A Very Original Christmas Tree

The main square of Cinisi (prov. of Palermo) proudly displays its 2011 Christmas tree. A very special Christmas tree that shows great interest towards ecology.

This eco-friendly Christmas tree was set up by a team of enthusiastic youngsters led by Vincenzo Cusumano, the creator and art director.

6,000 plastic bottles were used to build this 7 meter (23 ft.) tree.

The effect is spectacular, indeed, especially in the evening when the lights create a special effect.

“This is” says Vincenzo, “a message to the citizens and to everyone. We must all be concerned about the future of our environment. Recycling costs us little efforts, but these efforts will be efficient and highly rewarding if we all co-operate.”

Happy New Year!

Maria Lina Bommarito

Isola delle Femmine, between Myth and Reality

The stretch of road between Cinisi and Palermo astonishes travelers with beautiful sight of the azure Mediterranean sea. The coast is an alternation of sandy beaches and reefs that offer a spectacular view. Just off the coast you can admire the Isola delle Femmine (women’s island), a small beautiful island that gives its name to the town ashore.

Many legends have been inspired by the name of this small island Isola delle Femmine, inhabited solely by birds and rabbits. The ruins of an ancient tower recalls a fairy tale-scenery where imprisoned princesses await to be freed by brave knights.The first legend recalls that the island was a prison for just women in the past. However, no references have been found to prove this first supposition. Another ancient legend says that thirteen Turkish women accused of immoral behavior, were abandoned on the island by their husbands. After seven years, the husbands regretted having abandoned them and returned to save them.

Etymological studies explain that the word femmine – in dialect fimmini – has nothing to do with women. The word instead derives from the Arab word fim which means mouth or entrance and is referred to the canal between the island and the mainland. The island is uninhabited today. Because of its naturalistic importance, the Sicilian Region with the cooperation of LIPU (Italian Society for the Protection of Birds) institued The Oriented Nature Reserve Isola delle Femmine in 1997. In 2002 the coastline from Capo Gallo (near Mondello) to Isola delle Femmine was declared “Protected Marina Reserve”. The Nature Reserve has favored the preservation of a rich flora that includes 144 species of geo-botanic importance, several of which are in danger of extinction. The birdlife present on the island is particularly important: the Blue rock Thrush, the Mediterranean Herring Gull, the Crested Lark, the Stone-chat, the Buzzard and the Hoopoe all nest here, while migratory birds are regular visitors. The European Wild Rabbit, the field lizard, the Whip Snake and different species of butterflies also find their natural habitat on the small island. The marine flora and fauna are equally important. The variety of marine environments with meadows of Oceanic Posidonia indicate the sea waters are clean and unpolluted. Sandy and rocky seabeds are the ideal habitat for species as Octopi, Nudibranches, Snakelock Anemones, Groupers, Lobsters and Seafans.

The Nature Reserve is open all year round and guided nature walks are organized upon reservation.
For further information or reservations: riserva.isolafemmine@lipu.it

By Maria Lina Bommarito

Map

Sferracavallo, A Seaside Village near Palermo

Sferracavallo is a small seaside village in the suburbs of Palermo which lies between Mount Billiemi and Pizzo Santa Margherita. Its origins date back to the 15th century when a group of fishermen from Palermo and Isola delle Femmine settled in the area trying to make a better living.

In the early 20th century Palermo’s aristocracy began to build elegant “art nouveau” villas along the coastal strip of Sferracavallo reaching the nearby town of Isola delle Femmine. Since then the increasing urban development transformed this fishermen colony into one of Palermo’s best reputed seaside resorts. Today, Sferracavallo’s economy is based on fishing and tourism.

One of the particularities of Sferracavallo are the numerous restaurants located along the seaside promenade. These restaurants offer a rich menu of local fresh fish. The restaurants of the village are also well-known as among the first to offer “fixed price” menus.

The “Villaggio Gastronomico” in Plaza Beccadelli is famous for the numerous gazebos where it is possible to taste typical Palermo gastronomy based on pane con la milza  or pane ca meusa in dialect (a spleen sandwich, typical of Palermo’s “street food”), panelle (chickpea fritters), potato croquettes, broccoli fritters and caponata. It is also possible to taste seafood specialities as ricci di mare (sea urchins), cozze (mussels) octopus and snails.

Sferracavallo is easily accessible from Palermo through pubic transportation.

By Maria Lina Bommarito

Map

September in Sicily

September is a lovely month to visit Sicily. The weather is beautiful and the sea temperature is still wonderfully warm which makes it perfect for a late summer swim. There are less tourists compared to August which is Italy’s “holiday month” and beaches and other top attractions are not invaded by tourists.

Prices for accomodations and rentals drop from their high season levels by the middle of the month.
The first substancial rains arrive, usually after mid-month. For the temperature, the month of September can be considered an extension of the long Sicilian summer.

The weather is ideal for sightseeing, it’s an ideal time to visit Sicily’s beautiful towns, small medieval centers, archaeological ruins and natural reserves.

In September harvests begin throughout the island. Grapes are certainly the main fruit of the season but not only: almonds, pistachios, prickly pears and figs are at their best. This is the time of harvest celebrations and festivals organized to promote typical products of the different areas.

By Maria Lina Bommarito

September in Sicily… I Wish I Were There

 

 

Limoncello: A Taste of Sicily

Sipping Limoncello after dinner on hot summer evenings has become a very pleasant custom in Sicily as well as in the rest of Italy.

Limoncello is a Mediterranean liquor made with lemon peels marinated in alcohol. The description of Limoncello given by the Los Angeles Times journalist, Charles Perry, fits perfectly: “A taste of a thousand lemons, it’s colder than ice, and it explodes in your mouth with all the freshness and optimism of lemons”.

The origins  of this delicious lemon liquor date back to the early 19th century when it was first produced on the Amalfi coast in Southern Italy. Today it is made throughout the peninsula but the Southern regions with their warm climate are the most renowned in producing it.

Sicilian Limoncello is more intense than that made anywhere else. Its color is more vibrant, it’s sweeter on the palate and has a more pronounced lemon flavor. Making homemade Limoncello is very common among Sicilian families. It can be kept for months in the freezer and because of the high alcohol content it will not freeze.

There are many different recipes for homemade Limoncello, the quantity of alcohol and sugar may vary according to personal taste. It takes about a week for the alcohol to draw the flavor from the lemon zests. But the result is worth the wait!

Here is a recipe my mother handed to me, which is quite easy and irresistibly good. Differently than other recipes, we use small green lemons (instead of yellow ones) that give nice flavor, aroma and a beautiful green color. It is very important that the lemons are organic and freshly picked.

Ingredients

• 1000 ml pure alcohol (Everclear in th U.S.),
• 800 gr. (4 cups) sugar
• 1000 ml. (4 cups) water
• 10 lemons

Method

Rinse and dry the lemons, then peel the zest off. You must avoid peeling the pith which is the white part of the lemon because it would give a bitter flavor to our Limoncello. It takes a little patience to peel the lemons, it’s easier if you use a sharp knife or a vegetable peeler. Put the peel in the alcohol in a hermetic glass container and let it macerate for a week.

After a week, strain the alcohol and discard the peels. Set the alcohol aside while you prepare a syrup heating the water and the sugar, letting it simmer for 5 minutes. Let the syrup cool off and then add the alcohol which has become a nice green color. Pour into bottles and freeze.

By Maria Lina Bommarito

Just Another Beautiful Sight…

I’m here in the veranda of my home in Cinisi relaxing after lunch. Here in Sicily as in other Southern regions, it is usual to rest in the afternoon, especially during the summer when the days are very hot. In front of me I have the most beautiful sight of the mountains of Cinisi that seems to reach the “Venus Paradise” blue-colored sky. For me it’s amazing and I never stop admiring this scene that Nature offers.

When I say to my husband (born in Sicily): “Isn’t it beautiful?”, he answers carelessly: “Sure, but it’s always been there.”. This indifference, this neutrality drives me mad. I must realize, though, that for him and for those born in this magnificent land, it’s normal to live surrounded by such beauty. It’s normal to wake up in the morning and see these thousand-year old mountains that change colors depending on the season or the hour of the day.

What is there to do? I’ll just continue admiring the mountains, the deep blue sea and all there is to see…of this wonderful island.

By Maria Lina Bommarito

Map

L’Opera dei Pupi (Sicilian Puppet Theater)

Anyone visiting Palermo has certainly seen these colorful marionettes displayed in every souvenir shop. These marionettes called Pupi Siciliani are a core symbol of Sicilian folk-art and represent the island’s cultural identity as the carretti Siciliani (Sicilian painted horse carts) and cannoli.
The Pupi Siciliani are the protagonists of the Opera dei Pupi (Sicilian Puppet Theater), a popular form of entertainment originated in the 19th century with roots that stretch back to the 15th century.

The performances of the Opera dei Pupi are inspired by Sicily’s turbulent history, works of literature, folklore and comedy. The characters in the Opera dei Pupi impersonate heroes of southern Italy’s history as Norman knights against the Saracens. Much has been adopted from the lyric poetry of the Troubadours and the epic tales of chivalry known as the Chansons de Geste (the Songs of Deeds). The performances in which Orlando and Charlemagne are protagonists are derived from the famous Chanson de Roland, while various interpretations are inspired by Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso.
The Opera dei Pupi also covers subjects from classical Greece and Rome such as Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey”.

Slideshow

 

The dialogues of the Sicilian Puppet Theater are usually improvised but the plots remain the same. The skill of the puparo is not only displayed in the actions of the marionettes but also in the improvisation of the dialogues. In the last 50 years, with the advent of more modern forms of entertainment, this ancient Sicilian tradition has declined. To preserve this unique folk-art, UNESCO has designated the Sicilian Puppet Theater as one of the world’s “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.
In recent years Sicilian cultural movements supported by regional government funds are working to preserve the tradition of the Opera dei Pupi organizing puppet festivals and Sicilian puppetry schools.
It is possible to admire the Pupi Siciliani in theaters and museums throughout the island.

By Maria Lina Bommarito

In Palermo:

Museo Etnografico Siciliano Giuseppe Pitrè

Teatro dei Pupi Cuticchio – www.figlidartecuticchio.com
Via Bara all’Olivella
90133 Palermo
Mimmo Cuticchio has played a fundamental role in the contemporary renewal of the Opera dei Pupi. He has also appeared in the film The Godfather (part III).
Museo Internazionale della Marionette Antonio Pasqualino
www.museomarionettepalermo.it

Piazzetta Antonio Pasqualino, 5
90133 Palermo

In Partinico (prov. Palermo):

Real Cantina Borbonica (in the photos) – www.realcantinaborbonica.it
Viale della Regione, 27, 90047 Partinico

Ass. Culturale I Pupi di Nino Canino – www.ipupidipartinico.it

In Messina:

Opera dei Pupi Famiglia Gargano – www.teatrodeipupigargano.it

In Catania:

Teatro Stabile dell’Opera dei Pupi – Cultural Center “Le Ciminiere”
Viale Africa, cap 95100 – Catania

In Acireale (prov. Catania):

Museo dell’Opera dei Pupi Mario Grasso
Teatro dell’Opera dei Pupi Emanuele Macrì – www.teatropupimacri.it

In Caltagirone (Prov. Catania):

Museo Teatro Stabile dei Pupi Siciliani

Sfincione, the Real Sicilian Tradition

A few weeks ago SicilyGuide posted this article about the Sicilian pizza, but I’d like to point out that Sicily’s pizza is delicious, but the real tradition – especially in the Palermo area – is the sfincione. The sfinciuni (in Sicilian dialect) is a bread based preparation of very ancient origin. The name is of Arab derivation and recalls the word sfincia which is a very soft and delicately spongy sweet. The sfincione dough is made with flour, yeast, water and a pinch of salt. The delicious
tomato sauce is made with onions sautéed in olive oil and seasoned with oregano. Tasty dices of cacio cavallo cheese together with bits of anchovies delight the palate at every bite. Sprinkled breadcrumbs on top give the final touch.

If you visit Palermo, the best way to enjoy this mouth-watering sfincione is to buy it from the street vendors in the outdoor markets or you can find the sfincione in bakeries and food shops.
Buon appetito!

By Maria Lina Bommarito

Cinisi Sicily

Piano Margi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spiaggia Magaggiari

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Maria Lina Bommarito

Next Page »