Sicily Guide

And I believe so.

Sicily produces a lot of wine, nearly as much as Portugal, but it’s largely nothing to write home about.

For generations, Sicilian wine growers have prized quantity above quality. But Sicily can do much better, as Francesca Planeta showed when she came to Newcastle last week to take part in Jesmond Dene House’s Festival of Food and Wine.

Her family have owned vineyards on the island since 1600. Her father Diego sold grapes to the local co-op, as his father had done, and eventually became its president. A little over 20 years ago “he realised that something had to be done to change Sicily’s bad image. Sicily has a climate like the New World. And so we set out on an adventure,” Francesca explains.

Read more at Journalive.co.uk

Sicily was awarded one more flag this year! Marsala (Trapani) joins Pozzallo (Ragusa), Menfi (Agrigento) and Fiumefreddo di Sicilia (Catania).

The Blue Flag is a voluntary and exclusive eco-label awarded in 2007 to more than 3300 beaches and marinas in 36 countries across Europe, Morocco, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and the Caribbean.

The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches and marinas through publicly awarding sites that meet strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services. A few of the issues covered in the criteria include cleanliness, provisions for waste and recycling, zoning of activities, and environmental education activities for a variety of people. The Programme has also recently started a voluntary scheme for private boat owners called the Individual Blue Flag, which boaters can fly if they have signed and agreed to follow an environmental code of conduct.

Since 1987 the number of beaches and marinas participating in the FEE Program has increased, despite toughening criteria. The criteria are updated as needed to keep abreast of new scientific findings, legislation, and generally to keep the campaign participants striving for ever better environmental quality.

See a list of Sicilian beaches.

Sicilians who fear an invasion of naked sunbathers have joined forces with the Catholic Church to oppose plans for a naturist festival billed by its organisers as a “celebration of nudity”.

The festival is due to be held at Capo Bianco, a 3km (1.8mile) stretch of fine white sand screened by Mediterranean foliage and pine woods near Agrigento and overlooked by the ruins of Eraclea Minoa where, according to Greek myth, Minos, the ruler of Crete, pursued and punished Dedalus for helping Ariadne and Theseus to find their way out of the Labyrinth.

Read more at Timesonline.com

I have been written a lot about the Rocco Forte Golf Resort. The latest news is that Rocco Forte decided to stay in Sicily in spite of all the problems that politics and bureacracy have caused. The CEO of Rocco Forte Collection, Moreno Occhiolini, affirmed that they plan to employ 330 locals in their structure.

With the Euro Cup 2008 starting next month, Helvetic is relaunching more flights to and from Sicily. It operates two flights Palermo-Zurich on Mondays and Thursdays and three other flights Catania-Zurich on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Fore more details and fares, please visit Helvetic.com

If you are looking for a unique travel experience, join Renee’ Restivo in Sicily: a rare travel experience on the island with insiders… Live like a Sicilian for a week! Meet Sicilian friends and family, local artists, shepherds, fishermen and taste the creations of world famous pastry chefs.

Beyond the tastes of Sicily is a journey that ventures inside the soul of the island, delving into its history and culture. All week you are introduced to an insider’s experience of Sicily as you visit small hill towns, taste special menus or explore local places. In addition to offering top cooking programs with world-famous chefs, you are invited to meet home cooks, shepherds, cheese makers and others who will share their secrets and philosophies of cooking and living, as well as their dreams.

For more information, please contact Renee’ through her web site: www.soulofsicily.com

The old town of Ragusa, called Ragusa Ibla, is picturesque, whether you’re inside it walking along the narrow streets or driving along the road just outside.

For me, visiting Ragusa and the surrounding cities of Modica and Scicli was the surpise highlight of a recent trip to the south of Italy. Ragusa is a laid back city of great food, friendly people, and reflects the best of the Sicilian Baroque in its many churches as well as in the corbels which hold up Ragusa’s balconies.

Read more at About.com

A series of portraits of fugitive Mafia kingpin Matteo Messina Denaro have appeared on the back wall of the cathedral in Palermo, Italy.

The four portraits, each in a different color, were done by an anonymous graffiti artist in the pop-art style, evidently working from the last available photos of the Mafia leader. Denaro has been a fugitive from police since 1993.

Read more at the Catholic World News

European Voice observed last week (Entre Nous, 17-23 April) that a European Parliament delegation of the committee on budgetary control is due to visit Sicily and Calabria, given the problems of misuse of EU funds in southern Italy. The article was illustrated with my photograph and a mention of my participation.

Read more at the EuropeanVoice.com