Book Description

Visiting Sicily is stepping on a piece of real estate set by nature in the most desirable part of the Mediterranean Sea. During the frequent days of clear sky, the entire island of Sicily, the white Mount Etna, the mosaics of the Villa Romana, in Piazza Armerina, are among the oldest and most beautiful ancient mosaics in the world. Sicilian arts can be admired in the cathedrals of Montreal, Cefalu, Palermo, and Catania, among many other cities. The various castles of the Ventimiglia in a number of Sicilian towns, and particularly the sumptuous Castle of Castelbuono and the Castle of Enna, the picturesque castle of Pietraperzia, to name a few, are among the most outstanding works of architecture in the world. In each town and locality of Sicily are reminders of history, masterpieces of arts, and beauty of nature. Some towns have as many as a dozen of churches built during various periods, by Sicilians known throughout the world as Italians. In Petralia Soprana, my ancestors’ town, is the Church of Saint Peter and Paul, where, among other magnificent religious arts, is located the first exceptionally admirable wooden crucifix sculpted by the their native sculptor, Gian Francesco Pintorno, also known as Frate Umile. The church was found on the fourteenth century and contains archives with documents dated since its foundation. Thanks to the archpriest Don Calogero la Placa, I found there documents of my ancestors back to the year 1570. Churches like the Saint Peter and Paul of Petralia Soprana are awaiting to be discovered by the world’s tourists in most small and big towns of Sicily; and so are innumerable masterpieces of Sicilian archeology, architectures, arts, literature, folklore, and not to be forgotten, there awaiting are the hospitality and cuisine of the Sicilian people.