ESTHER MESSINA is an author of short stories. She is also a wonderful poet. We met in Sant'Alessio on the beach a few years ago. This is the photo which we made in the hilltop town of FORZA D'AGRO which she used for her cover. I am honored.

Below: I met these men outside a bar in the western Sicilian town of Salemi several years back. They must have sensed my desire to photograph them so these two gentlemen snapped to attention with no prompting at all!

How easy did they make it !!!!!

NB  Sorry for repeating the post of Signora Sara but hey, no apologies as it is one of my very favorites !

  

I really enjoy photographing the essence of Sicilia which is its' people. The land and the food  would all be nothing without the generous, gentile, compassionate  people who have endured for centuries.

Above is Carmelina  from the restaurant ARCO ROSSO in LETOJANNI near Taormina..GO THERE !!  Si mangia benissimo !!!!!

Signora Sara was standing in the doorway of the church in SAVOCA where two very dear friends were married a few years back. I did not know at the time that this lovely well respected woman is the grandmother of the groom! It made me so happy to present Simone with this photograph.

If anyone will be in the New York City area on March 4,  2015, You will have an opportunity to see a wonderful mixed art show at CASA ITALIANA at 24 West 12th Street between 5th and 6th ave. The opening is from 6 to 8 pm and the show runs until April 17 inclusive (closed Saturdays or Sundays). I am part of a very gifted group called IAVANET   (Italian American Visual Artists Network) whose work will be presented in a show entitled PORTRAITS:BY HAND AND BY LENS featuring works by 10 of IAVANET'S artists. Light refreshments will be served.
j.angelozarba@gmail.com

THIS is Antonino Santoro and his daughter Chiara who live in Savoca , Sicilia.

Antonino operates a wonderful panificio or bakery here. From the central piazza, you just follow your nose and let the aroma lead you around the corner to VIA CHIESA MADRE 2. Chiara was sitting out front at a table with boxes of the most delicious biscotti one could find. Made with Mandorle  (almonds) and all natural ingredients, it's like the old LAYS potato chip commercial, "Bet you can't eat  (just) one"!

i love trains and along the eastern coast of Sicily is Giarre from where I was going to get the train to eventually get the Circumetna line so I could circumnavigate  Mungi beddu.
It started to rain so i figured, another day. Giarre is also famous for its' iron works

I first heard MICHELA MUSOLINO about  10 years ago in a little club called Satilla I believe somewhere in the 20's in NYC.
I was immediately captured by the supreme quality of her voice  made all so much more beautiful and poetic by the passion with which she performs Traditional Sicilian Folk Music.

She has performed in many places here and abroad and more can be learned about her by following her on Facebook or visiting the site which bears her name. Several years ago was i was in Selinunte Sicilia and I had the good fortune to have photographed her performing at a concert for the poet and song writer PINO VENEZIANO.

This past Tuesday (April15, 2014) she sang at the Opening of a new Sicilian restaurant  called Bella Gioia in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The music still resounds in my head.

SONGS OF  TRINACRIA ( A collection of Sicilian Folk Music) is her first CD and is available I believe from Amazon or from her directly.

NOTO is THE Baroque city in Sicily
A walk through the PORTA REALE begins a wonderful pedestrian experience as cars are generally prohibited. Noto is easily reachable by car which i suggest one has or rents since it allows one the freedom to explore in ways not possible otherwise.