On Via dell’Università, on the facade of the building that houses the university’s Faculty of Law, there is a plaque in honor of Pietro Amodei, who was the first Sicilian martyr of the Revolution of 1848.  This is the spot where the clash with the Neapolitan Calvary took place, which cost Amodei his life. In…

Even though most guidebooks, and even the locals alike, refer to the intersection pictured above as Quattro Canti, its real name is Piazza Vigliena.  This is the point where the city’s two main streets cross: Via Marqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele.  Its nickname comes from the fact that there are four sides, and thus four…

Close to our apartment, in the Piazzetta Garraffo, you will find the sculpture known as the Genio del Garraffo, or Palermo lu Grandi.  This statue is the emblem of the city.  The statue symbolizes the genius loci, the metamorphosis of the animal spirit into man.  This is one of the seven representations of the Genio…

A plaque, on the end of a building, honors those who fought against Fascism in Sicily. In Piazza Marina, you will find the Fontana del Garraffo.  The fountain takes its name from the Arabic word “gharraf,” which means “an abundance of water.”  The fountain dates from 1698, and is the work of the sculptor, Gioacchino…

Before leaving the USA, I read about a small archaeological area by the waterfront, in Palermo, which was called the Engramma San Giorgio.  We made our way down there, only to discover that the site was only open two days a week: on Fridays and Saturdays.  We made a note of the opening hours, and…

The Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate can be found at Via Roma, #203A.  The church dates from 1220.  The campanile, next to it, was built in 1302, and houses a famous bell known as the “Pretoria,” as it was used by the senate of the city to summon its citizens, when important events were taking place….

After Palermo, our plan was to take a train to Agrigento, which would be our second destination in Sicily.  Even though we were not traveling for a few days, I am the type pf person who simply feels better knowing that things are all in order, and so, as our first outing in Palermo, we…

Anyone who knows me is aware that I love to visit Italy.  This time, we were traveling to Sicily, and beginning our trip in the city of Palermo.  We were arriving there by airplane.  The flight from Milan was short, just under an hour and a half.  The day of our arrival was a beautiful…

Normally, when I awaken to a grey, misty, and wet day, I tend to get a little disappointed, especially when traveling in a place for a limited amount of time.  That was not the case in Orta San Giulio.  All it took to make me appreciate the day’s weather conditions was one look outside of…

The small church found on Via Gippini, the Chiesa di San Rocco, dates from 1631. A plaque marked the house where the professor, Antonio Poli, was born in 1901. When you find yourself in Orta San Giulio, do yourself a favor, and spend a few minutes walking through the gardens behind the Town Hall.  The…

It was lunch time, and so, we found a café/tea room that had tables in an outdoor courtyard, and ordered some food. A monument on the side of a building, along Piazzetta Ernesto Ragazzoni, honors those from the town who lost their lives in the war for Italian liberation, as well as in World War…

The little shop pictured below sells delicious biscotti and sandwiches, as well as focaccia and pizza. The Casa dei Nani, or the House of Dwarves, dates back to 1006 AD.  It is found on the Salita della Motta or, as it is also known, Via Caire Albertoletti, the street that leads up the hill, from…