SICILY

Occupied by the Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Normans, Byzantines, French, Spaniards, and most recently Italians, Sicily preserves its vestiges across the entire island. Poverty, the Mafia, and a corrupt political system drove many people out of the island looking for a better life in the New World. Despite being for a relatively long time part of Italy, the Sicilians speak a dialect different from Italian, seasoned with words from centuries of various occupations. 

On its eastern shore is Catania, the birthplace of the opera composer Bellini, the menacing Mt. Etna, the baroque Noto and Siracusa, the city where Archimede was born and lived. Further south are the phenomenal mosaics of  Roman Villa of Casale in Piazza Armerina, and Agrigento, with its Valle Dei Templi that impressed Goethe. 

Further is Eraclea Minoa and Sciacca, a famous place for ceramics, the Roman temples of Selinunte and Segesta, Erice, a medieval hill town, and the famous-infamous Palermo, a vibrant baroque city full of beautiful buildings and tradition. Nearby is the cathedral of Monreale and Cefalu, famous for its remarkable mosaics and the glitzy resort of Taormina. (Mazara del Valle, St. Stefano di Camastra)

DVD Release

“Mezzorgiorno-Sicily”

“Mezzogiorno- Sicily” is a 3-part series that explores the cultures and traditions of Sicily. It starts in Catania at the base of the menacing Mt. Etna, to Siracusa and Noto, stopping in Porta Armerina to visit the fabulous mosaics of Casale. We continued to the Vale dei temple in Agrigento, to Eracleea Minoa and Sciacca, to the temple of Selinunte and to Erice. We spent considerable time in Palermo, Corleone, Cefalu, and ending the tour in the beautiful Taormina.