This is Hugo. I miss him. Normally, during every visit to Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, I get a chance to say hello to him. Last year, that was six times. Of course the temples are always impressive… but on some days (for me), Hugo steals the show. I miss our flirtations. Hugo is…
Tag: valle dei templi
Be Awe-Inspired By Harmony In Agrigento, Sicily
The Temple of Concordia is one of seven ancient Greek houses of worship you can discover at Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. It was named for a Latin inscription that was found on a dedication marker unearthed in the vicinity of the archaeological site–i.e., a marker not associated with the temple; however, spirited archaeologists…
Tour and Cook in Sicily
Live from Sicily! Last evening, I toured Valley of the Temples in Agrigento with the hiking group of wonderful Italians with whom I’ve spent the last two days. The 2500 year-old site, featuring the Temple of Concordia, pictured) continues to amaze me. I want it to amaze you too in September during Stirring Sicily, our…
Southern Secrets, Days 7 & 8: Gold and Sapphire in Sicily
Live from Sicily! Southern Secrets, Days 7 & 8 Experience Sicily and Feast on History: Gold and Sapphire in Sicily. Yesterday, along with the models from Dolce & Gabbana (during their photo shoot in anticipation of today’s big fashion show), we gazed at the golden Temple of Concord at Valley of the Temples. But they…
Sicily’s International Folk Music Festival
Now until March 10 is the annual Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore (Almond Blossom Festival) in Agrigento. The festival is a 10-day extravaganza of events, the heart of which focus on folk music from around the world. I’ve yet to attend the festival that attracts everything from Mexican Mariachi bands to Japanese drummers. During this…
Embracing The Longest Night
As we observe the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, I recall how beautiful the UNESCO site Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily is at night, when the the monuments, like this, the Temple of Concordia, are lit. Even in ancient times (Concordia was erected between 440 and 430 B.C.E.), it was…
Otherworldly In Agrigento, Sicily
Close your eyes and imagine yourself at the foot of the remains of an ancient Greek temple from the 5th century B.C.E., like the Temple of Castor and Pollux, pictured left. After learning about the thriving civilization that built Agrigento in the centuries before the common era from your archaeologist-guide, you’ll then savor a picnic…
Dining Amongst the Gods
After our visit to the Valley of the Temples, we had lunch like the ancients, hosted by ArcheoCuisine. Our hostess Alessandra, an archeologist and food historian, and her team created a beautiful experience for us in the shadow of the Temple of Hercules that consisted of foods made with Sicilian ancient grains such as Tumminia…
Agrigento: Blooming With Music and Dance
This year’s Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore in Agrigento is ongoing (This photo, by my cousin Filippo Buttitta, was taken at the 2016 feast.). Folk dance and music groups from all over the world gather annually to share their cultural patrimony at the UNESCO site Valley of the Temples and throughout the city. Although I’ve…
Archeological Mysteries Brought to Life
In 1996, I backpacked throughout Europe by myself for two months, on a budget of just $50 a day. It was an exhilarating, remarkable journey: My Grand Tour. Being on a tight budget (so I could keep traveling until my last penny ran out!), I rarely had the luxury of a guide explaining to me…