If we wanted to paraphrase its meaning, we could think of the adjective sloppy or scruffy, although few linguistic and etymological studies exist today on its origin and meanings The Sicilian dialect has been famous for centuries for the untranslatability of some linguistic and cultural concepts, which are the result of a history linked...

An example of Sicilian versatility is given by the term cùddura, which indicates a type of loaf widespread in general in the South of Italy and whose etymology comes from the Greek. Surprisingly, it has distinct meanings according to the province where it is eaten

The man was immortalized on one of the light holders located in Piazza Università by the sculptors Mimì Maria Lazzaro and Domenico Tudisco “The man, who once was considered wise, went mad because of love” (Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto). Almost everyone focused on words like that during school time feeling love or hate...

Present both in the festive home tables and in the butcher shops of Sicily (the so-called chiànchi), this dish is widespread also in some areas of Campania and Calabria, which were once part of the Kingdom of Naples. Its diffusion testifies to the reliability of the ancient saying “du majàli un si jetta nenti”,...

Beyond the cries of traders and the crowd of people, the so-called ‘caves’ are hidden within the Church of St. Gaetano, where once martyrs such as Saint Agatha were buried Piazza Carlo Alberto has long been the stage of one of the largest city markets in Sicily. Situated in the town-center of Catania, it...

The beauty and originality of some of those verses are still admired all over the world today. The names of some of its poets fascinate scholars and amateurs, while its language and themes still appear in some contemporary poems. The School of Poetry was an excellence of poets serving Frederick II and its history...

Leaving behind one’s beloved and habits requires a great courage, but also an unconditional passion. In fact, as the Sicilian writer Vincenzo Consolo once said, the act of leaving reflects the civilization level of a people. Sicilians who leave their land are neither disdainful nor disappointed, but eager to grow and do some good...

Guest of the Radicepura Garden Festival, Manuela Ventura told us some anecdotes that bind her to the great writer Andrea Camilleri, who died recently. From the first steps to the National Academy of Dramatic Art to his fascinating lessons, up to her first role in the tv show Il Commissario Montalbano. «He was able...

1903: Luigi Pirandello lost his family due to an accident. The writer’s wife accused a breakdown from which she would never recover. Poverty and loneliness seemed to prevail in his life. On those nights he spent his time caring for his wife, his first masterpiece came to light and with it a new hope...

According to those who were close to him at that time, Picasso had in mind the fresco Il Trionfo della Morte (The Triumph of Death), now preserved in Palazzo Abatellis (Palermo). An unexpected bond between the two masterpieces appears in the composition and portrayal of an imminent Death It is well known that great...