits. This view from the Chiesa Santa Chiara is worth the price of admission. Yes, Caffè Sicilia is famous for its sweets, but it’s not the only place in the historic center. You’ll often find me with the locals…
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Looking Like Lace In Erice
The 19th-century stucco ceiling of the mother church of Erice resembles lace as a tribute to the women of the city, who since Medieval times were renowned for their lace making. So, when you visit the charming walled city during your tour of Sicily, be sure spend a few minutes under its neo-Gothic vaulted arches.
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That Hand Door Knocker
The handdoor knocker you’ve seen all over Italy and the Mediterranean is ancient and symbolic.
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At the Fish Store in Sicily
At my fish store today in Porticello outside of Palermo, when I walked in, the fish monger said to me, “You must try the oysters that we just got this morning from France… along with the fresh red shrimp!” So, he prepared them for me with some lemon and pepper, and eccolo! The most amazing…
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Feeling Sicilian Heritage From Having Your Hands In The Dough
When hosting a family heritage tour, I aim to recreate the feeling of “wow, this is familiar!?” I want my guests to recall the sensation of being in their grandmother’s kitchen, like I remember feeling my first visit to Sicily in 1996. Images from my childhood flashed before my mind’s eye – – the scent…
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Themes of Women’s Worlds in Sicily
Traveling with mostly women, I decided to focus on a subject that warms my heart, that of Santa Lucia. We started with seeing the Caravaggio, painted in 1608, that recreates the moments surrounding her martyrdom. One of the things that has recently come into focus for me about this painting is the two women grieving.…
