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…)
Posted by grazia on October 2nd, 2009 — in Italy, Sicily
Pasta alla Norma is a first course of Sicilian origin, a specialty of Catania paying homage to the most beautiful and famous opera of Vincenzo Bellini by Catania: Norma.
Pasta alla Norma is a dish prepared with a few simple ingredients that have to be of the highest quality.
Ingredients 
- 360 gr. striped penne
- 600 gr. plum tomatoes (the ones to make the sauce)
- 1 large eggplant
- salted ricotta cheese to grate or fresh ricotta cheese
- basil
- 1 clove garlic
- extra virgin olive oil
Preparation
- Cut the eggplant into slices 1 cm thick and arrange in layers in a colander with a bit ‘of salt.
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Posted by grazia on September 21st, 2009 — in Italy, Sicily
Cefalù is located on the northern coast of Sicily, at one end of the Gulf of Termini Imerese. The city is about 50 km from Palermo.
It is a small seaside town with a picturesque harbour from which it is possible to observe the typical sea front of the walled city, with the arches that form the shelter to the boats.
The climate is typically Mediterranean, enjoying dry and windy summers, and mild winters with moderate rainfalls. It is located within the Park of the Madonie.
Apart from some few remains of prehistoric artefacts (ovens, cisterns and domestic buildings) the first plant of which remain significant testimonies to the top of fortress, dates back to the IX century BC.
The remains of a castle, protected by a wall which was intended to make the town impenetrable, are Norman.
But the city is characterised by the spectacular cathedral, built starting in 1131 by King Roger II, willing to respect, according to legend, the vote for the grace received after escaping a storm arriving just in Cefalu.
Very important it is the Museum Mandralisca located in the homonymous street, wanted by Enrico Piraino, Baron Mandralisca. (more…)
Posted by grazia on September 14th, 2009 — in Sicily
Segesta is a no longer inhabited historic city, founded by the Elimi and located in the north-west of Sicily.
The old city is located on Mount Barbaro, in the municipality of Calatafimi, about ten miles away from Alcamo and Castellammare del Golfo.
The Archaeological Park is situated in a wonderful location among ocher-colored and red-brown hills, forming a pleasant contrast with the infinite shades of green and it is dominated by the bulk of the Doric temple.
The old Segesta, probably founded by the Elimi, as well as the town of Erice, soon became one of the major cities of the Mediterranean area under Hellenistic influence and in the V century it was the biggest rival of Selinus.
Of particular beauty are the temple in Doric style, and the theatre, partly dug into the rock of the hill.
The temple of Segesta, one of the most perfect to survive from Antiquity, stands in majestic solitude on a hill surrounded by a deep valley framed by Monte Bernardo and Monte Barbaro where the theatre is located. It was erected in 430 BC in elegant Doric proportions of rare harmony. (more…)
Posted by grazia on July 21st, 2009 — in Italy, Sicily
Sicily is the largest island of Italy.
The Aeolian, the Egadi the Pelagie islands and Pantelleria and Ustica are part of the Sicilian territory.
In Sicily Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, dominates the plain of Catania.
On Sicily they have succeeded over the centuries Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans who left substantial evidence, including the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, or the splendid mosaics of Monreale Cathedral or the Necropolis of Pantalica.
One of the most popular tourist resort is Taormina, but along the coast, there are many other wonderful places like Acitrezza, Aci Castello and Aci Catena. A visit is also due to Alcantara and Giardini Naxos.
Organizing or selecting itineraries in Sicily means first of all considering various options offered on the island, from the archaeological and historical resorts to the seaside ones.
In Sicily talking about food means “to begin a journey into the trip”. The Sicilian kitchen is full of fragrant products, flavours that are a delightful balance between land and sea. A food culture inscribed in the Mediterranean tradition.
In Sicily the variety of dishes is full of products, spices and perfumes that bear witness to what the island has gone through for centuries with the influence of several dominators. They have left many monuments and ruins in memory of their past glory and a past so rich that he could not leave behind a wide range of diverse gastronomy traditions. (more…)
Posted by internetauthor on June 2nd, 2009 — in Sicily, Tuscany
Florence is among the most popular cities to visit when on tour in Italy. With the number of sights in the ancient city, it’s no wonder that is city famous for intelligence and wonder in the fifteenth century still has so many terrific aspects to visit.
Galleria dell’ Accademia – The Gallery is filled with paintings from the Renaissance, but many know the Academy for two works of art. The first is Michelangelo’s statue of David and the second is his unfinished Prisoners. David is a tremendous symbol of the Renaissance and marked the movement of art away from depictions of God into portraits and statues of man.
Baptistery- Florence’s oldest building; the Baptistery is dedicated to the city’s patron and is easily one of the most important Romanesque buildings in all of Tuscany. Inside you’ll find a brilliant mosaic ceiling showing scenes of the Old Testament. Outside, however, are the most impressive aspect of the building. The exterior bronze doors are the result of a contest and are famous still today for their excellence. (more…)
Posted by grazia on May 6th, 2009 — in Italy, Sicily
The Archipelago of the Aeolian Islands take its name from the God Aeolus, god of winds, and is made up of seven islands scattered along the north eastern coast of Sicily. They are positioned as to form a big “y” of which Vulcano is the lower extremity, and Alicudi and Stromboli are the two peaks, respectively, further west and further east.
They have been defined the “seven pearls of the Mediterranean Sea“, because they are islands of extraordinary charm. They are active volcanoes and when one approaches them one can not help to remain fascinated.
Panarea is the smallest but also the most frequented by young people and offers a good nightlife.
Who’s going to Vulcano can’t avoid to dive at least for a minute in the natural hot mud pond.
Lipari, the largest, is called the white mountain because it is made of the pumice stone.
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