Diagonally across the street from the Chiesa di San Giovanni dei Napoletani was our next destination, the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Catena. This church dates from 1490, when it was built to house a chapel from a pre-existing, smaller church, where a miracle had taken place. It seems that in 1342, three prisoners, who…
Author: rchabala
I am 56 years old. I live in New York City and for the last 11 years, have been traveling to Italy at least twice every year. I love everything Italian. From the art and museums to the people, to the incredible food, my heart skips a beat when I think of Italy, and the many places and things that I've been lucky enough to experience. Now, I want to share my excitement and passion with the world. I will take you to both major Italian cities, and small mountain villages. I will talk about things to do in these places, and places to explore which are off of the beaten path. I will also talk about the restaurants that I've dined in, and the places that I lay my head down in, while staying in each of these locations.
Palermo – Day 3 – Part 2 – Two Churches and Some Street Art
In Piazza San Giacomo La Marina, you will find the Chiesa di Santa Maria La Nova. The church dates from 1534, but it was not completed until 1582. The Chapel of the Crucifix contains a wooden crucifix from the 18th century, as well as a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, by the artist, Girolamo…
Palermo – Day 3 – Part 1 – Around the Church of Saint Sebastian
While up on our rooftop terrace, we had noticed a building behind ours, which was decorated with carved busts of people. This piqued our interest, and so we headed out to see just what the structure was, making it our first destination on another sunny Sicilian day. As it turned out, the building we had…
Palermo – Day 2 – Part 3 – Delicious Ice Cream and A Beautiful Garden
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…
Palermo – Day 2 – Part 2 – Quattro Canti and Fried Calamari
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…
Palermo – Day 2 – Part 1 – Fontana Pretoria and More
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…
Palermo – Day 1 – Part 5 – Exploring More of the Neighborhood
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…
Palermo – Day 1 – Part 4 – Schools, Ruins, and A Market
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…
Palermo – Day 1 – Part 3 – A Church, A Theater, and An Old Bank
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….
Palermo – Day 1 – Part 2 -A Walk to Piazza Giulio Cesare
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…
Palermo – Day 1 – Part 1 – Our Arrival
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…
Orta San Giulio – Day 3 – A Misty Morning
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…