After a magnitude (hypothetical) 6.2 foreshock on January 9, 1693, at 9PM on January 11, 1693 the earth shook in southeastern Sicily for what historians say was four minutes. Etna erupted, 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…
Tag: val di noto
From the Stone Garden
The Parrocchia San Sebastiano in Palazzolo Acreide, Sicily offers a classic example of the elegant, UNESCO recognized architectural design of the “Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.” Palazzolo Acreide is one of the towns that make up the UNESCO site. The town was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693 that flattened much of…
Gliding Above Ragusa Ibla
Panorama of Ragusa Ibla, Sicily Grazie to my cousin Giulia for putting up with my unwavering desire to find the exact place to capture this shot!
Ragusa’s Duomo
The Duomo di San Giorgio in Ragusa was built in the 18th century in the late baroque Sicilian style, following the historic earthquake of 1693. We’ll visit Ragusa, one of the UNESCO towns that is part of the Sicilian Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, on Day 2 of our Sept. 2018 Stirring…
Sunset Pairing
Today, during our private family heritage tour, it was a day of food and wine. A hands-on cooking class in the morning, then a winery tour and tasting with dinner pairing this evening. The wines were so varied and complex… A straight Nero d’Avola that was smokey with cherry overtones; a fruity Grillo, and a…
Go Baroque in Modica
Baroque architectural detail, photographed in Modica
San Bartolomeo Church in ScicliÂ
For some reason, today I have Scicli on my mind. When I think of Scicli, I think of San Bartolomeo Church. Here’s a revisit to a past post, with a new photo. A pearl set in the midst of an ancient gorge, San Bartolomeo Church in Scicli is a sublime example of Sicilian late Baroque….
Keep Your Eyes on Sicilian Wines
Starting on Friday, Oct. 21, the Sudest Wine Fest a Siracusa takes place in Ortigia. Within the charming setting of the Antico Mercato di Ortigia, cooking demos, street food offerings, theater presentations, jazz music performances will please attendees, and of course, wine tastings will take center stage. I can only hope that the spectacular wines…
Balcony in Scicli
Balcony of Palazzo Porcelli-Battaglia-Veneziano-Sgarlata, Scicli (18th Century); From the Val di Noto, Sicily late Baroque Towns UNESCO World Heritage site.
Modica Bassa in the Morning Sun
The city of Modica is divided into two parts: Modica Alta and Modica Bassa (pictured here). Modica Bassa is a shorter hillside division than Modica Alta (i.e., a taller hillside). These opposite hills, once dotted with cave dwellings, are now seas of ivory-colored, Baroque buildings. Outfitted with pedestrian staircases and alleyways, Modica is not automobile-friendly….