Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 9! After bidding farewell to our wonderful hosts in the Sicani mountains, we made our way to Bagheria to the fantastic Villa Palagonia. There our guide Giulia Scalia explained the curious Villa of the Monsters and its historic owner’s motivations for the mysterious statues that decorate it. The hall of…
Tag: villa palagonia
52 Reasons to Love Sicily | #43. Historic Opulent Villas
Goethe visited Villa Palagonia in 1787 and noted that it was remarkably unique, commenting that the statues were a menagerie of egos. Indeed, each statue seems to hold its own story or perhaps represents a caricature of someone you may know. You’ll have to visit to see for yourself.
Reflecting On The Unconscious In Sicily
Villa Palagonia or the “Villa of the Monsters,” built in the 18th century, was visited by German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1787. He described it as a place filled with “elements of madness,” because to him, its decor was a grotesque expression of the unconscious (And he’s right!). Certainly, in the late 18th…
Hercules Went Clubbing In Sicily
Hercules and the Hydra of Lerna, a fresco in the lobby of the main entrance of Villa Palagonia (18th century), Bagheria, Sicily… Hercules killed the serpentine monster during his second of 12 Labors, an ancient Greek and Roman myth.
Dance the Tarantella with me this Sunday in Tappan, NY
Whenever I have an opportunity to dance, I take it! This one was in May, during our Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below tour when we were at Villa Palagonia in Bagheria, Sicily. You don’t have to be in Sicily or wait until May 2020 for our next tour to dance a tarantella…
Day 9 of Experience Sicily Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below | Creative Minds
Live from Sicily! Day 9 of Experience Sicily Myths & Mysteries of Sicily: As Above/So Below. With the help of Francesco, we explored the excentric mind of the Prince of Palagonia at Villa Palagonia in Bagheria. The estate’s hall of mirrors surprised and begged questions about the owner’s critical mind. Once in the vibrant center…
Experience Sicilian Inspired Music in Connecticut
Concert! Join me (Allison Scola) and guitarist Joe Ravo on Sunday, April 8, in Farmington, Conn., when our Sicilian and Southern-Italian-inspired, American folk duo, Villa Palagonia, will perform a concert at the Sounding Board Coffeehouse. Agenda: Open Jam and Song Swap at 2PM; Concert at 3PM (2 sets with a 20-minute intermission). Where: The Lodge…
Viva San Giuseppe in August too!
My cousin Francesca shared this photo with me from earlier tonight, when she was “out on the town,” in Bagheria. This week, the citizens of Bagheria are celebrating the summertime Festa di San Giuseppe. Yes, of course, we celebrate St. Joseph on March 19, but in addition, many towns hold large celebrations in August too,…
Join Us Sunday for Some Live Music
It’s been a busy, busy week–even though I’m in New York, I’m spreading Sicily-love throughout the land. Monday, I was in Bristol, Conn., talking to students of Italian language about Sicilian food, feasts, and festivals. Tuesday night, in cooperation with my friends of You, Me & Sicily, I spoke at the Italian American Museum of…
She’s A Tuff Mountain
Monte Catalfano hosted an important quarry, pictured, of a soft rock composed of volcanic materials such as ash, lava, and magma. This rock is known as Aspra tuff, or “tufa,” in Italian. Down the road from where this photo was taken, the villas of Bagheria such as Palagonia, Cattolica, Butera, Valguarnera, and Spedalotto were constructed…