One Granita Always Leads to Another đ
  The fact that weâre prone to addictions is pretty much established by now. đ The latest one is called Ficu, a granita shop in Scicli. A tiny little place in Piazza Italia, with just one door and nothing else. You could almost walk right past it. And yet, like a little treasure chest, behind that […]
The Moorâs Heads
Sicily has a thousand colours. The Moorâs Heads wear them all. Blue like the Mediterranean.Yellow like lemons ripening in the sun.Green like the citrus groves.Red like passion.White like stone dazzling in the sunlight. Because the faces of the Teste di Moro tell the story of an entire island and its thousand-year history. An island […]
50 Shades of Duke đŸ
Renovating Roccaseta wasnât exactly a walk in the park. When we started, we had enthusiasm, optimism and, as we now know, a fair amount of recklessness. Then the work began and the universe started working against us. đ In order: two waves of Covid, the suspension of flights, not exactly a minor detail with […]
Fornace Penna
 When an Encounter Changed the Fate of Pisciotto At the beginning of the twentieth century, where one of the most striking landmarks on the coast of Sampieri now overlooks the sea, the Fornace Penna did not yet exist. There was wild countryside, the sea, a clay quarry and a small district known as Pisciotto. […]
Ombrettaâs Vegetable Garden.
 In Ombrettaâs garden, the scent of summer is already in the air, along with the promise of days to come. Tender spring onions have sprouted in unexpected abundance, glossy chard, crisp romaine lettuce fresh as morning, delicate and fragrant chives, cucuzza squash stretching curiously toward the sun, broccoli, parsley, thyme, marjoram, Tunisian basil, lettuce-leaf […]
An island of light in a chest
 There are objects that do not simply occupy space, but tell stories, evoke places, and awaken distant memories. This precious, singular, and fascinating display case is one such example, containing within it the essence of an entire island. A concentration of history, art, and passion, where every element vibrates with meaning and every detail […]
Sicilian Playing Cards
ART, HISTORY AND A TOUCH OF IRONY Sicilian cards are not just tools for playing scopa, tressette, or briscola: they are small works of art full of history, symbolism, and⊠a touch of irony! The traditional deck has 40 cards, divided into four suits, each with its own meaningâalmost as if they were characters […]
SEASONALITY IS A FAITH
  Finally, the season of oranges has arrived. Now you can walk into a bar and order an orange juice without triggering any disapproving grimaces. Because, let me tell you: in Sicily, ordering an orange juice in July is like asking for a panettone in mid-August. Unthinkable. Here, no one would dream of consuming an orange […]
THE CEMETERY OF PALAZZOLO ACREIDE
  A visit to the cemetery of Palazzolo Acreide is certainly not your typical outing, nor is it the liveliest destination in Sicily, but it is undoubtedly a memorable experience. This place is not just any cemetery; rather, it is an unexpected gem. Stepping through the gate, you enter a suspended, almost magical atmosphere. The magnificent […]
AUTUMN IN SICILY
  Sampieri – October 13, 2024 The tourist season is coming to an end, and with it, the frenzy of crowded beaches, lively evenings, and streets filled with visitors begins to fade. By now, almost everyone has returned to their homes, where autumn has greeted them. But here, in this corner of Sicily, further south than Tunis, […]
