White Almond Sicily

Cuddura cu l'ova In Sicily Pasqua (Easter) is the most important Church holiday of the year. After magnificent mournful processions held on Good Friday, Easter Eve is marked by the beginning of feasts. Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi! ('Christmas with your family, Easter with anyone you like!') is an Italian saying and thus Easter is abundantly celebrated. There is no tradition of an Easter Bunny hiding chocolate eggs in Sicily. But there are eggs which are an important part of Easter cakes. The true symbol of Easter is the dove, which adorns the bakeries from one end of Italy to the other. These doves are made of fine yeast dough with almonds and candied peel. To learn about the Easter tradition of the Cuddura cu l'ova and to try the recipe, read this link from Sicilian Simplicity www.siciliansimplicity.blogspot.co.uk/2008/03/tradition-of-cuddura-cu-lova The Colomba Pasquale (Easter Dove) has its origins in the Italian region of Lombardy. The dre...

Teatro Greco (Greek Theatre) When visiting Syracuse a visit to the Parco Archeologico   Neapolis (Archaeological Park) is a must, it is an area of incredible beauty. Syracuse was founded in 733BC by Corinthian settlers from Greece. Syracuse became one of the first Greek colonies in Sicily, Giardini Naxos being the first. It quickly gained wealth and power and through warfare became the strongest city in the Mediterranean and the ancient world. The ancient city was up to three times the size of modern Syracuse today and was divided into five zones, Epipolae, Akradina, Tyche, the island of Ortigia and Neapolis, where the archaeological park is located. After the death of the ruler Hieron II, Syracuse sided with Carthage against the Romans. After a siege lasting two years Syracuse finally fell to the Roman Empire in 211BC and was burned down by the Arabs in AD878. Syracuse never regained the importance it had held for centuries. Roman Amphitheatre On arriv...

Piazza Duomo One of our favourite places to visit in Sicily is Syracuse and our dog Daisy loves it too. The oldest and most beautiful part of Syracuse ( Siracusa ) is located on a small island called Ortigia which is connected to the mainland by three bridges. The city was formed around 734BC when Archia left Corinth in Greece and arrived in Ortigia where he founded the Greek colony of Syracuse. Today Ortigia is a vibrant contrast of colours and sounds, the sea with its fishing boats mingling with mega yachts moored in the bay and the ancient craft shops that are interspersed with sleek modern boutiques located on the lower floors of old Baroque palaces. There are historic squares and temples, churches and museums, also seaside restaurants with excellent seafood, all which ensure that Syracuse provides a warm welcome. Temple of Apollo Start your visit on Largo XXV Luglio where you will see the remains of the Temple of Apollo. Built in 575BC it is thought to be o...

Tindari is a beautiful spot on the North coast of Sicily and is a stunning place to visit with its archaeological site, the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna and wonderful views of the sea and Aeolian Islands. Ancient Tyndaris was founded by Dionysus of Syracuse in 396BC. The city walls and Greek theatre both remain intact. The Sanctuary of Tindari attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims each year and is situated on a promontory overlooking the sea close to the archaeological site. The church was built on the ruins of an abandoned town and is where The Statue of the Black Madonna is kept.  Supposedly found in a case by fishermen in the ninth century, the statue of the Madonna with child is Byzantine in origin. Many miracles have been attributed to the statue, and over the centuries, pilgrims have come to pay their respects to the icon. The region of Tindari is a unique natural spectacle, with The Lakes of Marinello and its own nature reserve. There is an impre...