Teresa Di Fresco

December is a month filled with Christian religious festivals, celebrated with profound devotion on the island of Sicily. These festivities could be seen as precursors to Christmas, as the island tradition integrates them into a celebration that is not solely …

The archaeological discoveries in Sicily never cease to amaze, and Pantelleria, an island belonging to the province of Trapani, is no exception. It continues to unveil spaces of great interest to scholars, such as an area once designated for political assemblies. …

It all started with a dream. On her deathbed on May 26, 1624, Girolama Gatto dreamed of a maiden dressed in white who promised her healing if she would climb Mount Pellegrino to give thanks. Girolama honored the promise and climbed the mountain, …

Meeting Tommaso Romano is like stepping into a kind of fairy tale, and I can’t help but feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland when I visit him at his home and studio in Palermo. But it’s more than just a home …

In the Valley of the Gods—so named since the days when Agrigento was known by its ancient Greek moniker, Akragas—history and beauty come together in a sublime blend. This evocative name was bestowed by its Greek founders, who transformed the …

The tale of this hamlet, established around 1700 by the fathers of the Jesuit Novitiate of Palermo, could begin with “Once upon a time…”.  Having acquired agricultural lands near the territory of Partinico, a municipality in the province of the …

In the midst of the countless churches gracing the historic center of Palermo, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites, one cannot help but notice the one that occupies a prominent place at the Quattro Canti, or Piazza Vigliena. …

What if we momentarily forgot the history of the construction of Palermo’s Teatro Lirico Vittorio Emanuele, better known as Massimo, and instead let our imaginations run wild, playing detectives to unravel the enigma behind the inscription on the entrance pediment? Would two or …

Few may recall the precise date of May 11, 1860, a pivotal moment when Giuseppe Garibaldi and his Thousand landed at Marsala, in the Trapani province. This event marked the beginning of the end for the Kingdom of the Two …

In Italy, as we know, there’s a fondness for rivalries—be it between cities, flags, or neighborhoods. Among these, the Palio of Siena is undoubtedly the most renowned, not just in the Belpaese. However, numerous other events fill our streets and …