Azienda Agricola Biologica Titone in Sicily Is Awarded with the Best Olive Oil in Italy

Flos is the Latin word for “the best” and Flos Olei has as its objective the profiling of the world’s best olive oils and their producers. Marco Oreggia, a Rome-based journalist and expert in wine and olive oil, is its publisher, and he jointly edits it with Laura Marinelli. Oreggia was behind another guide to olive oils, which was called L’Extravergine, but the current guide has supplanted it. This is the third year for Flos Olei and Flos Olei 2012 will be launched in Rome in late November. The guide is in both Italian and English and costs €30.

The producers listed in the guide are also competitors for some 20 prizes, and the results of the competition have already been announced. The Olive Oil Mill of the Year award went to the Italian producer, Azienda Agraria Viola, an Umbrian family business that consistently produces award-winning results. The Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil of the Year prize went to the Azienda Agricola Biologica Titone in Sicily, for their Titone, a DOP Valli Trapanesi Biologico. Both of these are organic producers, like many in the top 20 list.

Source: The Olive Oil Times

Paolo Pizzo from Catania Wins Gold Medal in Fencing

We always talk about soccer when we post sport news, but this time we are proud to write about fencing. Yes, fencing. Catania is hosting The World Fencing Champions from October 8-16, 2011.

On Wednesday October 12, Paolo Pizzo was the surprise winner of the epee title as host Italy continued to dominate the fencing world championships. Matteo Tagliariol was the favorite for the title, but the Olympic champion was upset by eventual semifinalist Park Kyoung-doo of South Korea in the opening round.

Pizzo, competing in his hometown of Catania, edged Bas Verwijlen of the Netherlands 15-13 in the final for his first major medal, giving Italy its third gold of the championship after Valentina Vezzali and Aldo Montano won Tuesday’s opening events.

Source: The Mainichi Daily News

Palermo Is the Most Visited Destination in Sicily in 2011

Tourists flocked to the Sicilian capital this year. According to the Servizio Turistico Regionale – a department of the Sicilian region, domestic arrivals increased by 34,46% and international arrivals by 42.83%. Bednights increased as well: 16,24% and 27.02%. From January through July 2011, Palermo accounted for 334,769 arrivals and 710,740 bednights.

Most international arrivals come from France, then Germany UK, Spain, Scandinavia, Czech Republic, Russia and US.

Two Million Euros Near the Southern Sicilian City of Agrigento Confiscated from the Mafia

Police  impounded assets worth two million euros near the southern Sicilian city of Agrigento on the orders of anti-mafia prosecutors. The assets included apartments, land and companies.

The assets are allegedly owned by three men earlier detained on suspicion of belonging to the Sicilian mafia in the Agrigento area. They were named as Pietro Antonio Derelitto, 48, Antonio Giuseppe Perricone, 57 and Diego Gioacchino Guarneri, 43.

Anti-mafia investigators allege Perricone met jailed mafia ‘boss of bosses’ Bernardo Provenzano at his isolated rural hideout near the Sicilian mafia stronghold of Corleone in 2006. The alleged meeting took place two days before Provenzano’s arrest in 2006 after 43 years on the run.

Source: adnkronos.com

Lampedusa Riots – Video

Unfortunately, the situation is getting worse in Lampedusa. Migrants clashed with residents.

Tribute to Salvatore Licitra

Salvatore Licitra was a young promising tenor with Sicilian origins. He had an accident while riding his motor scooter in Modica (RG) on September 5, 2011 and died a few days after. Here is a video of him singing “E Lucevan le Stelle” from Tosca.

Video (3:22min)

Etna Erupts

Mount Etna is having an active summer this year. The highest volcano in Europe erupted on August 5. Its ashes created a few problems for the nearby Fontanarossa Airport in Catania. Tourists are flocking to the area to view the show of the lava flow. For an idea, please look at the video below or these spectacular pictures.

The activity seems under control now and the airport is back to normal business.

Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano on Vacation in Stromboli

Italy’s president Giorgio Napolitano and his wife Clio Bittoni just arrived in Stromboli – one of the seven Aeolian Islands north of Messina – to spend their summer vacation. Italy’s financial situation has made Europe tremble and the president postponed his vacation for a few days. Here is a slideshow of their departure. The photo below was shot on a previous visit in 2008. The presidential couple has been spending their summer vacation in Stromboli for 30 years now.

Mount Etna Erupts with Incredible Views of Light and Fire (Video & Photos)

On July 30, Mount Etna erupted treating residents and travelers to a spectacular show of tectonic fireworks. Mount Etna (also known locally as Mongibeddu in Sicilian and Mongibello in Italian) is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the largest volcano in Europe, currently standing about 10,991 ft (3,350 m) high, though it should be noted that this varies with summit eruptions (the mountain is 71 ft (21,6 m) lower now than it was in 1865). It is the highest mountain in Italy south of the Alps. Etna covers an area of 460 square miles (1190 km²). This makes it by far the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy, being nearly three times the height of the next largest, Mount Vesuvius. [Wikipedia]

 

Spectacular Video (3:26)

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Cala Palermo – Slideshow

The Cala di Palermo is the oldest port of the city, situated in a cove between Via Francesco Crispi  and Foro Italico. Recently, it has been restored and about 50,000 cubic miles of illegal constructions have been demolished. The new cala was inaugurated on July 29, 2011 and represents a first, but important step for Palermo to recuperate its green space.

Slideshow

 

 

Map

 

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