L’Opera dei Pupi (Sicilian Puppet Theater)
August 8, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Traditions, Travel
Photo credits - Maria Lina Bommarito
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”.
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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.
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
July 5, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Food & Wine
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!
Cinisi Sicily
June 27, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Photos
Piano Margi
Spiaggia Magaggiari
Inycon, Menfi and its Wine
June 23, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Events, Food & Wine
| June 24, 2011 9:00 am | to | June 26, 2011 10:00 pm |
Inycon, Menfi and its Wine is a three-day festival dedicated to wine which takes place in Menfi, between Agrigento and Trapani. Sponsored by Settesoli, Europe’s largest wine consortium, the town of Menfi and the Regional Agriculture and Forest Department, the event is this year at its 16th edition.
This territory particularly suited for wine production boasts 4 DOC’s, 7,000 hectares of vineyards and 40% of the Region’s wine export. From Friday to Sunday the town center will host wines and local product tastings.
In Casa Planeta, the wine company of Agrigento, producers will present their wines and Slow Food representatives will organize tasting laboratories, describing history and taste. “We are working – says the mayor of Menfi – to promote the event, which has the distinction of being the oldest in Sicily. We aim to its further development and qualification as well as to promote tourism”.
Every evening at sunset until 10 PM, Menfi’s town square will host shows and concerts. Sunday evening the popular Sicilian Rock Band “Tinturia” will entertain the audience with its contagious rhythm and music ranging from pop, reggae, funk and rap with a pinch of folk.
Information and tickets: www.inyconmenfi.it
Wine tours reservation: info@stradadelvinoterresicane.it
Sicilian Taralli
May 31, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Food & Wine, Traditions
Sicilian Taralli and Rosolio - Photo credits Maria Lina Bommarito
Taralli are a traditional sweets made in Sicily as well as in other Italian regions. The Sicilian tarallo is a delicious soft cookie covered with a sugar glaze. In Sicily taralli were one of the sweets served by families on special occasions, such as engagements, weddings and baptisms, exclusively celebrated at home.
Originally the “taralli” had a wreath-shape and the glaze was plain white. As years passed, they were made smaller, oval-shaped and the glaze was vanilla flavored and chocolate-flavored.
As Sicilian hospitality required, the sweets were served with the house wine or
with a home-made liqueur, very popular in those days, called rosolio.
Cantine Aperte Festival in Sicily
May 27, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Events, Food & Wine
| May 29, 2011 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 9:00 pm |
Cantine Aperte Festival (Open Wineries Festival) is the best time to visit wineries in Sicily. Selected winery members of the Movimento Turismo del Vino (Wine Tourism Movement) open their doors to the public offering wine enthusiasts a chance to visit their venues and participate to wine-themed events.
Photo credits - Movimento Turismo del Vino Sicilia
The interest in the event has grown considerably from year to year and has attracted the attention of tourists and residents, eager to participate to this
unique experience.
PARTICIPATING WINERIES
Tenuta Barone La Lumia
Contrada Pozzillo – 92027 Licata (AG)
Phone/Fax: +39 0922 891709
Cell: +39 348 3102560 / 348 3102563
Web site: www.baronelalumia.it
Azienda Agrituristica Etna Wine
S.S. 120 Km 191+900 – Passopisciaro
95012 Castiglione di Sicilia (CT)
Tel/Fax: +39 095 931548 – +39 0942 983062
Web site: www.etnawineagriturismo.com
Azienda Cosentini
Cdr. Cosentini – Via Etnea 9
95020 S. Venerina (CT)
Tel: +39 095 958281 – Fax: +39 095 605162
Web site: www.vinicosentini.it
Cantine Nicosia
Via Luigi Capuana sn.
95039 Trecastagni (CT)
Tel: +39 095 7806767 – Fax: +39 095 7808837
Web site: www.cantinenicosia.it
Azienda Vinicola Benanti
Via Garibaldi, 361
95029 Viagrande (CT)
Tel: +39 095 7893438 – Fax: +39 095 7893677
Web site: www.vinicolabenanti.it
Cantina Barone Gandolfo di San Giuseppe
Az. Agr. Laganelli – Strada San Domenico, 5
96100 Siracusa
Tel: +39 334 317892
Baglio di Pianetto s.r.l.
Via Francia, sn – Contrada Pianetto
90030 Santa Cristina Gela (PA)
Tel: +39 091 8570002 – Fax: +39 091 8570015
Web site: www.stilesiciliano.com
Marchesi De Gregorio
Contrada Sirignano
90046 Monreale (PA) (vicino Alcamo)
Autostrada A29 – dir. Mazara del Vallo
svincolo Gallitello (Km. 64,5) proseguire sulla S.S. 119
dir. Alcamo, imboccare al Km. 13 Bivio Contrada Sirignano
Tel: +39 091 7816870 - Fax: +39 091 6123769 Cell: +39 347 9782640
Web site: www.marchesidegregorio.it
Feudo Arancio
C.da Portella Misilbesi
92017 Sambuca di Sicilia (AG)
Tel: +39 0925 579000 – Fax: +39 0925 31540
Web site: www.feudoarancio.it
Tenuta Scilio di Valle Galfina
Contrada Arrigo – S.P. Linguaglossa Zafferana Km 2
95015 Linguaglossa (CT)
Tel: +39 095 932822 - Cell: +39 348 8629754
Web site: www.scilio.com
Cantine Don Saro S.r.l.
C.da Arrigo
95015 Linguaglossa (CT)
Tel: +39 095 386245 – Fax: +39 095 373767
Cell: +39 331 7899258 – +39 336 235290
Web site: www.donsaro.com
Tenuta di Fessina
Contrada Rovitello, Via Nazionale S.S 120 n. 22
95012 Castiglione di Sicilia (CT)
Cell: +39 335 7220021 – +39 348 0115329
Gigliotto Tenute
S.S. 117 bis Km 60 – C.da Ghigliotto
94015 Piazza Armerina (EN)
Tel: +39 0933 970898 – 979092
Fax: +39 0933 970898 – 979234
Web site: www.gigliottotenute.com
Feudo Principi di Butera
Contrada Deliella – 93011 Butera (CL)
Tel: +39 0934 347726 – 346766
Fax: +39 0934 347851
Web site: www.feudobutera.it
Azienda Agricola Planeta
C.da Ulmo – 92017 Sambuca di Sicilia (AG)
Tel: +39 091 327965 – Fax: +39 091 6124335
Web site: www.planeta.it
Donnafugata
Via S. Lipari 18 – 91025 Marsala (TP)
Necessaria la prenotazione
Tel: +39 0923 724206
Web site: www.donnafugata.it
Cantine Florio
Via Vincenzo Florio, 1
91025 Marsala (TP)
Tel: +39 0923 781305/306 – 091 781111
Web site: www.cantineflorio.it
Azienda Agricola Pupillo
Contrada Targia – 96100 Siracusa
indicazione per il navigatore satellitare “Casa Targia”
Tel: +39 0931 494029 Cell: 339 5700843
Fax: +39 0931 490498
Web site: www.pupillowines.com
For more information on the wineries participating to the event, visit:
Web site: www.mtvsicilia.it
Email: sicilia@movimentoturismovino.it, info@mtvsicilia.it
Domenica in Vigna (Sunday in the Vineyard)
May 16, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Events
| May 15, 2011 | ||
| 4:30 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
| May 22, 2011 | ||
| 4:30 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
| May 29, 2011 | ||
| 4:30 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
Sunday in the Vineyard – a wine and nature festival organized by Planeta Winery – is taking place at the Ulmo Winery in Sambuca di Sicilia (Agrigento). Planeta will open its doors to wine and nature lovers for a lovely day in the countryside.
Visitors will be treated for three consecutive Sundays with gourmet food, fine wines, music, art and wine and olive oil tastings. If they like, they could adventure through one of the hiking trails of the Segreta woods, which gives its name to one of Planeta’s best known wines.
An interesting visit to a photo exhibition showcases the vineyard phases through the harvest. The small Farmer Market sells organic products. On Sunday May 22 and 29, Cronachedigusto together with Planeta Winery sponsor workshops such as The Art of Making Ice Cream and The Art of Storing Fish.
Conviviality, discovery of the territory and a close relationship with nature are the winning factors of Domenica in Vigna.
Entrance Fee: €10
Information and detailed program: www.planeta.it
To RSVP, write to: eventi@cronachedigusto.it
Map
A New Recycling Option Arrives In Sicily
May 11, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under News
Recycling in Sicily has been an issue lately. Politicians and other organizations have made proposals or just nice promises. Solutions come often from the private sector.
Opening of an Ecopunto point in Sicily. Photo credits - Ecopunto.eu
Ecopunto has set up shops where people can bring their recyclable waste and trade it for grocery: kg 7 of paper gain 1 box of pasta! The organization’s motto is “garbage is not waste and it can become a resource”.
Ecopunto tries to resolve the delays which have brought to the discouraging results that garbage collection has experienced in Southern Italy. This company is an innovative environmental reality, which has gained great success in Sicily and in other Italian regions.
Ecopunto shops – located in Niscemi (Caltanissetta province), Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina province) and now also in Terrasini (Palermo province) – have obtained encouraging results and Sicilians have shown great sensibility towards nature and strong determination in restoring Sicily’s beautiful image.
Noto’s Infiorata
May 3, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Events, Noto, Traditions, Travel
| May 13, 2011 5:00 pm | to | May 16, 2011 5:00 pm |
Photo credits - Infiorata.info
May signs the beginning of the summer holiday season in Sicily with temperatures in the mid to upper 20s Celsius (in the 70s F). Noto’s Infiorata, one of the most colorful festivals anywhere in the world, takes place every year in the middle of May.
For two and a half days, Via Nicolaci, one of Noto’s many delightful streets, is taken over by local and foreign artists who work together on a set theme to create a kaleidoscopic carpet of petal mosaics using flowers grown specifically for the event.They set up shop and begin work on their allotted pieces of pavement on Friday and the show is open to all-comers on Saturday and Sunday. A variety of other activities, including parades and sideshows, add to the general carnival atmosphere and the delightful, ingenious Baroque palazzi and churches of Noto provide a perfect backdrop.
Monday morning is the day of the town’s children, who are let loose to run through the temporary artworks in a symbolic display of destruction and renewal. Part celebration of Spring, part homage to Noto’s virtuosic artistic heritage, the festival provides an excellent excuse for a mid-May getaway.
TripAdvisor Chooses San Vito Lo Capo as Best Italian Beach
April 13, 2011 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Trapani, Travel
Photo credits - Franca Calderone
San Vito Lo Capo in the province of Trapani wins TripAdvisor’s “Travelers’ Choice Beaches Award 2011” as best Italian Beach. The selection is based on millions of reviews and opinions posted by travelers from all over the world.
This beautiful town in Northwestern Sicily is famous for the crystal-blue water of the Mediterranean Sea and the 2 mile long fine gold sand beach. The weather is best in the summer months, but San Vito Lo Capo has much more to offer all-year-round. Every September the town hosts the “Cous Cous Fest”, an international festival of culture and gastronomy of the Mediterranean.
