Musical relief

 
 


Detail of a column on what used to be the Guild building in Noto ....

I like the variety of instruments included ... violin, cymbals ... even Pan pipes...

though I do wonder what prompted the addition of the mask.

 

grocer's sign

 

This sign is probably 24-inches across and about 18-inches tall ...

created out of terra cotta ("baked earth" in Italian) and

is proudly mounted by the entrance to

"Deborah's Grocery" !

Love it!

 

sunny days ....

Love this café chair .... seems a shame that the sun is covered over while sitting...

watching the passers-by .... and enjoying an espresso .....

 

sumo wrestler ...

a sumo wrestler ...

 



Kabuki dancer

the Kabuki dancer design ...

 

Noto's flower festival

Noto, a city in Ragusa province, hosts a flower show every year in May.

This year's theme was "Japan".

One street in the historical section will have designs created using organic products...

these are a couple of this year's designs.

 

sure looks different ...

Found this staircase down in Ragusa province ~

the main stone found in southern Sicily is limestone ...

not the lava commonly found in Catania and Messina provinces where Mt Etna is located.

Many of the fields in Ragusa have limestone walls dividing them one from another

and the walls are made without any mortar ~ just stacked and held together by the stones shapes.

This method is called "secco" or "dry".

 

As far as the eye can see ...

lots of round hay bales, covering the hillsides of Ragusa province ....

yup... it's nearly summer time here in Sunny Sicilia.

 

Check out the SMART car!

Haven't seen this style before ... I think it's cool looking!

Wonder if DH would consider this for the two of us...

fantastic gates

Love the ironwork on these ...

 a secondary entrance to the Ceramic Institute in Caltigirone, 

famous for terracotta and ceramic products. 

It is located in the upper section of Caltigirone, near the Stairs of Saint Mary.

more Savoca

The patron saint for Savoca is Santa Lucia and the church where Apollonia and Micheal marry (in "The Godfather") is in honor of her.
This is the figurehead over the main entrance to the church ... one of areas that Santa Lucia offers protection is vision or blindness or dealings with eyes.  As you can see, she holds a pair of eyes in her hand.

Savoca and the Godfather

DH and I visited the village of Savoca a few days ago.  It really is a charming little village. 
"The Godfather" is DH's favorite movie.

Looking through the ancient city gate up to the cathedral where Appolonia and Michael marry.

huzzah

Dance troupe at local festival ... this was at Ramacca's Artichoke festival.

 

.... what's that again ?

A sandwich truck we saw at a recent festival ....

yup, it really does say "El Perro Caliente"  (Spanish for "The Hot Dog") .

Mostly it offers sausage sandwiches.

Restaurant sign

 

DH and I saw this sign outside a restaurant in the town of Enna.

Nicely laid out using silverware as the "I"s.

It says "Divine Flavours"