Posted by grazia on August 4th, 2011 — in Italy, Sicily
Going on holiday in Italy in September is really a good idea! This choice saves money, since we are in “low season” and the heat does not feel so strong and overwhelming. The sea is crystal clear in September, uncrowded beaches, the mornings and evenings are cool and at night you can finally relax and rest without necessarily resorting to air conditioning.
Italy is like that in September, but, of course, we must remember that going to the south temperatures increase up to offer real chunks of bright and sunny summer.
Why not go to Sicily? An island rich in culture and natural beauty. Here you can enjoy the sun, the sea and an excellent cuisine in scenarios that are the ancient symbol and witness to its millennial history.
Here are some tips to discover Sicily: Palermo, the Isola delle Femmine, Castellammare del Golfo, and Selinunte.
I would suggest arriving in Palermo, where you can 
spend 3 days exploring the city. It would be appropriate to choose a hotel that allows you to walk to the centre and to some of the most important cultural points of the city.
From the beginning it seems good choosing restaurants that do not propose a cuisine made only “for tourists”. Then choose clean restaurants, but very much like Trattorie where, if possible, you can detect real Sicilians eating.
In Palermo there a few places thet at least deserve a visit: La Martorana and San Cataldo, Pretoria Square, the Cathedral, the Teatro Massimo and Teatro Politeama.
The distrct of the Albergheria and the district of Kalsa are also very interesting. The first one is rich in works of modern art created with recycled materials, and the second one testifies the devastating effects of World War II with its houses torn.
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Posted by grazia on July 13th, 2011 — in Italy, Sicily
The Aeolian Islands are 7 islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, located above Sicily and called on “The Aeolian Archipelago”.
This is a single large volcanic complex of about 200 km in length extending below the sea level.
These islands have been created thanks to their volcanic nature. The eruptions made the islands emerged about 2 million years ago. Some of these ancient volcanoes are completely off, as the islands of Filicudi, Alicudi and Salina. 
In other islands, as Lipari and Panarea, all that remains are thermal springs still bearing witness to the island’s previous nature. Only Vulcano and Stromboli are still active.
Stromboli in particular has been active without interruption for about two thousand years. It erupts about every 20 minutes and you can see its glow from afar.
Even just looking at Stromboli is a charming and fascinating scene. The island is an imposing black cone rising from the sea.
The coasts of Stromboli are rocky and have wonderful gorges and caves both above and below sea level. Viewing its eruptions at night is impressive, with its flames rising towards the sky and illuminating the darkness.
Nowadays a few people live on the island, about 400. These coexist with the living presence of the volcano. Their life is characterized by insecurity and a predominant, but collaborative nature as it offers them the opportunity to exploit this natural element to enhance the tourism industry.
What to do in Stromboli?
First of all, go around the island, so to visit its shores and its 2 main beaches: the beach of Scari, made of pebbles and the beach Ficogrande, made of fine black sand.
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Posted by internetauthor on July 1st, 2011 — in Sicily
Not necessarily the first thought you have when thinking of visiting Italy, but Sicily is a treat that will delight the senses with a rich history and unique cultural experience. Today the island of Sicily is known usually from various mafia or Mob films as the birthplace of organized crime, but visiting the actual island and the cities there won’t have you running into anyone’s little friend – this is a peaceful place with traces of the ancient Romans and many other cultures as well.
The History of Sicily
In the oldest days, Sicily was an island almost entirely dedicated to agriculture. The fields were almost all covered with wheat and the annual harvest was shipped to the mainland where they fed almost half of the Roman Empire. (more…)
Posted by internetauthor on April 8th, 2011 — in Sicily
If you’ve even remotely fascinated with the old Greek or Roman mythology, the Lipari Islands off the coast of Sicily should be a stop on your tour around the country. The Lipari Islands are often called the Aeolian Islands because they were considered the realm of Aeolus, the Greek and Roman god of the winds. The islands today are an excellent spot for tourists to see beautiful beaches, small towns and astonishing scenery. If you happen to walk the footsteps of the mythical Odysseus at the same time, that’s only an added benefit.
The Lipari Islands
The Lipari, or Aeolian Islands, are visible from the coast of Sicily, and you can get there by ferry all season long. Be aware, however, that there are crowds during the summer, and during the winter months, the ferry might be canceled for a few days at a time thanks to the bad weather. Visiting the Lipari Islands brings you closer to the ancient myths, while also bringing you very close to fantastic scenery, excellent fishing and some beautiful beaches.
The major islands of the group include Lipari, Salina, Filicudi, Alicude, Stromboli, Panarea and Vulcano. As the name suggests, these islands are rugged lands created by erupting volcanoes. (more…)
Posted by internetauthor on May 21st, 2010 — in Sicily
The tallest mountain in Italy is also one of its hottest tourist attractions – literally. Mount Etna is a volcano located on the island of Sicily and so long as it’s not erupting, the mountain is open for visitors to tour and explore. Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and is actually always erupting, although not explosively. In fact, many don’t consider Etna particularly dangerous and live along the slope of the mountain. The fertile soil created by the volcano supports vineyards and orchards surrounding the base of the mountain as well.
The History of Etna
Etna has a place in ancient Roman history as the home of Vulcan, the god of fire and forge. Deep inside Mount Etna, Vulcan and his helpers, the one-eyed Cyclops forged the weapons of the gods. The eruptions and history of the strato volcano have been recorded for thousands of years making it easily one of the most documented volcanoes in the world. Yet even with the history of the volcano, it is impossible to determine where the next eruption will occur. This has never stopped locals and visitors alike from hiking and exploring the large mountain. (more…)
Posted by internetauthor on April 30th, 2010 — in Sicily
If you’re planning to visit Sicily, the island at the far south of Italy, be prepared for the stunning beauty and rich history of this dazzling area. It’s praises are often unsung, but Sicily is most certainly a land with terrific beauty.
Aeolian Islands – Beautiful islands, especially in the summer months, these small islands are reached by ferry leaving from Milazzo. The seafood and beaches are outstanding, and in August especially, the crowds can be outstanding as well.
Agrigento – Also called the Valley of the Temples, this large archeology site is surrounding by olive groves and almond orchards. In Agrigento you’ll find several Greek temples, including one of the two ancient temples still completely standing in Sicily. (more…)
Posted by grazia on January 5th, 2010 — in Italy, Sicily
Arancini di Riso: traditional Sicilian recipe
Ingredients:
Rice 300 gr.
• peas 150 gr. 
• veal 100 gr.
• Butter 70 gr.
• 3 whole eggs
• grated Parmesan
• 1 medium size onion
• Parsley
• Celery
• Basil
• Saffron powder
• Vegetable broth
•
Tomato sauce.
• extra virgin olive oil
• Oil for frying
• Flour
• Salt and pepper
Preparation:
1. Pour into a saucepan three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 20 gr. butter. Place the container on fire and fry the thinly sliced onion. Then add veal and peas.
2. Mix and after a few minutes add some tomato sauce diluted in a cup of hot broth, adding some chopped parsley, celery and basil. (more…)
