The soul of Sicily is best experienced through its exeptional food and wine. The distinct palette of the island reflects its multi-layered culinary history and is nothing less than transcendent. The Sicilian method takes the staples of Italian cuisine; Pasta, […]
Pantelleria is the largest island off the Sicilian coastline, is also closer to the Tunisian coast (Capo Mustafà is 44 miles away) than to Capo Granitola in Sicily (62 miles). Despite this isolation, Pantelleria was colonized by the Phoenicians and […]
The Sicilian puppet theatre is one of Sicily’s greatest traditional art forms; the cultural importance of this art form was recognized by Unesco in 2001, when it was included on the World Heritage list. The “Puppets” are not controlled by […]
Folklore and traditions in Sicily have been affected by all the various and different peoples who occupied the island during its rich past. Giant simulacra or figures appear at many festivals: they may be either fixed and drawn along with […]
Sicilian fashion is going through a period of growth and fame in Sicily. Doubtless, the amazing growth in this sector is mainly due to the inventiveness and hard work of young designers whose talent is ever appreciated by the market […]
Today Syracuse is a dynamic, modern town, with many visible signs of it’s grand and noble past. However, the haphazard growth of the new part of Syracuse has not affected the little island of Ortygia, just off the coast, where […]
Sicilian Baroque architecture, Historical facts; After the devastating 1693 earthquake, a programme of reconstruction was introduced throughout eastern Sicily in the early 18th century. The architects entrusted with this task elaborated upon the achievements of 17th century Baroque architecture and […]
Granita, sherbet and ice-cream in Sicily. From the Turkish word serbet meaning “a cool drink”, this word was transformed into the Arabic word sarab, hence the word “sciroppo” (syrup). However, the most suggestive word is sorbetto (sherbert). The closest reference, […]
Generously used in local Sicilian liqueurs making, spices and flavors are also important in Sicilian cooking. As a matter of fact, Sicily can boast a world renowned production of (eau-de-vie) the renowned Grappa from Nero d’Avola or the scented Grappa […]
Monreale is the main attraction outside Palermo. Having grown up since the 13th century around the Benedectine monastery on the site, the current appearance of the town is Baroque, but it clusters round one of the rarest jewels of Italy’s […]
The Sicilian marzipan fruit or (frutta Martorana). These highly colored pastries shaped to look like fruit, vegetables and other things, bear a story that takes us way back in time and to far off places. Let’s start with the raw […]
The salt pans of Sicily were exploited in antiquity and reached the height of their importance in the 19th century, when salt was exported as far as Norway. The long periods of sunshine (five or six months a year) and […]
The circumetnea railway it’s the only narrow-gauge railway line in Sicily. It was opened in the late 19th-century and was altered several times when lava flows from Mount Etna invaded the track. The route starts at the terminus in Catania. […]
Sailing in Sicily for aficionados it is pretty much a paradise, the coastline, the inlets and the wonderful minor Sicily’s island represent the ideal place for visitors, however this activity is much popular along the northern coast of Sicily. True […]
The town of Aci Trezza is a picturesque fishing village, part of Aci Castello, which was also the setting for Giovanni Verga’s Novel I Malavoglia as well as for Luchino Visconti‘s film adaptation, La Terra Trema. The small harbour faces […]
The Cathedral of Messina is in Piazza Duomo, in the heart of the town. Although it was reconstructed after the 1908 earthquake and 1943 bombings, it has preserved its medieval aspect. Built in 1197 by Henry VI Hohenstaufen The facade […]
Sicily offers an impressing range of walking and trekking itineraries. Walking and Trekking mountains. The choice includes hills, mountains, coastal districts as well as fantastic limestone gorges such as the ones at Pantalica and Cava d’Ispica in the Monti Iblei. […]
In Caltanissetta, the 11th-century Norman Abbey commissioned by Roger I, is still considered one of the most interesting site of the area. In common with other hill towns of the interior, Caltanissetta was surrounded by medieval walls and then expanded […]
Sciacca, overwhelmed from a distance by Monte San Calogero, with its thermal waters and steam vapours, which have made the town famous over the centuries. Its hot springs had been used since prehistoric times. Sciacca used to be the outpost […]
In the last few years the quality of Sicilian wines has steadily improved due to better vine growing techniques and new wine ageing methods. Vineyards in Sicily were long bound to the production of strong wines that were used for […]
February is carnival time in Italy, and this period is also celebrated with enthusiasm in many Sicilian towns. One of the most spectacular events is The Carnival of Acireale, blending poetry, games and a procession of colorful floats through the […]
The most striking aspect of the history of Sicily is the enormous influence of all the different people who have colonized the Island. Even the Sicani, Elymi and Siculi, the first populations to leave traces of their cultures in Sicily, […]
Any visit to the Southwestern Sicily should begin with a visit to the ruined Roman Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina, which contains simply exquisite , beautifully preserved mosaics depicting scenes of hunting and the life of the well to-do. […]
Northeastern of Sicily is dominated by volcanoes of all shapes and size. Mount Etna towers to incredible heights and is visible from much of Sicily, often providing live firework shows from its summit craters. Accessible all year around thanks to […]