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It all started with a dream. On her deathbed on May 26, 1624, Girolama Gatto dreamed of a maiden dressed in white who promised her healing if she would climb Mount Pellegrino to give thanks. Girolama honored the promise and climbed the mountain, but her fever returned. She drank the water dripping from a cave on the mountain, fell into a deep sleep...

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Our electric Mokka Opel car glinted under the Palermitan sun as we walked over to the ‘Sicily by Car’ hire section of Falcone Borsellino airport. Green as a Noccelara olive, its matte exterior catches your eye. “All good to go?” we asked the representative. “Yes, have a beautiful stay in Sicily!” they replied, and we were on our way. I thew the key...

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Located in the center of a small Sicilian village on the Etna wine route, this family-run palazzo underwent a meticulous 10-year restoration process to emerge as a colorful hotel with a “living museum” concept. Under the care of the same family since the 17th century, the palazzo is now opening its doors to lucky guests. Palazzo Previtera is part h...

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When summer comes, with its torrid days, Sicilians know perfectly how to improve the situation and find immediate refreshment: enjoying a delicious granita, fresh and sweet at the same time! In fact, for Sicilians granita is a real ritual, as well as a valid substitute for any meal of the day, and is among those delicacies that make you forget any...

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Italy, a country renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage, is home to countless well-known landmarks and attractions. However, it also harbors a multitude of lesser-known gems, each with its own unique story. Let’s embark on a journey to uncover five such “secrets” hidden in plain sight in some of Italy’s most famous cities. Our first st...

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Named for the ancient Siculi King Hyblon, the Hyblaean Mountains (i Monti Iblei), in southeastern Sicily, are characterized by limestone rock formations, sloping mountains, and some of the most picturesque towns on the island. The Baroque villages of Ragusa, Modica, Noto, and Scicli are built into the hillsides, begging visitors to wander up windin...

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Two small Sicilian islands, Lampedusa and Favignana, are testing energy 'microgrids' based on renewables and blockchain technology. Vincenzo Tenerello lives in Favignana. His company, SEA, is involved in an innovative project that he is trialling at home.  He is not only a consumer but also a producer of energy, thanks to BloRin: a secure system fo...

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The trend began with British aristocrats who, at the end of the 17th century, embarked on what was known as the Grand Tour. Then, in the 18th century, this fashion extended to the courts of Northern Europe, as rumors spread about the fascinating Italian Peninsula. In the 19th century, it was all about Byron, Shelley and Keats – the rebellious rocks...

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Guinness World Record Cassata in Castellammare del Golfo. At 270 kilograms, the imposing cake, made a few days ago by skilled master pastry chefs on the occasion of the feast of the patron saint Maria Santissima del Soccorso, left everyone speechless.In just under an hour after it was cut, having delighted the palates of 1,300 people, including tou...

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Cristoforo Ventura has spent the past four decades dutifully tending a memorial he helped create to honor the sacrifice of 38 U.S. Army paratroopers and a Navy nurse killed in Sicily during World War II. Now in his 80s, Ventura remembers playing amid war trenches and bunkers near the site and hearing stories from farmers about fierce fighting betwe...

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