Carnevale is in full swing all over Italy from Venice to Sicily - it began on February 15th and winds up on March 4th and during this feast of joy Italy puts on some energetic street parties full of masquerading, parading in fantastic costumes, liscio dancing (ballroom/folk dancing)  fun and intrigue.

I want to share some September periods from my times in Polizzi Generosa which capture the wonder of the three day festival of Polizzi’s patron saint and ‘protector’ San Gandolfo; a sacred festival yet one filled with fun.

It is a yearly celebration, 694 years old venerating a saint, who it is said protected the village from disasters and worked miracles. It centres around two dark and haunting processions, a life sized 18th century wooden statue with a gentle and kind expression, a splendid 16th century solid ‘reliquary’, animated acoustically perfect concerts held to crowds of thousands, some great street food and some uplifting sacred music.

As I make plans for spending extended time in Polizzi Generosa and travels in Sicily this year I am thinking of my stays in the seductive Ortigia. The tiny island of Ortigia is part of the 'unhurried' city of Siracusa on the blue Ionian Sea in Sicily’s South East and it captures my heart each time I stay.