Living in Sicily

"Si bedda commu u suli. A ma vita fussi vacanti senza ri tia!"

Tag: Normans

Piazza Armerina – World’s richest mosaics & Old town in the Norman footsteps

By

On August 30, 2023

In Piazza Armerina (EN)

I have made a new video about Piazza Armerina, but YouTube share link does not work to share it here this time. So just klick here, or copy and paste this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_xAI8-EANM

Here visiting Piazza Armerina with 20,000 inhabitants and famous for the Roman mosaic villa, Villa Romana del Casale. Largest, richest and most varied mosaic collection in the world covering 3500 m2. Also visiting the old town sadly many skip to visit. Very up and down hills, but with very interesting history specially for us Normans as Piazza Armerina was developed by Normans.

Caltagirone – The colourful Arabian “pot castle”

By

On March 7, 2023

In Caltagirone (CT) - Keramikstaden

Caltagirone is famous for its ceramic and if you are going to buy original Sicilian ceramic, it has to be signed Caltagirone. Filled with Sicilian baroque, but has arabian origins with town name qal at-ghiran, meaning “The pot castle”.

Highlight is of course Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte. Filled with ceramic stories from all eras passing this area. 142 steps takes you to a wonderful view. Main reason I stopped here was to visit my favourite Ragu restaurant, but it was closed for vacation. So I get a new chance to pass by again!

Monreale – Golden stories on the walls, in the Norman footsteps

By

On February 18, 2023

In Monreale (PA) - Gold Cathedral

The highlight in Monreale is the main church, Cappella del Duomo di Monreale. Built as a political statement and artistic show off, and is the most important Norman architectual monument in Sicily as it represent the whole Norman kingdom. 6340 m2 of mosaics to follow stories from the old and new testament. Built by William II.

Palermo tour part 2 – Mosaics & Markets, strolling in Norman footsteps

By

On December 25, 2022

In Palermo (PA)

This tour takes us to one of the most important places for us Normans, the Norman Palace with Cappella Palatina. After that random strolling in Palermo excluding the old markets as honestly they are not like before, but found a very nice food market close to the courthouse where I eat the classical Sicilian Anellini pasta on Sunday.

This walking tour goes: Porta Nuova – Palazzo Dei Normanni with Cappella Palatina and Giardini Reali – Porta Felice – Market – Courthouse – Market

Palermo tour part 1 – From the ground to roof tops in the Norman steps

By

On December 8, 2022

In Palermo (PA)

The day in Palermo was sun, clouds, rain and colors shifting like the rest of Sicily. Due to own Norman DNA I followed most in the Norman footsteps, but also many other important sites to see. Walking as follows:Politeama, Teatro Massimo, Quattro Canti, Fontana Pretoria and Palermo Cathedral.

Palermo city central is closed to traffic or has very limited traffic, so it has become a delight to just stroll around different sites to see with wine and food paus spots in every corner and street. Part two coming soon!

Caccamo – The famous medieval castle & stunning views

By

On November 1, 2022

In Caccamo (PA)

Caccamo is located quite close to Palermo. A small town with a very famous Medieval castle built 12th century and the main attraction. The castle is one of the largest and most well preserved Norman castles in Italy and was bought by the Region of Sicily 1963. By that time it was in ruins and restoration works started 1974. Caccamo offers stunning views and a perfect location to arrive before sunset for a nice dinner.

Svenska

Caccamo ligger ganska nära Palermo. En liten stad med ett mycket känt medeltida slott byggt på 1100-talet som är huvudattraktionen. Slottet är ett av de största och mest välbevarade normandiska slotten i Italien och köptes av Sicilianska regionen 1963. Vid den tiden låg det i ruiner och restaureringsarbeten påbörjades 1974. Caccamo erbjuder fantastisk utsikt och ett perfekt läge att anlända före solnedgången för en trevlig middag.

The Cathedral of Palermo

By

On September 17, 2020

In Palermo (PA), Sicily

Built in 1184 by the Normans to become a Christian church. I like to leave the sound on to hear the local atmosphere with voices, traffic and other sounds.

Follow Living In Sicily on Youtube where I will post videos from Sicily. Do note I am building the channel, have to e.g. photograph a new header. 🙂

Svenska

Byggdes 1184 av Normannerna för att bli en kristen kyrka. Jag vill lämna ljudet på för att höra den lokala atmosfären med röster, trafik och andra ljud.

Följ Living In Sicily på Youtube där jag kommer att lägga upp videon från Sicilien. Observera att jag bygger kanalen, måste bl.a.fotografera en ny header bild. 🙂

The Castle of Calatabiano

By

On January 3, 2019

In Living in Sicily, Sicily

The Castle of Calatabiano is a must visit if you are in Taormina area. It is just couple of minutes from Giardini-Naxos. You can also bike here the countryside roads. The castle has most remains from Arab-Norman era on top of a hill of 220 m.a.s.l. The castle has been in so many owners hand so no one can exactly say when it was built. What is known is that the castle got destroyed in the beginning or year 800 when Arabs conquered Sicily and was destroyed again during the worst earthquake in Sicily’s history, 1693. There are signs from the Greek era with the arch, a small temple and terracotta vases. The Romans has left bricks. What is interesting for us Scandinavians is that a Viking guard grave has also been found here and signs of Swedish domination.

The owner today is the Acireale’s church and thank to them this site was restored. Today you can visit the castle with a cable car. They have a nice bar, the present management organizes events like wine tasting and dinners. 23 st July 2009 the castle opened to the public. The view from here is spectacular.? — More photos after the Swedish text —

Svenska

Slottet i Calatabiano ?r ett m?ste om du ?r i Taormina-omr?det. Det ligger bara n?gra minuter fr?n Giardini-Naxos. Du kan ocks? cykla hit p? landsbygdsv?garna. Slottet har mest sp?r fr?n den arabisk-normankiska eran, ligger p? toppen av en kulle 220 m.?.h. Slottet har varit i s? m?nga ?gares hand att ingen kan exakt s?ga n?r den byggdes. Det som ?r k?nt ?r att slottet blev f?rst?rt i b?rjan av ?r 800 n?r araberna er?vrade Sicilien och f?rst?rdes igen under den v?rsta jordb?vningen i Siciliens historia 1693. Det finns tecken fr?n den grekiska eran med b?ge, ett litet tempel och terrakottavaser . Romarna har l?mnat tegelstenar. Vad som ?r intressant f?r oss skandinaver ?r att en Vikingvaktgrav ocks? har hittats h?r och tecken p? svensk dominans.

?garen idag ?r Acireales kyrka och tack vare dem restaurerades denna plats. Idag kan du bes?ka slottet med en linbana. De har en trevlig bar, den nuvarande ledningen organiserar evenemang som t.ex. vinprovning och middagar. 23 juli 2009 ?ppnades slottet f?r allm?nheten. Utsikten h?rifr?n ?r spektakul?r.

Erice – Medieval Mountaintown

By

On September 8, 2013

In Erice (TR)

Erice is famous of its churches and the unique location. It lays just by Trapani and is a perfect place to visit for a half day walk. The view to all weather directions is amazing! best is to visit afternoon to see the breathtaking sunset over the island in the mediterranean sea. I highly recommend not to eat on the mainstreet, felt ashamed to see the prices they charge for very bad food. Try to find a smaller bar on other streets or eat when you leave Erice.

Svenska

Erice ?r k?nd f?r sina kyrkor och den unika platsen. Den ligger just vid Trapani och ?r en perfekt plats att bes?ka f?r en halvdags promenad. Vyn i all v?derriktningar ?r fantastisk! B?st att bes?ka eftermiddag f?r att se den hisnande solnedg?ngen ?ver ?arna i Medelhavet. Rekommenderar inte att ?ta p? huvudgatan, sk?mdes f?r att se priserna de tar f?r mycket d?lig mat. F?rs?k att hitta en mindre bar p? andra gator eller ?ta n?r du l?mnar Erice.
AUGUST 067AUGUST 069AUGUST 079

AUGUST 073AUGUST 068

AUGUST 080 AUGUST 082

AUGUST 081 AUGUST 087

Monreale Cathedral: ArabNorman Gold Art

By

On August 19, 2013

In Monreale (PA) - Gold Cathedral

The Cathedral in Monreale is the one and only must see cathedral in Sicily. It is made by a Norman king, Vilhelm II and is filled with arab-norman art.The mosaic is made of gold and on the walls telling stories from the bible, as you can see on the 11th photo there is made the story of Noah and his Ark. On picture 3 you see several arab inspired valvs and colomns where each one tells a story from the bible.
————————————-
Svenska
Katedralen i Monreale ?r den enda m?ste se katedralen p? Sicilien. Den ?r gjord av en normandisk kung, Vilhelm II och ?r fylld med arabisk-normandisk konst. Mosaiken ?r gjord av guld och p? v?ggarna ber?ttas historier fr?n bibeln, som ni kan se p? det 11:e fotot d?r det ber?ttas om Noa och hans Ark. P? bild 3 ser du flera arabisk inspirerade valv och kolonner d?r var och en ber?ttar en historia fr?n bibeln.

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén

Free Google Page Rank