Sicily Guide

New golf courses are scheduled to open in Eastern Sicily. Giuseppe and Salvatore Leonardi, owners of Picciolo Golf Club in Castiglione di Sicilia nearby Mount Etna, affirm the necessity of promoting a system for a different type of tourism in Sicily.

One of these golf courses is scheduled to open in Carlentini, between Catania and Siracusa, in 2010. The golf course should raise by the ocean with beautiful breathtaking views. The other golf course is planned in Trappitello nearby Taormina.

Our best hope at SicilyGuide is that these two golf courses will not be delayed as the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort di Sciacca by Rocco Forte Hotels.

The Ragusa province is trying to utilize fishing and tourism together to promote its territory. The president of the province is convinced that these two activities work well together and supports the project “Azzurro Mediterraneo”. For more information, local ports are open to the public 24/7.

Juventus have signed Brazilian striker Amauri from Palermo for four years on a transfer fee of 22.8 million euros (35.4 million dollars), the Turin club’s website reported Friday. Midfielder Antonio Nocerino moves to the Sicily side as part of the deal, lowering Juve’s payment to Palermo by 7.5 million euros.

More at EarthTimes.com

Thanks to his very entertaining blog, “Coaching for Pizza,” I was aware of some of George Contreras’ adventures coaching American football in Italy, which range from playing on fields with goal posts duct-taped in place to backing into a glass door and nearly setting Italian-American relations back by years.

But with the longtime local high school coach home this week — taking advantage of a bye in the Italian Football League to attend his son Mike’s graduation from Cal State Channel Islands — we had a chance to sit down for an update on life as defensive coordinator of the Catania Elephants, and the occasional culture shock of living in Sicily.

Read more at VenturaCountyStyle.com

Roma went into this final match of the season just one point behind Serie A leaders Inter. The Giallorossi knew that they would win the Scudetto if they defeated Catania, and Inter drew or lost their game at Parma.

Catania meanwhile also had a lot to play for, as they needed a point to guarantee (barring a mathematical miracle) their survival, while a defeat would see them relegated if either Empoli or Parma won their respective matches.

The Sicilians were without joint top-scorer Gionatha Spinesi due to injury, and Mariano Izco because of suspension. Roma were minus the services of captain Francesco Totti, Rodrigo Taddei and Matteo Ferrari.

Roma had the first shot of the game, as David Pizarro struck a powerful effort from 30 yards that flew wide.

Read more at Goal.com

Italian cyclist Daniele Bennati won the third stage of the Tour of Italy here on Monday to record his first ever success in the race.

His Liquigas team-mate Franco Pellizotti retained the overall leader’s pink jersey.

Bennati - winner of two stages in the Tour de France and three in the Tour of Spain last year - edged out German veteran Erik Zabel in a sprint finish at the end of the 221 kilometres ride - Zabel’s compatriot Danilo Hondo was third.

However, the stage saw the end of Australian rider Bradley McGee’s challenge as the 32-year-old - who wore the pink jersey for two days in the 2004 Giro - took a crashing fall around 20 kilometres from the finish.

McGee looked to have injured his collarbone.

Another group crash involved Sunday’s stage winner Riccardo Ricco, but the Italian was able to resume the race, though, he suffered a suspected fracture of the index finger of his left hand.

The Giro moves from Sicily to the Italian mainland on Tuesday with the fourth stage, a 183km ride from Pizzo Calabro to Catanzaro lungomare.

Source AFP
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According to Goal.com, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini is tempting Europe’s big spenders to come out and try to lure Amauri away from the Renzo Barbera.

After spending the last few months trying to play down talk of a transfer for the Brazilian, Zamparini now appears to be fanning flames by claiming he will not stand in the striker’s way.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid Juventus and Milan have all been linked to the 27-year-old, who has scored nine goals this season and has been a revelation since arriving at the Sicilian club from Chievo Verona in 2006.

Zamparini stuck a €25 million (£18 million) price tag on Amauri’s head, and then told chasing clubs he will operate on a first come first served basis.

The Palermo chief has already pulled a similar stunt during the January transfer window when he told La Gazzetta Dello Sport: “Amauri will go to the highest bidder.”

Read more at Goal.com

I am not really into soccer, but I have to admit that I like the idea of having some Sicilian teams playing in Serie A. Palermo has done well so far, but it has not been the case lately: it was trashed 5-0 by Juventus in the last match. So, the president is hiring back the former coach Francesco Guidolin. The first question in my mind was… Why did he let him go in June? Do you know? Anyway, let’s hope that Palermo will show some pride soon. Let’s go, guys!

One of our readers was so kind to send pictures and her story from the Trapani Cento Cup (see below). This is awesome. Thank you very much!

James Spithill (left) and crew

Paolo Cian

Regatta by night

Trapani Cento Cup 2007

Yesterday we went to the Trapani Cento Cup. Unfortunately we missed the start of the regatta by only a few minutes. It also started raining. After having searched for an hour (as no one was available at the information desk) we found the boats in open sea, small like miniatures and we couldn’t really understand what was going on, but at least it stopped raining.

(more…)

This year the Cento Cup, a trial on invitation to the world circuit of match races and the duels of the America’s Cup, is taking place in sea of Trapani from October 3 through 7.

Some of the best sailing experts of the world will compete against each other attracting numerous fans of this sport. Among the participants will be former members of teams such as Luna Rossa Challenge and +39 Challenge from the Louis Vuitton Cup in Valencia.

Click on image to view routes

Read more at TrapaniCentoCup.com (Italian only)

Technorati Tags [ cento cup | trapani | sicily ]

I do not follow soccer (except for the World Cup and the Euro Cup), but news like this makes me happy.

A last minute winner from Fabrizio Miccoli sent AC Milan to their first defeat of the season as they crashed to a 2-1 loss away to Palermo on Wednesday.

Read more at Sportbox.tv

Technorati Tags [ Palermo | AC Milan | Sicily | Soccer ]

Sicily with its capital Palermo is going to be the starting point of the Giro d’Italia 2008. This year the competition began in Sardinia. The Giro d’Italia has not been to Sicily since 1986. About time now…The Giro d’Italia, also simply known as the Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May or early June in and around Italy. It is, with the Tour de France, the most important stage race in the world. The Giro was inspired by the Tour de France and, just as the French race was intended to boost circulation of L’Auto, so Emilio Camillo Costamagna, the editor of La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, aimed to increase his circulation. The first Giro d’Italia started on May 13, 1909 at Milan with eight stages totalling 1,521 miles (2,448 kilometers). Luigi Ganna was the first winner. Along with the Tour de France and the World Cycling Championship, the Giro d’Italia makes up the Triple Crown of Cycling. Along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España it is one of the three Grand Tours. Whereas the overall leader of the Tour de France is awarded a yellow jersey (originally to correspond with L’Auto ’s yellow pages), since 1931 the overall leader in the Giro sports the maglia rosa (pink jersey), which corresponds with La Gazzetta dello Sport’s pink newsprint. The “King of the Mountains” wears the maglia verde (green jersey). The leader of the points classification wears the maglia ciclamino (mauve jersey). The Giro d’Italia also has a daily competition called Intergiro, the leader of which is awarded the maglia azzurra (sky-blue jersey). Italian Felice Gimondi holds the record for the most podium finishes: nine in total, consisting of three victories, two second places and four third place finishes. (Source Wikipedia).

Danilo Di Luca (in the picture above) won the 90th edition of the prestigious race. Di Luca, who rides for Liquigas, completed the 2,166-mile, 21-stage race in 92 hours, 59 minutes, 39 seconds. It was his first win in a major race and 42nd career victory (Source Philly.com).

Technorati Tags [ danilo di luca | sicily | giro d’italia | tour de france | giro d’italia 2008 | maglia rosa | yellow jersey | gazzetta dello sport | grand tours | palermo ]

It is hard to believe, but I just found out that there is an extreme free running trail of the volcanoes in Sicily and is at its 4th edition! It is called the Sicilian Volcano Trail. I just heard about this race from a friend. I was totally intrigued and watched a short video of last year event. I barely run 30 minutes on a treadmill two times a week and thinking that these athletes climb Mount Etna, Stromboli and Volcano for hours makes me feel like a total wimp.

Track and field facts:
The trail is comprised of five races that combine long and short climbing over the Sicilian volcanoes (Mount Etna, Stromboli and Volcano) and water crossings. The trail is open both to men and women over 18 years and is about 62 miles long, divided equally into 5 races.

Program:
- 4 days at the Aeolian Islands
- 3 days on Mount Etna
- Athletes from different countries

Participants of the past editions are:
- Marco De Gasperi, 4 times sky running world champion
- Mauro Prosperi, pentathlon champion
- Dachhiri Dawa Sherpa, trail running world champion

For more information about the trail, visit VolcanoEtna.com and watch the video!

Technorati Tags [ sicilian volcano trail | sicily | mount etna | etna | volcano | stromboli | marco de gasperi | mauro prosperi | sherpa ]