January 23rd, 1387: an adventurous and fairy liberation plan involved Guglielmo Raimondo Moncada and the daughter of King Federico IV, Maria. She was been imprisoned at the Ursino Castle by the greedy vicar Artale, who did not accept her as the legitimate heir to the throne. Centuries later, we retrace the story of this...
This is the building where punishment was conceived as redemption. It was defined “panoptic” because of the cells placed along its perimeter, through which keepers could constantly supervise the area. Nowadays, even if it is close to the street market of the city, its conditions don’t reflect its beauty and history An enormous and...
Sister Maria Cecilia La Mela, who belongs to a Benedictine seclusion order, dispels the myths surrounding her lifestyle and sheds some light on the old tradition of chanting for Catania’s patron Saint The first thing that is likely to come to mind when we think about cloistered religious orders is something resembling living behind...
In Catania, Art School students became protagonists of the parade and the exhibit organized for the Saint patron celebrations These students of Fashion Design class are young, talented and great fashion enthusiasts. Armed with needle, thread, cloths and ornaments they fashioned dresses for the eighteenth edition of Magnificat, an exhibition of theatrical gowns dedicated...
From February 3 to 5 illuminations and fireworks light up Catania during the festival dedicated to its patron. At the same time, you can notice many ads and events organized by national and local companies, whose outcomes are not always lucky «Je taliatila che bedda, Javi du occhi ca parunustiddi, e naucca ca pari...
Philosophers could have solved the hidden mystery behind those people who constantly shake their arms and can’t help touching their speakers when they talk There are so many Sicilians all around the world, that maybe a day we will find out America was actually discovered by some citizen from Catania. It is no coincidence...
This clumsy and unkempt character, who was born with the Commedia dell’Arte, loves eating and sleeping and symbolizes the Sicilian soul. His popularity has now risen again, making him an unmissable presence during Carnival parades Good-humoured people of Sicily, young and old, are often jokingly associated to a Peppe ‘Nnappa, a character who has...
In an assimilated culture like ours, it seems as difficult as ever to be amazed by something. How can we awake that feeling again? Letting our curiosity lead us is the recipe to feel liberated and in harmony with the world From cities that all look alike, where we can comfortably order fridge magnets...
They say it was a lovely spot, with a depth of 50 feet and a width of 4 miles, and that it was the place where high-society villa appeared and boat races used to take place Did you know that Catania was surrounded by a lake? They say it was a lovely spot, with...
True, passionate, always present in the minds of the islanders: the volcano has been an integral part of the territory for millennia and has often been mentioned in Sicilian literature. From the words of Rapisardi to the ones of Verga, the magnificence of Mongibello is similar to those who it frightens and protects at...
