In September/October 2016, I went with a group on a trip to Italy. We began on the western side of…read moreSicily in Palermo. As part of the tour, while in Sicily we went to Erice, a walled medieval town on a steep hill. There are many artisan businesses lining its wending, narrow, cobbled streets: no surprise, this is Italy, famed for art for hundreds of years. Spotting a courtyard fronted by a wrought iron fence and gate, we wandered up a short stone path into an open air showroom of ceramic art. Beyond the open air showroom was a small office/gallery (part of the magnificent old stone buildings of the town); they had more items on display there. There were many beautiful handmade items, from small to large. At one point the proprietor took a very large ceramic bowl that I was admiring off the wall for me so I could examine it closely. I was very nervous as two people, with great care, laid it down on a horizontal surface. This bowl was being used as wall art, but could also be used as a huge salad bowl for a large party. They indicated that shipping costs are included if I wanted to buy one of the larger, more expensive pieces. I have the business card, and it indicates that shipping to USA is included for purchases that are priced at 950 euros or more. I ended up buying a small, vibrantly colored porcelain tile of the sun coming up over a mountain town because it evoked Erice, and it was easy to take with me. This tile has quite a bit of red in it; I bought it for my kitchen, which is white with red accents (it hangs over my cheery red door). I checked the web today;the business appears to have been renamed since I went to Italy last year: Casa Altieri (which means pretty much the same thing as Maison Altieri). The website page http://www.casaaltieri.it/panoramica-maison-altieri-erice/236-sala-vendite-maison-altieri-erice.html has "Sala Vendite Maison Altieri Erice" in bold lettering. Also the address is slightly different - Via Cordici, 14 instead of Via Cordici, 11 listed on the business card. But from the website photos, it's clearly the same business. Maybe they had to renumber the street, just as some of our residences and businesses have had to be renumbered to make it easier for first responders. The email address (erix_maioliche@libero.it) is the same as on the business card that I have.

Fantastic selection of goods mostly made by a boyfriend/girlfriend team. There are some really…read morenice styles here, especially if you're into really interesting stones. The designs are elegantly simple, making for some very nice wearable jewelry that is less gaudy than most of the other shops we looked into. Also, if you're an instrument, there are a lot of stringed instruments (mostly guitars and ukuleles) made from recycled items like cigar boxes and wine boxes that are really cool.

Contemporary art is usually different. Unlike "modern" art, it's typically more current and can…read moresometimes be political. There wasn't that political stuff, which was nice. Paolo Madonia's art was definitely unique. He paints the pictures and then sets them on fire. I'm not kidding. The randomness of the fire scorches is art. I'm not sure what was going on with the upstairs level. I think the armoires are to be hung from the ceiling? Outside, the rock circle was interesting too. On a Sunday afternoon, I believe that I was the only person in the Museum. That was certainly nice. [Review 12845 overall, 160 of 2020.]

Gentle hike with beautiful views. I have asthma and was able to navigate easily. Plenty of posts…read morewith historical information about the landmark.

This castle was allegedly built by Roger the Norman around 1077 on pre-existing Greco-Roman-Arab…read morefortifications. The religious inscription ICNCRI dates to that period. It was also captured by geographer El Edrisi in the Twelfth Century. In 1789, the building was used as a prison. On May 14 1860, Garibaldi hoisted the tricolor flag and proclaimed Salemi "Capital of Italy" and the Garibaldi dictatorship. Damaged by the 1968 Belice earthquake, it was closed for 35 years for restoration and reopened in 2002. Full restoration completed in 2010. It is the highest point in the city. Today it is a museum and conferences are held here. When we arrived, a very nice gentleman who spoke no English (and I speak no Italian) let us in for a self-tour. Chairs were set up in the largest room for a conference and the rest was set up as an art gallery. Wonderful to look around and absolutely no handicapped accessible. [Review 12815 overall, 129 of 2020.]