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Sicily 2024, Italy
  • Gina Steiner

Sicily 2024, Italy

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

    Cattedrale di Palermo

    February 24, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    The Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta (Most Holy Mary Assumed into Heaven) in Palermo is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Palermo of the Roman Catholic Church in the ecclesiastical region of Sicily. It is close to the Norman Palace.

    The current building was built in 1184/1185 in the Norman-Arabian style and underwent several renovations over the centuries. Due to its first construction period, it is also known as the Norman Cathedral.

    The cathedral is of particular importance for Germany as the graves of the Staufer emperors Henry VI, Frederick II and Queen Constance of Sicily are located there.

    Anyone who has the time and the entrance fee can visit the treasury. The entrance to the treasury is to the right of the Chapel of Saint Rosalia. Liturgical vestments in particular are exhibited in the treasury.

    The showpiece of the collection is a crown that was modeled on the crown of the Byzantine emperors (Kamelaukion). The side pendants (pendulums) are characteristic. Frederick II gave this crown to his wife, Constanze of Aragon, with her tomb.

    I didn't have enough time for it because the puppet theater on the other side of the road called 🤪.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Opera dei pupi teatro Argento

    February 24, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    The Opera dei pupi teatro Argento is a small theater of the Sicilian pupeteer tradition. It is owned by the Argento family, hosted in Palazzo Asmundo, in the heart of the historic center, opposite the Cathedral of Palermo.

    The Argento family, master puppeteers since 1893, has been disseminating the history and art of Sicilian Pupi for five generations. The last remaining artisans, in their theater you can observe the canvases painted by their ancestors.

    It is also possible to watch the making of the puppets in the laboratory located in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 445.

    The Sicilian Puppet Theater of the Argento Family, still today, stages the works of the paladins of France and many original shows, inspired by the tradition and stories of Sicily.

    We watched a performance this evening and it was very funny, the children jumped up and down to the drum beats.

    The patrone, whose grandfather and father ran the theater, briefly summarized the history of the theater before the performance began. He's probably 85 years old, but his voice and skill are still going strong.

    After the performance we were allowed to take a quick look behind the scenes. A truly rare experience, how great that this family business can survive 😍❤️.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Palermo at night

    February 24, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    😍

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Crema caffè

    February 25, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    In Italy, during the summer (and if you are lucky also in winter), traditional cafés (called bar) commonly serve an iced, creamy variant of espresso called crema caffè, crema fredda di caffè, caffè del nonno and so on.

    This requires a special spinning apparatus making it constantly creamy, without ice scales. It can be served straight or with panna ("milk cream").

    The one with panna... ohm nom nom... I love it! ❤️    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Ecologica bio shop & bistrò

    February 25, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Next to our apartment on the Piazza Fonderia there is an organic shop with a bistro. So far we've only bought a quick tea or something similar but today we sat there for breakfast.

    The bistro is owned by Gill De Gregorio and Marco Salemi, two long-time friends, in partnership since 2014.

    The hospitality is amazing and obviously the founding values ​​of their business. Everything is about ecology and sustainability and definitely feels authentic.

    The menu is based on organic and mainly vegetable ingredients, with a strong preference for Sicilian products where available.

    Every day they present a different dish of the day, with seasonal vegetables and legumes. They also offer a plant-based, gluten-free dish accompanied by rice or quinoa.

    It's different from the other places in Palermo. A real gem in Palermo! ❤️    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Back at my private beach 🏝️

    February 26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Yesterday evening we arrived back at Vela Vega so this morning I went straight into the sea for ice swimming 🌊☀️❤️🏊🏼‍♀️🥰

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Oasi, Osteria del Mare

    February 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    An osteria is a restaurant that mainly serves wine and small dishes. A lido is actually just a beach, but often describes a place at the beach that is equipped with loungers and parasols.

    This is a osteria with lido in Licata and I went there by accident when I strolled around. It was just before it opened up and I assume that in winter it will be more or less empty.

    Maybe I will go there once more this weekend but let's see...    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Caffuccino

    February 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    There aren't many cosmopolitan locations in Licata but this place has some of it.

    Of course the offering is Italian through and through but the presentation is very modern. Comfortable modern, not uncomfortable modern.

    Anyone who would like to switch from the old to the new tradition is well served here, because tradition is not about preserving the ashes, but about passing on the fire.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler
    2

    Castel Sant'Angelo

    February 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    There was a thunderstorm this afternoon, so the thunder rattled my windows heavily - it scared me. In any case, I didn't think it would be so nice towards evening, but the sky opened up and the sun came out at sunset.

    So after my work we drove to Licata to climb the mountain and look at the Castel Sant'Angelo. It was already closed but we were interested in the view. Great. Then do some shopping and go to the bar, well two bars. A successful evening!

    The castle stands on the extreme eastern offshoot of the Licata mountain, 130 meters above sea level and dominates the port to the south, the city and the plant to the north. Numerous archaeological remains are preserved all around (necropolis, sanctuaries, silos, roads, monumental tombs, living spaces, cisterns, etc.). The construction was begun in 1615 alongside a pre-existing quadrangular-based watchtower built between 1583 and 1585. The works were interrupted until 1636. The bastion was completed and inaugurated in 1640 and constitutes a rare example of baroque fortresses built in Sicily in the 17th century.

    The castle never suffered attacks of any kind, demilitarized, it was used as a telegraph pole, for state service, from 1849 to 1856. At the beginning of the 20th century a "traffic light" was installed there with a garrison of the Air Force, which it continued to function until 1965, the year in which the Castle was definitively abandoned. By decree of 8 July 1969, it was declared of particular artistic and historical interest.

    In the 1980s it was the subject of a restoration, managing to completely recover the architectural organism. Its located in the center of an archaeological area of interest, that is, in the center of the Hellenistic city which extends over the top of Monte Sant'Angelo.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler
    2

    Afterwork beach

    February 29, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    This is a real highlight here, to easily go to the beach within 5 minutes. I do that several times a working day. I just walk to the beach, have a look at the ocean and walk back. Just as a small break between the meetings. Today I had to visualize some stuff and I did that also on the beach. I will miss that.Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Good morning Sicily ☀️

    March 1, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Today I will drive to Agrigento over the weekend, they celebrate the almondblossom festival 🌸🌸🌸 there atm.

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Arrived in Agrigento

    March 1, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Our apartment here in Agrigento is wonderful! ❤️

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Analcolico

    March 1, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Analcolico are non-alcoholic bitter drinks that are often used for cocktails but can also be drunk straight. There are many different companies that offer analcolico, in all sorts of colors. Crodino or Chino, for example, are very tasty.

    So Chinotto is a anacolico and made from the juice of the chinotto fruit and other aromatic plant extracts. The dark drink is visually very similar to Cola, but tastes less sweet and significantly more bitter.

    The origin of the chinotto is unclear. It is certain that Chinotto was developed in Italy. The name, among other things, suggests this. A credible hypothesis is that the Neri company from Capranica (Viterbo province) developed the Chinotto in 1949 in order to build on the success of US cola varieties with an “Italian cola”.

    This is also indicated by the brand name “Chin8” used by Neri, who specifically sought references to pop culture (Italian 8 = otto). The claim that the drink was invented by the company Sanpellegrino back in 1932 is not substantiated by this manufacturer itself. Sanpellegrino himself claims to have started producing Chinotto in 1958.

    Today, various brands produce Chinotto: Sanpellegrino exports it all over the world through the distribution channels of the parent company Nestlé under the brand name Chinò, introduced in the 1980s.

    Also, Coca-Cola has launched its own Chinotto in Italy as Fanta Chinotto, a less bitter version. Chinotto is used as an ingredient in cocktails.

    Since 1952, Malta has been producing Kinnie, often considered the Maltese national drink, which is made from the same main ingredients as Chinotto.

    I love it ❤️!    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler
    2

    Good morning Agrigento

    March 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    I ❤️ this girly weekends 🥰.

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Valle dei Templi

    March 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Today we took the bus to the west entrance of the Valle dei Templi. There is also a hop-on-and-off bus in summer, but it doesn't run in winter. But the regular bus is completely sufficient. You can easily walk through the complex and take the bus back at the other end.

    But we hitchhiked to the sea afterwards.

    It's a really beautiful facility and at this time of year there is almost nobody there in the morning, only a few come around midday.

    The Valle dei Templi is an archaeological site in Agrigento. It is one of the most outstanding examples of ancient Greek art and architecture of Magna Graecia, and is one of the main attractions of Sicily. The term "valley" is a misnomer, the site being located on a ridge outside the town of Agrigento.

    Since 1997, the entire area has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The archaeological and landscape park of the Valle dei Templi, with its 1300 hectares, is the largest archaeological park in Europe and the Mediterranean basin.

    It's definitely worth a visit and costs 12.- entrance fee.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    San Leone - Luna Park Valle dei Templi

    March 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    After we were in the Valle dei Templi today we didn't feel like waiting an hour for the bus. So we hitchhiked to the sea.

    The Hungarian driver who took us didn't really know where he wanted to go, but I guided him around a bit and he seemed very confident.

    When we arrived at the sea in San Leone we found this Luna Park, it was closed. A really interesting atmosphere. We also spotted a bus stop for the return journey and thus secured our return journey before we got lost in the empty Luna Park.

    Strange what you find when you stumble and stroll around 🤪.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    AquaSelz

    March 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    As the day progressed it was time for a beach bar 🍹🍸. The service was very unfocused and sleepy and no one came out to order. I also had to help with the payment and took it into my own hands for a moment, so to speak. Heidrun was amused 😂.

    When we came out the bus was just leaving the stop without us, that's not possible, I thought to myself. I quickly ran to the street and jumped in front of the bus. Don't worry, he drove very slowly. The bus driver didn't really want to deviate from his bus stop routine, but of course he couldn't resist my charm 🤪. In short: we got the bus and Heidrun was amused 🤣.

    I would say it was a very funny and wonderful day!    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Pane & Pani

    March 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    This late afternoon we will head back to Vela Vega. There are no buses on Sundays to Palma di Montechiaro and it doesn't have a train station, so we actually wanted to hitchhike to Palma di Montechiaro.

    I'll tell you later, why we don't have a car and why we have to go to Palma di Montechiaro.

    But everything seems to turn out differently 🤪. So what?!? At lunchtime, as I was coming up the stairs from the train station, I saw two boys standing at the end of the stairs. One of them with HSV sticker and Adilettes. After detecting the untanned feet I quickly asked "Tedesco?"

    In short: After I told them our story (yes, that will come in another entry) they agreed to drive us to Palma di Montechiaro (27km) for gas money. How cool!

    Well, of course I needed food, which I found in a nice little bakery. They still bake everything themselves and the guys posed for us 🤩. Italy is wonderful ❤️!    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Scalinata degli Artisti

    March 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    At the end of Via Atenea you can find the Scalinata degli Artisti, the
    "Artists' Staircase". The colors and the invention were born from an idea of ​​the Agrigento non-profit association Culturart.

    In summer the staircase becomes a destination for emerging artists, with many initiatives.

    Since our apartment was in the middle of the old town, the stairs were just a stone's throw away. There is also a lot of street art to discover around the stairs.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Babà

    March 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The babà is a baked dessert made of leavened dough with brewer's yeast, soaked in rum, of French origin and which has become typical of Neapolitan pastry making.

    Babà is the derivation of a naturally leavened dessert originating from Poland (babka ponczowa) and other Slavic countries. Perfected by French chefs, it took the name of baba. He then saw his name transformed into "babbà" by Neapolitan pastry chefs.

    The recipe for rum baba in the typical modern mushroom shape dates back to 1835. It is owed to a descendant of the famous pastry chef Nicolas Stohrer, who arrived in Paris with Maria Leszczyńska, daughter of the Polish sovereign, who had wanted to bring her favorite pastry chef with her on the occasion of her wedding to Louis XV, King of France.

    Too sweet and too much taste of rum for me...    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Agrigento

    March 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The three of us got along so well last weekend in Palermo that we wanted to do it again and since I didn't know Agrigento yet, I wanted Agrigento as a destination.

    Agrigento is a city with approximately 55 thousand inhabitants located on the southern coast of Sicily, 4km from the sea.

    The city is located at an altitude of 213m on a rocky hill that slopes steeply to the east and north and slowly to the west and is surrounded by two rivers, which come together below the city, halfway to the sea.

    The urban area is divided into two halves by a deep valley, the northwestern part of which rises up to 328 m and the southeastern part up to 351 m above sea level.

    The site was probably occupied early on by a settlement of the Sikans, as the system of corridors carved deep into the rock is attributed to them. Additionally, a pre-Greek necropolis was found west of the city.

    Around the year 582 B.C. In the 4th century BC, emigrants from Gela and Rhodes built the city of Akragas here, which was later called Agrigentum in Roman times.

    When the Arabs conquered Agrigentum in 829 AD, only a village remained on the site of the ancient city on the northern hill of the ancient settlement, the former Acropolis. Under the name of Kerkent or Gergent, a Berber settlement arose there, which developed into a center of Muslim settlement in Sicily and competed with the Arab Palermo for dominance.

    In 1087 Gergent was conquered by the Normans. Roger II established a bishopric here. Gergent became a wealthy city through trade with North Africa and agriculture, among other things.

    With the expulsion of the Arabs by Frederick II, the city lost economic importance. Therefore, little was built in the following centuries. Under Spanish and Bourbon rule, Girgenti, as the city was now known, became a less important provincial town again. Only sacred architecture experienced an upswing from the 16th century onwards. In 1927 the city adopted the re-Latinized name Agrigento.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Luigi, Luigi...

    March 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Luigi is the name I gave to the Peugeot 🚗 that I borrowed from Martinello during my stay here. Luigi is a bit decrepit, one eye 👁️‍🗨️ is crossed, he limps 🦶 a bit in the front right (drive shaft or universal joint) and it seems like the radiator circuit thermostat is broken, because he is always cold ❄️.

    He therefore burns uncleanly and therefore smells 🦨 bad. Of course, this isn't exactly good for the lifespan of the engine either.

    I help Luigi where I can, so a great idea emerged: Covering half the cooler with a piece of cardboard 📜 helps him get up to operating temperature 🌡️ and then he feels much more comfortable 😊. With the thermostat-cardboard-substitute 🤪, regular checks of air 💨, water 💧 and oil 🪔 and, above all, continuous monitoring of the temperature 🌡️, he drives really happily 😊 and reliably.

    Or rather, drove. 😱

    On Friday on the way to Agrigento the engine got too warm 🔥 and even taking out the cardboard didn't help. I had the feeling he was losing coolant 💧 and that's how it was. I filled up 3l 💧 for the next 10km.

    Luckily, Diana found a repair 🛠️ shop as we drove past. We barely made it, the radiator was almost empty and the engine just below the red zone 🔴.

    Ignazio, the mechanic, said it just needs to be bled 💨. I really tried to convince him that the circuit was leaking. He was a bit annoyed by the German know-it-all woman 🤓.

    As life goes, the temperature 🌡️ didn't really go down. He was about to send us off again when Matteo, his son, intervened. I had worked on him too 🤣 that there must be a leak.

    He blew 🌬️ into the radiator and there you go... a pressure drop. Hush hush up on the lift and looking 👀 where it's dripping. Aha, let's remove the air filter to have a better view. Then he connected the pressure tester and THERE was the leak.

    Oh. Uh. Yes, a leak. Ignazio said that I'm definitely not good to go. Aha. See! He said that car 🚗 had to stay there. Aha hear hear 😂.

    Ignazio was embarrassed 😳. The German know-it-all woman 🤓 was right. He gave us a very good bottle of prosecco 🤪 and drove us to the bus to Agrigento. He also agreed to let us pick up the car on Sunday 😳. A guilty conscience can be a good thing 😉.

    On the way to the bus stop I tried to convince him on the thermostat 🌡️ thing. I had already tried that with Matteo - that the thermostat was also broken. You could have changed it in the same repair. But again no one believed the German know-it-all woman 🤓.

    Whatever, I'll just stick with the cardboard 📜, as long as I can drive at all.

    Today we picked up Luigi again. Since there are no buses on the route on Sundays and there is no train we needed another solution. Maybe hitchhiking? Spontaneously I had another idea 💥. I just "convinced" 🤪 two guys just under 30 on the street - you know me.

    In short: Flo and Valentin drove us 27km to the workshop for gas money and were extremely sweet ❤️. Ignazio also came promptly and was again remarkably friendly, really a bit too attentive 😂.

    Someone must have noticed when the motor was running that it wasn't getting up to operating temperature. Well, the thermostat was probably broken 🤣. Ignazio invited us to a coffee ☕ and handed me 3 liters of rosé wine 🍷.

    Well, well, the guilty conscience 😂. The German know-it-all woman 🤓 was probably right again 🤣.

    But that's no problem, I've already gotten used to my cardboard 📜 🤪.

    In any case, once again a great adventure with a good outcome and getting to know Flo and Valentin, as well as the beginning of a wonderful German-Italian mechanic-friendship (I will definitely drop by Ignazio when I’m here in Sicily once more, there is wine, coffee and prosecco 🤣).
    Life is truly wonderful! ❤️❤️❤️    Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler
    2

    Good morning working day

    March 4, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    I'm back from Agrigento and back to work. Since it's supposed to rain a bit this afternoon, I'm doing my first work shift on the beach, the data network here is great. If it feels warm enough, I'll jump into the water for a moment. Only one more week to go…Read more

  • Gina SteinerSicily 2024, ItalyTraveler

    Waves after the rainy day

    March 5, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Yesterday was a rainy day, real April weather. Rain, sun, clouds and wind, everything always changing.

    This morning the sea was very loud when I came out onto the terrace. Of course this is due to the wind direction but I could see the waves from the terrace.

    So had to enjoy my tea with the waves, Monday they will be gone.    Read more

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