#52reasonstolovesicily

[allisonscola]

52 Reasons to Love Sicily. #3. When talking coolness factor, the city of Palermo goes to 11. It's European. It's north African. It's exotic. It's got flirtatious nightlife (La Vucciria open-air market becomes a people-watching hub after dark and in nearby Ballarò, jazz clubs take over the alleyways.). It's got high-art -- the city is home to one of Europe's largest opera houses, Teatro Massimo. Come hungry to enjoy "parts unknown" street food in Il Capo street market (in addition to the above mentioned Vucciria and Ballarò open-air wonders). Then there are ancient sites next to psychodelic baroque (Chiesa di Santa Caterina and Casa Professa, to name just two mind-blowing experiences!) next to Arab-Norman style architecture, next to Liberty Style... Oh, and royal palaces! Check out these mosaic-tiled lions (pictured) in the chambers of Roger II from the 12th century. And don't forget Castello della Zisa and then all of the baronial palazzi. Be scared, because I haven't even talked about the dead people in the Catacombe dei Cappuccini. Take my advice, one day isn't gonna do it for Palermo! #52reasonstolovesicily #experiencesicily #sicily #palermo #palazzodeinormanni #mosaics #mosaiche #lions #leoni #arabnorman #unesco #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #smallgrouptoursitaly #whatsicilyis #viverlasicilia #sicilytour  (at Palermo, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNbokZ4FMro/?igshid=10g7avxccbxqk

[allisonscola]

52 Reasons to Love Sicily. #20. Outstanding Ancient Art. There are extraordinary pieces of ancient art throughout Sicily--even in the smallest of museums. One example is in the Museo Whitaker of Mozia off of Sicily's west coast. The world-renowned “Youth of Motya” or "Motya Charioteer" is a mid-5th century BCE statue made of Parian marble. It was uncovered on the Island of Motya (or Mozia) in 1979 under a mound of dirt and rubble thought to have been created as a barricade during an ancient siege. After many years touring the globe, it was returned to Motya in 2014. Thought to be the work of a Sicilian-Selinuntine sculpture, it is believed to have been made for a wealthy Phoenician or Greek local. The statue is larger than life (71.25 inches tall without his feet). The depiction of the man’s chiton (or tunic) with its clinging folds in concert with his breathtaking physique make it stupendous. #52reasonstolovesicily #experiencesicily #sicily #art #arte #trapani #marsala #mozia #motya #archaeology #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #smallgrouptoursitaly #whatsicilyis #viverlasicilia #sicilytour (at Marsala) https://www.instagram.com/p/CORtxHHlgzy/?igshid=57jv3jue8wrc

[allisonscola]

52 Reasons to Love Sicily. #47. Storybook Mountain Towns. Throughout Sicily exist charming mountain-top villages like this one pictured, Licodia Eubea. Often sporting timeless architectural elements and supporting populations of less than 3000 people, such places take on a special ambience, one where it seems everybody knows your name. As you stroll down the main "corso," you are bound to encounter different characters who play archetypal roles in a familiar play. That's the joy of spending time in a non-touristy hilltop town -- after just a few night's stay, you'll start to recognize the local personalities. And once the explanation of who you are spreads through the whispers of the bars, bakery, and newsstand (Give it one to two hours!), as long as you're friendly, you'll become part of the rhythm of each day. By your third morning, you'll be taking an espresso shoulder to shoulder with your new friends at the bar. #52ReasonsToLoveSicily #ExperienceSicily #Sicily #licodiaeubea #catania #mountaintown #village #offthebeatenpath #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #gf_italy #siculamenteDoc #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #smallgrouptoursitaly #whatsicilyis #viverlasicilia #sicilytour  (at Licodia Eubea) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQC3VFWlyNs/?utm_medium=tumblr

[allisonscola]

52 Reasons to Love Sicily. #33. Human Super Heroes. On May 23, 1992, in Capaci along Sicily’s autostrada between the Punta Raisi airport and Palermo, a half-ton of explosives was detonated under the highway, killing anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone, his wife Francesca Morvillo, and his police detail including Rocco Dicillo, Antonio Montinaro, and Vito Schifani. The blast, which registered on earthquake monitors, was the masterwork of the Sicilian mafia. Falcone was targeted because of his life's work: arresting, holding accountable, and imprisoning those involved in the plague of organized corruption that had crippled Sicily for decades. Falcone and his fellow prosecutor, Paolo Borsellino, were super heroes, having risked (and subsequently sacrificed) their lives for the greater good. The calculated murder of both of these men (Borsellino sadly, soon after, in July 1992) prompted a tremor through the hearts of Sicilians. This magnanimous event marked one of the incidents that inspired a grassroots effort to stop the disease of the Sicilian Mafia. An effort that was started by two brave men, and now continues through the fortitude of the millions of Sicilians who they inspired. #52reasonstolovesicily #nomafia #adiopizzo #giovannifalcone #thisissicily #experiencesicily #seeyousoonsicily #sicily #sicilia #palermo #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #smallgrouptoursitaly (at Palermo, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPNMX9hlj3W/?utm_medium=tumblr

[allisonscola]

52 Reasons to Love Sicily. #15. Joyful Folk Art. The craftsmanship and tradition of Sicilian carts radiate a rainbow of joy. And today especially, for the Feast of Saint George (April 23), colors and ritual meet, for San Giorgio is the protector of cart drivers and their horses. So, when you encounter a cart, like this one pictured, you'll often see San Giorgio depicted on it (note his image on the bed of this two-wheeler). Painted in the western Sicilian style, this work of art possesses an accent of yellow and more geometric designs that recall the mosaic tiles of Palermo's Arab-Norman Cappella Palatina and Monreale and Cefalù cathedrals. In addition to the painting, the woodwork and the iron works (the axel, etc.), are also an essential part of the craftsmanship. Such wagons where used for centuries to transport goods throughout the island. Drivers were known for their melismatic songs, which were often employed to entertain each other at rest stops and to stay awake while traveling during the night, when it was cooler to protect the fish, fruit, vegetables or other such perishable goods they carried. The designs, which take on a more baroque style on the east side of Sicily, were a way to display how successful a driver was at completing his missions, for the more distinct the designs and the more elaborate the decorations his horse or mule possessed, the more successful one could gather he was. Perhaps it's because he aptly venerated Saint George! #52ReasonstoLoveSicily #experiencesicily #sicily #sicilian #siciliancart #sangiorgio #saintgeorge #folkart #europe #carettosiciliano #carrettiere #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #whatsicilyis #viverlasicilia #sicilytour (at Agriturismo Case di Latomie) https://www.instagram.com/p/COA69K4lVNZ/?igshid=1lm27m3ykeag2

[allisonscola]

52 Reasons to Love Sicily. #10. The crowds slip away quickly in Sicily and what's left are delightful discoveries. In accessible off-the-beaten-path towns like Sciacca in Agrigento Province, for one example, you will encounter something delightful when you least expect it, such as a work of street art, a votive altar for the Madonna on someone's home, or a stairway with unique ceramics on each riser. These treasures are the stuff that give you a spark of inspiration and provoke a thought outside of yourself. #52reasonstolovesicily #sciacca #agrigento #streetart #losethecrowds #europe #offthebeatenpath #experiencesicily #sicily #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #smallgrouptoursitaly #whatsicilyis #viverlasicilia #sicilytour (at Sciacca Sicilia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNwRRMAlyDb/?igshid=cx858eofxsbz

[allisonscola]

52 Reasons to Love Sicily! Read them all at link in bio or https://experiencesicily.com/52-reasons-to-love-sicily/. Certainly, there are many more than 52 reasons to love Sicily. I was inspired to compile these by an article I read about why we love to travel to Europe that made me realize how many of those sensations can be found in Sicily. In other words, you can travel to this one region of Italy and experience dozens of reasons why we love to travel to “the Continent” and beyond. Enjoy! #experiencesicily #sicily #52reasonstolovesicily #europe #europetravel #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #gf_italy #siculamenteDoc #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #smallgrouptoursitaly #whatsicilyis #viverlasicilia #sicilytour (at Cefalu.Sicily) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ3dm2lM884/?utm_medium=tumblr

[allisonscola]

52 Reasons to Love Sicily. #52. Remarkable, Engaging Professional Guides and Local Insiders. Sicily boasts seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than any other region of Italy. The best way to experience them is with a professional tour guide who is trained as an historian, art historian, archeologist, naturalist, or other tourism professional. He or she will reveal a remarkable world to you. Equally important to enhancing your trip to Sicily is the engagement with the land and its people that local insiders, naturalistic guides, excursion operators, skippers, and chefs and home cooks will present to you. These all are Sicilians who love their home and are passionate about sharing it with you, and they will offer you the most memorable days of your itinerary. Open your heart to Sicilians, and they will offer you feelings of joy and adventure that will stay with you for years to come. I love to say that my tourism colleagues in Sicily are some of my favorite people on the planet. I hope you'll agree! #52ReasonsToLoveSicily #ExperienceSicily #Sicily #tourguide #tourguides #guides #localinsider #engagedtourism #sicilia #siciliabedda #italy #italia #sicilyvacation #sicilians_world #ig_sicily #igerssicilia #instasicilia #gf_italy #siculamenteDoc #sicily_tricolors #ig_visitsicily #Sicilia_PhotoGroup #smallgrouptours #traveltogether #authenticsicily #smallgrouptoursitaly #whatsicilyis #viverlasicilia #sicilytour (at Palermo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQWYk8XFRui/?utm_medium=tumblr