Live from Sicily! Day 3 of Experience Sicily Myths and Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below. Free time, a visit to the ancient Jewish baths (Mikveh) where we read the Kaddish for those who left this place in 1492 and 1493 during the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition, and then a cooking experience with Alessia…
Tag: siracusa
Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: Day 2
Live from Sicily! Experience Sicily Day 2 of Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below. We dove deeply into the history and beauty of magical Siracusa and Ortigia Island. A magnificent performance of The Trojan Women and so much more!
Apollo Inspires The Start Of Our Journey
Live from Sicily! Today starts our Myths and Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below tour. This itinerary, co-hosted by Tony Allicino, has been a dream of mine to lead since before starting Experience Sicily. It’s a journey to the heart–both of Sicily and of oneself! We’ll be visiting sacred sites throughout the island that are…
Noto’s 2019 Infiorata: Sicilians In America
Last year’s Infiorata in Noto (pictured) celebrated Chinese culture. This year’s flower carpet festival, which takes place this weekend, has the theme of Sicilians In America.
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…
Trekking Amongst The Tombs In Sicily
I was blessed again today with the guidance of Nanni Di Falco, who led me through a small part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site know as the Pantelica Necropolis, a gorge cut into limestone by the Anapo and Cave Grande rivers that is dotted with hundreds of tombs from the 13th century BCE. It…
Dance Through 2019 With Joy
Happy New Year! Buon Anno! Bon’annu nuvo!
Lucia Miraculously Delivered Sicily From The Famine
Viva Santa Lucia! Cuccìa, pictured, is a pudding made from wheat berries (or barley, spelt, or farro) prepared in honor of the Feast of Santa Lucia, December 13. Cuccìa became the traditional dish of the feast because during a famine in the 17th century, Siracusans prayed to Lucia, the patroness of wheat and grain, for…
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…