When you take those “strade brutte,” meaning “ugly roads” that you are afraid for your car to drive down, you’ll see some beautiful scenery, like this hill that exists somewhere between Palermo and Trapani Provinces. (NB those are ruins of an ancient castle on top of the hill)
Tag: trapani
They Looked To Venus For Love
In ancient times, if you were looking for love and passion, western Sicily was the place to go. I’ve written about Erice in the past, where for centuries there was a temple to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and before that, it was a temple to the Carthaginians’ and Phoenicians’ goddess of love. Well,…
Sicily’s Graceful Example Of Doric Architecture
The doric temple at Segesta, built c. 420 BCE by a Sicilian architect who was influenced by his Greek forefathers’ design styles, sits in the Trapani Province countryside.
The Extraordinary Church Of San Domenico In Castelveltrano, Sicily
The Chiesa di San Domenico in Castelvetrano in Trapani Province is a masterpiece. Originally built in the 1470s when commissioned by the Tagliavia family, the church gained spectacle status once artist Antonio Ferraro da Giuliana and his sons spent three years from 1577-1580 creating the stucco scene above the altar titled “Albero di Jesse,” or…
Erice’s Labyrinth-like Street Plan
It is easy to get lost in the maze of streets in the Medieval hilltown of Erice. In the past, the labyrinth-like street plan was a strategic design, meant to confuse and trap invaders. Today, however, wandering into a clandestine corner to “get lost” is delightful for lovers. Venus’ romantic energy is still present in…
Sailing In Sicily
Even a cloudy day in Castellammare del Golfo is a beautiful day. There are many options for boat excursions in Sicily.
The Mystery Of The Madonna of Custonaci, Sicily
The Madonna of Custonaci is a cherished, sacred painting in the towns of Erice and Custonaci, where her sanctuary is located. It has a fascinating legend of its origins “from the east.” I’ll discuss its story and more on Tuesday, January 19 at 7:30PM Eastern on Zoom. To register and attend this complimentary presentation, visit…
Live Nativity Scenes In Sicily
Many towns in Sicily annually create elaborate live nativity scenes like this one I saw in 2019 in Custonaci (Trapani Province). These dioramas featuring townspeople acting out iconic moments and everyday activities from past times create a sense of wonder. Presepe Vivente are a reason to visit Sicily during Christmas. (In the future, when it’s…
Ancient And Modern Music-Making In Sicily
Female figure on a stool playing the lyre (4th – 5th century BCE), from the ancient city of Lilibeo (modern Marsala), seen in the Museo Whitacker archeological museum on Mozia Island. Speaking of music-making, join Villa Palagonia duo on Sunday at 3PM (Eastern)/21:00 in Italia for an online concert of Sicilian folk music (and a…
Western Sicily’s Salt Pans
The salt pans of Nubia, near Trapani along Sicily’s west coast are renowned by cooks throughout the world for the delicious sea salt Sicilians have harvested from here for centuries. The tuna fishing industry, which has existed here since Phoenician times (c. 800 BCE), prompted the development of the salt pans because salt is an…