Experience Sicily

Tag: UNESCO

  • 52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #41. European Grandeur and Stateliness

  • 52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #25. East Meets West in Sicily

    Sicily is a bridge where east meets west, especially in Palermo where north African and middle-eastern sensibilities blend with European ones, as illustrated by the Arab-Norman heritage of Palermo. The Arabs were in power in Sicily from roughly 827 to 1061, and many Sicilians will tell you they are proud of the cultural and technological…

  • 52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #3. Palermo Goes To 11

    Then there are ancient sites next to psychodelic baroque (Chiesa di Santa Caterina and Casa Professa, to name just two mind-blowing experiences!) next to Arab-Norman style architecture, next to Liberty Style… Oh, and royal palaces! Check out these mosaic-tiled lions (pictured) in the chambers of Roger II from the 12th century. And don’t forget Castello…

  • 52 Reasons To Love Sicily | #2. Take The Train

    (Pictured: The duomo of Cefalù, one of the UNESCO sites of the Arab-Norman Patrimony of Sicily.) Cefalù, Palermo Province  

  • Baroque Balcony In Palazzolo Acreide, Sicily

    Balcony and front door in the UNESCO recognized town of Palazzolo Acreide

  • Commemorating The Tremendous 1693 Earthquake In Sicily

    After a magnitude (hypothetical) 6.2 foreshock on January 9, 1693, at 9PM on January 11, 1693 the earth shook in southeastern Sicily like it hasn’t since. Etna was erupting, and a tsunami struck the Ionian coasts of eastern Sicily and the Strait of Messina. We don’t know the exact scope of the earthquake’s power according…

  • The Red Domes Of Palermo

    Whenever I see the church of San Cataldo, I feel Palermo is welcoming me home. The red domes of this ancient church overlook Via Maqueda and Piazza Bellini. San Cataldo was built during the early-Norman era in the 1150s by Maio of Bari, William I’s top emir, or commander. Its cherry-on-top domes and elegant window…

  • Tonight: Online Sicily Trivia

    Sicilian-Style Trivia Challenge & Happy Hour Today! Friday, October 9 at 7pm (Eastern) Register Now: https://wiccny.webinarninja.com/live-webinars/512255/register. Join me with my friend Carla Gambescia for a fun evening that was created specially by La Dolce Vita University to celebrate La Bella Sicilia! Presented by the Westchester Italian Cultural Center. Here’s a warm-up: What is the architectural…

  • Dancing In Piazza Armerina

    Waving a red scarf, this woman depicted in the Room of the Dance at the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina wears a decorative dress, elegant jewelry (note her bangles), and red shoes. She’s even sporting a cat eye makeup style! I like this woman! Archeologists think this 3rd/4th century C.E. mosaic was inspired…