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Sicily 2024, Italy
  • Gina Steiner
  • Gina Steiner

Sicily 2024, Italy

A 58-day adventure by Gina Read more
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  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Full moon

    January 25, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    🌕❤️😍

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler
    Rosemary
    ThymeOreganoMintBasilLavenderFennelSageNasturtiumParsley

    Herbes go permaculture

    January 26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    When I recently posted a photo of the garden, Heinz-Heino immediately noticed the rosemary because it is currently in full bloom and is immediately noticeable. ❤️

    But there are all sorts of other herbs, I particularly like sage. 😋

    Of course, this means that we can cook with fresh herbs all the time, but the basil would like it to be a little warmer, wetter and, above all, more protected from the wind. But he perseveres.

    So if you were to stay here, you could look forward to dishes seasoned with wonderfully fresh herbs. 😋❤️🌱🥘    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler
    Red cabbageFennelPepperoniFavaWhite cabbagePaprikaAuberginePepperoniBroccoli

    Vegetables go permaculture

    January 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Two years ago, Paul, the owner's son, who is biologist, has created a permaculture garden here.

    Ingrid, a fruit farmer who has landed here for the long term, now enjoys a huge field of experiments all year round and continually gains experience in where red cabbage grows better and where worse and repeatedly puts garlic, onions, parsley or fava in the soil here and there.

    In two years the whole thing has developed quite considerably from a conventional garden into an insect oasis. You can see that the biological balance is slowly coming into play here.

    Today I went through the garden with Ingrid and learned some things about permaculture - what a gift that I can stay and learn here. ❤️    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Lazy day

    January 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    What a lazy day 🤩🍺🌊

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Testa di Moro

    January 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Nor a nice name, nor a nice story.

    Once more I thought about buying two of them but this time I'm here by plane and I think I won't manage to transport them. Maybe next time, when I'm here by car...

    Those who have been reading my travel diary for a long time already know the story, but I don't want to withhold it from others either:

    Who does not know them, the peculiar ceramic heads, which, as hand-painted vases on sicilian balconies, fix the passing tourists with rigid expressions. Whether with light or dark skin color, together with a woman's head or alone, a crown on the head is the same for everyone.

    The eerily beautiful legend says that a beautiful girl lived in Palermo in the Kalsa district during the arab-muslim rule around the year 1000 AD. Her rose skin was like blooming peach blossoms and her eyes reflected the sea of the Gulf of Palermo.

    The young woman was almost always at home, spending her days tending the plants on her balcony. Some day a young african passed under her balcony who, as soon as he saw her, fell madly in love with her and immediately swore to her everlasting love. Affected by so much passion, she returned his love, but her happiness was short-lived.

    As soon as she learned that her lover would soon be leaving to return to his home country and to his wife and two children, she made up her mind. She waited for night to fall and as soon as he fell asleep, she killed him and cut off his head.

    She made a vase out of his head to plant basil in and placed it on her balcony for all to see. That way he would stay with her forever. The basil grew into a stately plant and all the neighbors envied the girl for it.

    In order not to be inferior to the young woman in any way, all residents of the district had extra terracotta vases made with the shape of the head. To this day, these colorful ceramic vases can be admired from sicilian balconies as a nice warning to all husbands.

    Incidentally, the basil is the king's plant and was deliberately planted in the head of her lover by the girl from the legend. Thus, with the help of the noble plant, the young woman could continue to care for her lover in her madness.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Caltagirone

    January 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Caltagirone (Sicilian: Cartaggirun) is an inland city about 70 kilometres southwest of Catania.

    It is the fifth most populous municipality of the Metropolitan City, behind Catania, Acireale, Misterbianco and Paternò. Alongside Catania, it is the only town that has a tribunal seat in the former province. Since 1987, the comune has obtained the City title, through a presidential act. After Caltanissetta, it is the second-most populous comune in Central Sicily. Caltagirone has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

    The town is a production center of pottery, particularly maiolica and terra-cotta wares. Contemporary production is more and more oriented to artistic production of ceramics and terra-cotta sculptures. Other activities are mainly related to agriculture (production of grapes, olives, peaches), third-sector activities, light industry and tourism.

    Today I went there just to have a look and I liked it. I think I will come back for a second time 😊.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Chiesa del Santissimo Salvatore

    January 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    At first glance, the church is a completely normal church, only a sign at the entrance draws your attention to the word "terra-cotta".

    When you enter you will find a pretty but not unusual church. However, if you enter the room on the right and pay two euros, you end up in a terra-cotta miniature wonderland. But see for yourself.

    As a side note regarding terra-cotta: The Ceramica di Caltagirone is a type of ceramics made in Caltagirone, in Sicily. This pottery is one of the most documented and stylistically varied, as well as one of the best known in the world.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Scalinata di Santa María del Monte

    January 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte is a set of world-famous steps in Caltagirone. It was built in 1606 in order to connect the ancient part of Caltagirone to the new city built in the upper part. The staircase, over 130 meters long, is flanked by balcony buildings and is today one of the identifying monuments of the city.

    In the middle of the XV century, the city of Caltagirone expanded through the slopes of the mountain. The expansion of the city, on different levels, made communication between the areas of the city difficult.

    In order to facilitate access to the old town, located at the top, the city authorities ordered the construction, in 1606, of a staircase along the southern slope of the hill. The work required 10 years of work and was carried out under the direction of Giuseppe Giacalone. The original staircase had rest areas and a total of 150 steps.

    In 1844, the staircase underwent modifications, among which the elimination of rest areas stands out, which results in a lower inclination.

    Since 1954, the steps leading to the church of Santa Maria del Monte have been entirely decorated with polychrome ceramic tiles, following the ancient local artisan tradition.

    The figurative themes of the ceramics are floral or geometric, and represent the Arab, Norman, Angevin-Aragonese, Spanish, Renaissance, Baroque, eighteenth-century, nineteenth-century and contemporary styles. The designs on the tiles reflect ceramic style progressively from the 9th century to the 19th century, with the oldest style at the bottom of the stairway and the latest at the top.

    The 103rd step is inscribed with “Ave Maria”, referencing the 103rd Psalm and its themes of benediction, forgiveness, and compassion.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Cornetti

    January 31, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    I actually wanted to eat or drink a granita during my lunch break but it's crazy. In winter ❄️ there seem to be none in all of Sicily.

    But now that I'm in Licata, I had to try something new 😋: stuffed cornetti 🥐.

    The filling of your choice is injected into a normal cornetto 🥐. In my case pistachio cream. The cornetto itself is sweet because of the sugar on it and the filling makes it really rich.

    Price for cappuccino and filled cornetto: 3.- 😳. A decent dessert! 😋🤣    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler
    Fig treeGrapefruit treeOrange treeMandarin treeBanana treeStrawberry treeMango treePlum treeApricot treesMoringa trees

    Fruit trees go permaculture

    February 1, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    There are also a lot of fruit trees here. The mulberry tree even serves as an outdoor shower 🚿, because when it has leaves you are wonderfully protected from view and it is very spacious to stand upright. Anne also mixes the mulberries into the banana bread and this is a super tasty mixture.

    There are three different types of oranges 🍊 and other citrus fruits such as lemons 🍋 and grapefruit. There is also a mango 🥭 and a banana 🍌 , as well as an almond 🌸 and two figs (one green and one dark).

    Then of course there is a peach 🍑, a plum and two apricots - I love them very much and they remind me of my childhood, because we had a huge apricot tree in the garden with countless fruits.

    There are also three moninga trees and a lot of olive 🫒 trees. The olives are currently being pickled and I'm looking forward to eating them. Another thing I love and have at home are avocados 🥑; there are also two avocado trees here.

    I probably forgot something in the list, but you can see that we are well covered. Personally, a passion fruit 🍈 and a papaya would be missing, but at a high level it's easy to complain 😜.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Torre di Manfria

    February 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Today is Friday, so I'm free 😍.

    Since I have never been able to walk east to the very end of the beach during my lunch break, I used today to do so. I was told there is a tower behind the corner. So I walked to the end of the beach and put on my sneakers there.

    This is necessary because the cliffs there extend into deep water, so you have to climb over it. The cliffs have sharp edges, so flip-flops are not the best choice.

    Behind the cliffs is the Crystal beach. The name comes from the rocks that surround it on the coast, which are made of crystals. Unfortunately you can't get directly to the Torre, it's too impassable. So I walked over the crystal rocks up to the road and then from there to the Torre - il Torre di Manfria.

    To protect the coastal towns of Sicily from constant attacks by both enemies and African pirates, the Spanish government decided to erect a series of towers for defensive purposes, arranged on the coast in such a way as to constitute a strategic surveillance system. military.

    The high level of communication and connection made it possible to report any dangers and spread the news of impending incursions across the entire island.

    The Torre di Manfria was part of the warning system of the Coastal Towers of Sicily, built following the instructions of the Florentine architect Camillo Camilliani.

    It stands on a hill overlooking the hamlet and is visible from all over the Gulf of Gela. It is currently privately owned and is in a reasonable state of conservation, except for the terrace which has some sections of the cornice now in ruins. It should be noted that it is one of the largest Camillian towers, it is in fact approximately 15 meters high with a base of approximately 12,5 metres.

    The tower itself is no big deal but the hike along the beach and over the crystal rocks rock 😂🤪🥰    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Fire & ice

    February 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Well not really but lying in the sun after swimming in cold water feels like.

    Today is definitely a perfect ice swimming day 😍.

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    I love this balcony

    February 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Today it’s my turn to cook. So today it’s baked cauliflower with baked potatoes.

    I already knew the two huge rosemary bushes, but the laurel is so big that I had overlooked it until now 🤣.

    Now everything is in the oven and now I have to sit on the balcony and wait for the food to be ready - watching the colors changing - poor me 🤪.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Fishermen in Licata

    February 5, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today we looked for the fishing port in Licata.

    I already knew the marina ⛵ and the industrial harbor ⛴️ too. I had been wondering where the fishermen dock and today I found the fishing 🎣🐟 port.

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Olive trees

    February 7, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    The olive trees have been cut.

    Of course, all of the material can be put to good use here. The chipper isn't exactly a hit, but it's better than nothing.

    Now it's definitely time to mulch again.

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Pasticceria Siciliana

    February 8, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    I discovered a great pasticceria.

    Of course we had to eat our way through the offerings 🤪 and now we know which ones we like best.

    I will definitely come back, at least shortly before departure, to pack an adequate amount of food for Germany 😋.Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Arrancini

    February 9, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    I found really delicious arrancini. They were extremely fresh and especially the ones with spinach were very tasty. I've eaten arrancini many times and there were a lot of them that didn't taste particularly good, but I can highly recommend this one from the Rusticante Panineria in Butera.

    Arancini, also arancine, are rice balls that are stuffed, coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. They are a staple of Sicilian cuisine. The most common arancini fillings are: al ragù or al sugo, filled with ragù (meat or mince, slow-cooked at low temperature with tomato sauce and spices), mozzarella or caciocavallo cheese, and often peas, and al burro or ô burru, filled with ham and mozzarella or besciamella.

    A number of regional variants exist which differ in their fillings and shape. Arancini al ragù produced in eastern Sicily particularly cities such as Catania & Messina have a conical shape inspired by the volcano Etna.

    They are said to have originated in 10th-century Sicily, at a time when the island was under Arab rule. Its origins may therefore be possibly the same as Levantine kibbeh.

    In the cities of Palermo, Siracusa, and Trapani in Sicily, arancini are a traditional food for the feast of Santa Lucia on 13 December, when bread and pasta are not eaten. This commemorates the arrival of a grain supply ship on Santa Lucia's day in 1646, relieving a severe famine.

    Today, with the increasing popularity of this finger food in modern Italian food culture, arancini are found all year round at most Sicilian food outlets, particularly in Palermo, Messina and Catania. The dish was traditionally created to provide a full meal to Federico II di Svevia during his hunting activities.

    So it you are around, try theses ones!    Read more

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