Experience Sicily

Tag: UNESCO

  • Symbols Are Everywhere In Sicily

    Pomegranates and grapes are carved into the detail work of the Duomo of Cefalù. Both are coming into season now. Both represent fertility and abundance.

  • The Faces Of Power In Ragusa

    The faces decorating Ragusa’s Palazzo Bertini send a message. The palace, built in the late 18th century in the style of the Late Sicilian Baroque, sits on Corso Italia leading to the old, aristocratic Ragusa Ibla from the new, up-and-coming city of Ragusa–in other words, the avenue between old money and new. The three faces…

  • Ancient Roman Barbecue In Sicily

    This mosaic scene from the Roman Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina features hunters at an altar for the goddess of the hunt, wild animals, moon, and childbirth, i.e. the Roman Diana or Greek Artemis. The Roman Villa, a UNESCO site, is better described as an ancient plantation. Scholars believe that the original owner was…

  • Sicily’s History Offers Us Knowledge For Today

    Sicily’s history offers us many lessons. Since the 13th century Modica (pictured) has been a prosperous and important city. For centuries it was the seat of its own county that enjoyed political independence and economic and cultural influence. The resource-rich surrounding landscape with agriculture as its economic engine has made Modica and Ragusa province wealthy…

  • Modica, Sicily And Saint Peter And Saint Paul

    Today is the feast day of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Peter, of course, is the protector of Rome (and popes too). But importantly (For my family especially, since my father is named Peter and I come from a long line of fishermen), he is the patron saint of net-makers, shipbuilders, and fishermen, and…

  • The Rocky Necropolis Of Pantalica, Sicily

    Pantalica Nature Reserve is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the approximately 5,000 ancient tombs that are cut into its limestone canyon walls. Sections of the rocky necropolis date as far back as the 12th century BCE.

  • The Lions Of Palermo’s Royal Palace

    The mosaics from the chambers of Roger II (Sala di Re Rogero) in the Royal Palace in Palermo are a spectacular example of Arab Norman secular design. They date to the mid 12th century, the same period that the Cappella Palatina was constructed.

  • A Landmark Staircase In Sicily

    The Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte in Caltagirone, Sicily was built in 1609 to connect the old lower town to the new upper town. Since 1954, each of the risers of its 142 steps has been decorated with colorful, handcrafted majolica ceramic tiles. This UNESCO recognized baroque town is world renowned for its ceramic…

  • Sicily’s Valley Of The Temples’ First Temple

    The Temple of Heracles (or Hercules or il Tempio di Ercole) of Agrigento, Sicily’s Valley of the Temples possesses eight reconstructed, massive Doric-style columns. Built in the late 6th century BCE, it is considered the first temple to have been constructed of the seven that we know of at the Valley of the Temples. Valley…