A soft misty day in mid-2019, looking from the geranium filled front balcony of The Sicilian House (Palazzo Notar Nicchi) to Polizzi Generosa's main street, via Giuseppe Garibaldi, high in the Madonie mountains.

Left to Piazza Trinita

To wander down Polizzi’s narrow street (to the left of the photo below) via Garibaldi meanders past - small, old houses (some long abandoned), Café Da Vinci draped in greenery, narrow side streets, a small barbershop run by Mimmo, a hairdresser, the front door of a notary’s office,

a walled, charming garden of a stone freestanding townhouse, and a small 14th century church - before ending at the wide open piazza, Piazza Trinita- a belvedere- Polizzi’s ‘summer living room’ which is perfect for viewing sunsets, the majestic Madonie mountains, farmland and valleys below.

And there is a memorial to ‘the fallen’ which takes centre stage.

And right to Piazza Umberto 1

And walking from the right of the balcony (photo below) you pass one of Polizzi’s lovely old stone doorways, a pharmacy, tiny side streets, an archeological museum (filled with Greek artefacts from a dig close by), a striking church named after Saint Girolamo, a 17^th century stone building once a Jesuit monastery now the town hall, cafes, a handful of shops (some local artisans),

long flights of stone stairs to link the lower and upper streets of this medieval town and two small piazzas: one named after the Italian philosopher, Marxist politician and writer Antonio Gramsci and the other, named after one of Italy's kings, Umberto 1 (a reminder of the country’s long gone royals).

Piazza Umberto, lined with a few small shops, houses, and the village tourist office is where five narrow roads meet and it is often strung with festive lights during celebrations.

Like a film set in the distance

On a clear day, a part of the golden stone facade of Polizzi’s 'mother church', Santa Maria Maggiore - which looks like a film set on via Roma- can be seen from this front balcony.

It is in Santa Maria Maggiore that the very beautiful 15^th century Flemish triptych, attributed to Rogier van der Weyden, is found.

Polizzi, when fog rolls in, past balconies and tiled rooftops, is transporting.

Please note

The photos were taken by Maria Culletta who welcomes guests to the house. Due to the pandemic we are remaining closed until further notice.

I wish everyone all the very best in the coming months.

Salve

Suzanne