Marranzano World Festival in Catania

April 24, 2012 7:00 pm

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April 29, 2012 7:00 pm

The IV edition of the Marrazano World Festival in Catania is a biannual event that celebrates this Sicilian musical instrument of the marrazano as a metaphor of the island. The marazzano is an ancient instrument played around the world.

From Wikipedia

This instrument is thought to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world;a musician apparently playing it can be seen in a Chinese drawing from the 4th century BC. Despite its common English name, and the sometimes used Jew’s trump, it has no particular connection with the Jewish people or Judaism. This instrument is native to Asia and used in all tribes of Turkic peoples in Asia where it is variously referred to as a temir komuz (literally, iron komuz), agiz komuzu (literally, mouth komuz), gubuz or doromb. 

More information at www.marranzanoworldfestival.it

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Artists for TribeArt Exhibition in Catania

April 14, 2012 9:30 am

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May 1, 2012 7:00 pm

TribeArt is a free magazine about contemporary art in Sicily and Italy. It started as a website in 1999 and became a magazine in 2003. This publication – also sent to subscribers all over Italy – has established itself as an authoritative voice in the island’s art work. It is a bit like Gallery Guide here in the US. Now it risks closing down.  Advertising from galleries and local patrons was enough to cover the € 2,500 needed to publish each issue, but the current economic crisis has tightened the belt of most businesses.

To avoid this, 100 Sicilian artists have joined forces for the Artists for the Artists for TribeArt exhibition at Palazzo Platamone in Catania (Palazzo della Cultura) from April 14 through May 1. Over 100 artists are present at this event and artworks to benefit TribeArt start from € 300.

For more information, please go to www.tribenet.it

Useful information

Palazzo della Cultura
Phone: +39 3388913549
Phone: +39 3463851506

Free Entrance

Schedule

Monday-Saturday 9:30am-1:00pm /
Sundays and holidays 4:00pm-7:00pm

 

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Featuring Milazzo, a town in the province of Messina

Milazzo (Sicilian: Milazzu, Latin: Mylae) is a town and comune in the province of Messina, Sicily, Italy.

The city is situated between two bays, one of Milazzo and the east to the west of Patti, in a strategic place in the north-eastern Sicily. Located 43 km from the provincial capital, is part of the metropolitan area of the Strait of Messina, and is the reference point of an area of over 200,000 inhabitants.

Originally a Greek city, and from 36 BC recognized as a Roman civitas, Milazzo is now a tourist destination and a great starting point for the Aeolian Islands, the Nebrodi Park, Tindari. There are numerous testimonies, the symbols of the ancient history of the city.

Plans are in progress to enter the castle, the fortified town and the ancient village in the sites of UNESCO. The promontory of Capo Milazzo became a marine reserve.

History

Several civilizations settled in Milazzo and left signs of their presence from the Neolithic age. In Homer’sOdyssey Milazzo is the place where Ulysses is shipwrecked and meets Polyphemus. Some people took the towns name as their last name “Milazzo”.

Historically, the town originated as the ancient Mylae, an outpost of Zancle, occupied before 648 BC, perhaps as early as 716 BC. It was taken by the Athenians in 426 BC. The people of Rhegium planted here the exiles from Naxos and Catana in 395 BC as a counterpoise to Dionysius the Elder’s foundation ofTyndaris; but Dionysius soon took it. In the bay Duilius won the first Roman naval victory over theCarthaginians (260 BC).

In 36 BC the naval battle of Mylae was fought offshore. The fleet of Octavian, commanded by Marcus Agrippa, engaged that of Sextus Pompey. While the battle was nearly a draw, Sextus could not replace his losses, and was thus weaker at the following battle of Naulochus (36 BC), where he was utterly defeated.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, under the Byzantines, the town became one of the first episcopal seats of Sicily. In the 7th century Milazzo was conquered by the Arabs, who built here the first nucleus of the castle. Frederick II of Hohenstaufen further fortified the town and created here a personal hunting park. The castle was later mostly rebuilt in the age of Charles V of Spain.

Milazzo was also the seat of a battle in 1718 between Spain and Austria, and of another fought by Giuseppe Garibaldi against the Kingdom of Two Sicilies during his Expedition of the Thousand.

Main Sights

• Castello di Milazzo
• Rock church of St. Anthony of Padua
• Sanctuary of St. Francis of Paola

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Photos by Marco Puglisi

Note: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from theWikipedia article “Metasyntactic variable” and Creative Commons by Commons Deed. This information was accurate when it was posted, but can change without notice. 

Traveling to Sicily? Download the Sicily iPhone app

This Brinkguide immerses savvy travelers in the local culture, cuisine and places of Sicily. Featuring detailed attractions, restaurants, bars, nightlife, hotels, shopping, architecture and so much more…

Special attention is directed to small businesses that make up the fabric of the destination. You won’t find these kinds of places in travel literature produced by the usual suspects, we can assure you of that. It doesn’t matter if you are traveling on a shoestring budget hopping freight trains, or on Daddy’s allowance by Lear Jet, this guide illuminates the most interesting nooks and crannies of a new location. If you are traveling to Sicily, don’t find yourself without one.

 

Italian politician wants to sell Sicily to the US

Mario Borghezio, an Italian politician from the Northern League, is not new to controversy and discriminatory offenses. Now that the Northern League is in deep troubles because of scandals that touch the top leaders of his party and imply even business relations between the party and the ‘Ndrangheta, he  goes off even louder saying that the Italian regions of Sicily and Campania should be sold to the US to free Italy from the Mafia and reduce the Italian debt.

For Borghezio, it is always Roma ladrona‘s fault even when the ladri is them… It is never the fault of the petty Italian ruling class that has not been capable to put together a country smaller than Texas after 150 years. Listen here for yourself (unfortunately, Italian ONLY).

 

The 10 best reasons to visit Sicily this summer

Reason #1 People

Sicilians might look intimidating and distant at times, but they open up pretty quickly. They are resourceful and among the most generous people I know. They might not fully understand you while you order your meal in English or ask for directions, but whatever they answer or mimic to you will be perfect anyway.

Reason #2 Beaches

It is summer and it is going to be how. No question about it. So, get ready to head to the beach to cool off.  Sicily has an impressive array of beaches: sandy, rocky remote… San Vito Lo Capo is always ranked among the best Italian beaches.

Reason #3 Minor Islands

If you have already been to Sicily several times and you ready to explore more. Think about going to one of the minor islands that can be easily reached by boat.

Reason #4 Food & Wine

No matter what you order, food is going to be good because it is fresh and in season. Granita in the morning or arancini as an afternoon snack are great temptations… Sicily has a great wine tradition, but Sicilian wines have been considered cut wines in the past. The last twenty years have seen a rediscovery of some local wines thanks to wineries such as Planeta and Tasca d’Almerita.

Reason #5 Archaeology

Do you know that Sicily and Southern Italy identified as Magna Graecia by the Romans were the new world for the ancient Greeks? This is the reason why they built so much in Sicily. They were fighting back home and most of the monuments built in Sicily are still well-preserved.

Reason #6 Cities

Palermo has an Arab tone. Siracusa is Greek. Enna, Trapani, Ragusa, Trapani, Agrigento, Messina, Taormina, Erice… All Sicilian cities and towns have a wonderful story behind and beautiful sightseeing to enjoy.

Reason #7 Events

Summer is the season with countless events in Sicily: feasts in virtually every town, fireworks, festivals, outdoor concerts… What’s not to like about it?

Reason #8 Mount Etna

Mount Etna is spectacular these days. Looking at one of its eruptions is a treat! Follow your guide’s advice if you try to be adventurous here.

Reason #9 Baroque Architecture

The Sicilian baroque is unique. The eight towns in southeast Sicily, Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli are Unesco World Heritage.

Reason #10 Authenticity

Sicily might have its own problems. However, if you are looking for a great and authentic travel experience, it is the perfect choice. Sicily never pretends to be something else. It is what it is with its centuries of history and foreign invasions. Most past events have brought pain to the island, but also cultural enrichment and an unparalleled heritage.

I shared mine, what is your reason #1 to visit Sicily?

The Magaggiari Beach - Photo by Maria Lina Bommarito

 

Tourist arrivals increase for Enna

In 2011 the Sicilian province of Enna recorded a 3% increase for domestic travelers and 6% for foreign arrivals. This positive trend has been fed by the return of the statue of Venus of Morgantina.

This fifth century B.C. statue of the goddess Venus was smuggled from Sicily and found at the J. Paul Getty Museum, which bought the piece for $18 million in 1988.

Thanks to an agreement between the previous Minister of Cultural Affairs, Francesco Rutelli, andthe director of the J.l Paul Getty Museum, Michael Brand, the disputed statue is on the way back home.

Photo by molovate on flickr.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sicily in the news

We have been away for a while. In the meantime, Sicily has not been waiting for us to be in the news.  Here is a little catching up with what has happened in the past weeks.

Beginning April 21, Getty Villa guests will be able to view items from the ancient city of Morgantina.

Emanuele Viscuso has brought a slice of Italy to Miami. The founder of the Sicilian International Film Festival, now under way through April 17, visited in 2000 and decided to put down roots.

Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark shot a final round 69 to win the Sicilian Open by 1 shot, holding off England’s Chris Wood who equaled the course record with an 8-under 64 on Sunday April 15.

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake has struck in the sea off Italy’s Sicily, sending residents into the streets but with no immediate reports of victims or injuries, officials said on April 13.

Mount Etna erupts not far from Zafferana Etnea village on April 13.

One of Sicily’s most ambitious winemakers, Planeta, has taken on a new challenge by tackling its French competitors head on with its first Brut Classic to be released this year. April 5

Fountains of lava and ash spew out of Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, in the early morning of April 1 on the Italian island of Sicily.

A city clerk in Palermo is being investigated over alleged irregularities in the issuing of voting card duplicates. March 30

In one of the most extraordinary discoveries in recent years, an opera that experts say is the long-lost first work by Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1834) was found during an archeological dig in Sicily.

The Sicilian mafia pockets more than a third of all the money allocated by the central government in Rome for public services on the island, according to a study to be presented at the Royal Economic Society’s 2012 annual conference. March 23

Source: GoogleNews
Photo: Castellammare del Golfo (TP) by Joe Zarba

 

Sicilian Cassata

A traditional Sicilian dessert, it is certainly not easy to make cassata. The cassata is originally a sweet from Palermo, but it can be found anywhere in Sicily.

Some people trace back its origins to the Arab domination, but the etymology of the word cassata most likely comes from caseata which translates with cheese concoction. Ricotta cheese and candid fruit are the main ingredients of this super sweet cake.

The Asmundo Palace in Palermo

The Asmundo Palace is one of the most beautiful and well-kept aristocratic homes of Palermo. The palace located on the ancient road of the Cassaro (today’s Corso Vittorio Emanuele), faces the Cathedral and is an extraordinary example of Palermo’s historical splendor. The construction of the palace dates back to the early 1600’s when Sicilian nobilty began its migration from the countryside to the city. The aristocratic families of those times showed off luxury and opulence to affirm their status and prestige.

It is in this context that in 1764 the President of Justice Giuseppe Asmundo Paternò – marquis of Sessa – enlarged the existing structure commissioning the renowned artist Gioacchino Martorana the beautiful frescos of the lounges of the noble floor. Exquisite stuccoes, Venetian blinds and Baroque doors embellish the chambers of the floor that opens with the Concert Chamber with its stunningly beautiful ceiling.

Today the palace preserves much of its original traits, an artistic exemplar of the Sicilian Baroque style. The present owners, the Martorana Family, have renovated and reopened the palace as a museum of itself.

The precious frescos of the 18th century alcove, the Sicilian ceramics, the Neapolitan and French porcelains so often mentioned by travelers and guests of the palace, are open to the public.

The collections include an interesting exposition of weapons from the 16th to the 19th century, a rarity for its extent. Another unique collection comprises a series of antique charts and maps of Sicily, object of study and research kept by Pierluigi Martorana, the current administrator of the Asmundo Palace.

Today the palace is site of cultural events, expositions and receptions. Upon reservation it is possible to have a guided tour of the palace and its collections, and enjoy a typical Sicilian buffet with esclusive view of the Cathedral.

By Maria Lina Bommarito

Website: www.palazzoasmundo.com
Email: palazzoasmundo@iol.it
Address: Via P. Novelli, 3   Palermo

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