How about a Little Guitar?

The fellow depicted in this statue on the outer wall of Bagheria’s Villa Palagonia is one of a series of statues of musicians based on engravings from Filippo Bonanni’s 18th century collection “Gabinetto Armonico.” He is playing a chitarrino, or small Italian guitar. The chitarrino had 4 or 6 strings and was played in southern…

Aspra Tuff

Bagheria’s villas such as Palagonia, Cattolica, Butera, Valguarnera, and Spedalotto were constructed with Aspra tuff, or “tufa,” in Italian, from this centuries-old quarry on the side of Mount Catalfano. Tuff is a soft rock composed of volcanic materials such as ash, lava, and magma.

A musician statue from Villa Palagonia playing Ottoman kettledrums. (18th century) #villapalagonia #bagheria #palermo #statue #musician #musicista #kettledrums #baroque #sicily #sicily_travel #sicilia #sicily_tourism #italy #ig_sicily #italia #siciliaph #siciliafoto #igerssicilia #instasicilia #sicilytravel

The outlandish statues that flank Villa Palagonia may be a Baroque era procession representing our various egos. Etching by my cousin, artist Franca Giammanco. #sicily #sicily_travel #sicilia #palermo #sicily_tourism #italy #ig_sicily #italia #bagheria #villapalagonia #villadeimostri #siciliaph #statue #statua #etching #acquaforte

Villa Palagonia holds many mysteries, including the question of why this Baroque statue of a musician is playing Persian drums. The answer: Sicily was and still is a multicultural society. #sicily #sicily_travel #sicilia #sicily_tourism #italy #ig_sicily #italia #bagheria #villapalagonia #villadeimostri #musician #baroque #drummer #naqqara