Once upon a time, there was a little Ivana in Cuba trying to explain a poor restaurant holder that the pizza ragusa he is having on the menu is not some Italian name for some Italian city, but the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. Stupid girl. RagusaΒ is a city on the southern side of the island ofΒ SicilyΒ It is built on a wideΒ limestoneΒ hill between two deepΒ valleys, … Continue reading Ragusa (Ibla)
An Ionian seaside town, Avola is a mix of old and new. The town focuses heavily on the sea, with its history as a tuna fishing port. Today, the remains of the Vecchia Tonnara at the wharf are a stone backdrop to the sandy beaches. Avola dates back to a pre-Greek people called the Sicani. The Greek colony here was established in the 8th century … Continue reading Avola
Located about 11 kilometres north of Catania, it is the perfect little commune to visit during the ottobrata – the local festivity that occurs every October here in Sicily, celebrating the fruits of the land: frutti di terra. The first encounter went wrong already π Approaching the booth with fruit, I have noticed quince – one of the symbolic fruits of the late summer/ early autumn. … Continue reading Tre Castagni
If something is worth visiting in life, it is the Aeolian islands. Becasue it makes you think about winter in the south. It makes you think about simplicity of life. And it makes you realise how not to treat the tourists: just some bags of potatoes that need to be shipped from one island to another one. The islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily, said … Continue reading Aeolian Islands
I haven’t had a chance to spent a bit more time discovering this city. But just a glimpse and it made me think to re-visit and make it’s due. When the time will come, I promise to update with more photos. But for now, enjoy the story π Several civilizations settled in Milazzo and left signs of their presence from the Neolithic age. In Homer’sΒ OdysseyΒ Milazzo … Continue reading Milazzo
I didn’t expect much from this harbour city, to be honest. I knew they have a great beer – Messina cristali di sale: a great Sicilian beer brewed since 1923 and one of the most loved Italian beers. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy. Located near the northeast corner of Sicily, at the Strait of … Continue reading Messina
TheΒ Scala dei Turchi is a rocky cliff on the coast ofΒ Realmonte, nearΒ Porto Empedocle. It has become a tourist attraction, partly due to its mention series of detective stories aboutΒ Commissario Montalbano. The cliffs lie between two sandy beaches and are a limestone rock formation in the shape of a staircase, hence the name. The latter part of the name derives from the frequent piracy raids by … Continue reading Scala dei Turchi
Picture this episode: we parked on a roundabout. Some local approached us (my brother and me) – we thought because we should have not park in a roundabout, but then again they all did, so… in fact the guy just wanted to ask if we have cigarettes. Ok Sicily, episode n. At the roundabout is a Monumento a Don Bosco with a beautiful view on … Continue reading Agrigento
Enna or as the Sicilians would say Castrugiuvanni; is a city located roughly at the center of Sicily, towering above the surrounding countryside. It has earned the nicknames belvedere (panoramic viewpoint) and ombelico (“navel”) of Sicily. At 931m above sea level, Enna is the highest Italian provincial capital. To arrive there is not a piece of cake. Passing the two viaducts Morello and Enna from 1975 that are just about to crash on … Continue reading Enna
From its dramatic natural surroundings to its historic churches, Sicily has something to offer every traveler. The island of Sicily is a unique part of Italy. Its craggy mountains, wild vegetation, and omnipresent sea have fired the imagination of poets, wayfarers, and visitors alike. Though it is one of 20 Italian regions, its history under the yoke of endless conquerors βespecially the Normans β has … Continue reading Β CefalΓΉΒ
RED RIDING HOOD 