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Showing posts with label Messina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Messina. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Shopping in Sicily

Sicilian Cart parade!Image by lemmingsolution via Flickr

By James Iozia


Opportunities for shopping in Sicily are nearly endless. From Palermo's famous craftwork to fine petit point in Taormina and everything in between, you can easily spend days browsing unique stores in Sicily.
If you're from the US, be aware that most of the stores in Sicily are closed daily between 1 and 4pm. They reopen after 4, but most are closed again by 8pm. This is especially true of the family owned shops. Here are a few things to consider bringing home with you.
Ceramics
When you are shopping in Sicily, you will notice a variety of ceramics to choose from. Sicily is one of the leaders in the Italian ceramics market. Important factories are located on the northern coast, between Messina and Cefalu. Colorful "folk" pieces can still be purchased at bargain prices.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Sicily Weather is Perfect For Vacationing, Almost Any Time of the Year

Mount Etna (Sicily) viewed from the Greek amph...Image via Wikipedia
By James Iozia


If you are planning a Sicily vacation, you may be interested in the common Sicily weather. The island enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, although there is snow on Mount Etna in the wintertime. It is much cooler in the wintertime in the northern mountains, but the mean temperature across the island ranges from 50 (F) in the winter to 84 in the summer.
The Mediterranean climate is similar to the climate that prevails in much of Southern California and parts of southwestern Australia. This type of climate allows the land to recover quickly from floods and fires.
The growing season is especially long and is one of the reasons that Sicily has been referred to as "God's kitchen". The abundance of foodstuff that grows on the island is incredible. No Sicily vacation would be complete without sampling the cuisine.

Friday, February 25, 2011

The 5 Best Beaches on Sicily

Giardini Naxos, Sicily at sunriseImage via Wikipedia
Author: Rodney Ritchie

Sicily's beaches are renowned as some of Italy's best, with transparent blue-green waters, long sandy beaches and nearby picturesque villages. While everyone has his own opinion about which beach should make the top five, here are five of the most popular and possibly the best Sicily has to offer, and certainly worth a visit on your holiday.


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

10 Fun Things to Do in Sicily, Italy

Tempio di Giunone (Temple de Junon), Agrigento...Image via Wikipedia

By Orson Johnson

Everyone thinks of the Mafia when they think of Sicily. What does one do for fun in the region that was home to the most powerful families of their time?
1. Visit the archaeological sites. Sicily is steeped in ancient history and has several ruins and monuments worth visiting. The Valley of the Temples, which dates back to the Grecian era, can be found in the city of Agrigento. Byzantine-Christian cemeteries from the 4th and 5th centuries are found here too. Visitors to Sicily must also take a look at the Greek amphitheater in Taormina.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The town of Messina - Sicily

Porta Grazia (Domenico Biundo and Antonio Amato)Image via Wikipedia
Author: Daniele Davide


Messina is a town in Sicily called "door of Sicily" and once Zancle and Messana. Located near the extreme northeast of Sicily (Capo Peloro) on the Strait that bears her name. The city has 243,030 inhabitants and is the third of the Sicilian cities, as well as the thirteenth Italian town by population. Its port is the first in Italy for number of passengers and sixth for cruise traffic. Ancient and illustrious city, Messina has had a destructive and tragic story like few others, which deleted the greatness achieved in the late Middle Ages