ANY ONE NEED A LAWYER?

Placard by a doorway ... very common to see these for all sorts of professions. 

MUSSOLINI HOUSES

A reminder of pre-WW2 -- this is one of the many Mussolini houses found on the plain of Catania. Mussolini promoted an ambious plan called "Battle for Grain" where families were to live on/near small plots of land in order to grow wheat and grains. The plots were generally too small for the large-scale production desired and the peasant relocation was never very successful. Italian law prohibits the removal or razing of buildings over 50 years old -- they are considered historical relics.

GASTRONOMIA

A small take-away restaurant, butcher and rotassarie chicken shop in Linguaglossa up on Mt. Etna...

CHANGING MY ADDRESS

In order to comply with the current rules of CitydayPhoto ... I am changing my address to belpassoandbeyond.blogspot.com .... hope to see you there.
Holly

HERE IS OUR BLESSED PALM

Palm Sunday, DH and I went over to Gangi to see the processions ... we really enjoyed it.  Each of the churches in Gangi ( and there are somewhere around 14 or 16 churches in a town that has less than 8000 residents) had a decorated palm standard in the procession accompanied by worshipers from its congregation.  Each standard included emblems associated with that specific church - so a knowledgeable  onlooker could determine which church was associated with each  standard.

Went along with tradition - bought a palm weaving from one of the vendors and had it blessed at the main cathedral... we have it displayed on the door to our living room.

FLAGS AT CALTANISSETTA CITY HALL

The flags of the European Union, Italy, Sicily (a province of Italy) and the town of Caltanissetta
(a town here on the island) all are proudly displayed from the balcony of Caltanissetta's city hall.

SPRING BLOSSOMS

Spring is here ... the blossoms are showing

SUNDIAL ON TOP OF MT ETNA

TODAY'S ANTIPASTO

Took my in-laws out for lunch ... here is our antipasto... cheese, salumi, olives, zuchini frittata and caponata (eggplant and peppers goulash) ...

ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL IN RAMACCA

Last weekend was the artichoke festival in Ramacca --- one of the local vendors

WW2 BATTLE AT DIRETTO

Plaque in honor of the battle at Diretto ... this is actually on the side of a family's home.  The husband was an infant living in this very home at the time of the battle ... and the family maintains the site.

CITY EMBLEM FOR THE TOWN OF GANGI

Found this on the main piazza of town ...

OVERLOOKING THE ROOFTOPS OF GANGI

IT'S ARTICHOKE SEASON!

Farmers and vendors are everywhere selling fresh artichokes grown within 25 miles of where I live... this guy has packed his truck full, even coming out of the top vent....probably all will be sold within just a couple hours of picking.  I love artichoke season.

FIGURINES ON HARNESS

Most of the carts and some of the harnesses are from the late 1800's ....

THE HARNESS

SICILIAN HORSE CART

Sicilian horse cart .... getting in line for a parade ....Mt. Etna in the background.

SICILIAN CART DETAIL

Close-up of a panel on a Sicilian cart - wonderfully painted horse carts with historical scenes and folkloric themes painted all over -- and I really do mean all over... wheel spokes, undercarriage, axles, seats, everything!

POLIZIA

Polizia checking on the computers in the back of the car ...