In the quiet of the rooms of Palazzo Abatellis, Sicily’s Regional Art Gallery, Palermo there are many paintings and sculptures depicting the sacred beauty of the Madonna and Child including: the 16th century Adoration of the Magi (no.1) from the School of Anversa; Antonello Gagini's radiant sculptures; and, the lovely Madonna and Child by the 15th century Maestro del Trittico di Alcamo (the triptych master of Alcamo) ( no.5).

To slip down to Cefalu, from the Madonie Mountains, is something I like to do when staying in Polizzi. And, early this summer visits to Cefalu were a nice way to welcome the Sicilian summer and enjoy some quiet rediscoverery of this medieval seaside town.

Mosaic splendour, souvenirs and suntanned tourists To walk the main street, Corso Ruggero, and the anticipation of seeing Cefalu’s 12th century Arab Norman cathedral, dazzling in the sun, sitting at the rear of Piazza del Duomo with the huge rocky outcrop, La Rocca, behind; to enter the cathedral's cool silence; to see the mosaic of Christ the Panocrator, ‘the most sublime representation of the redeemer in all Christian art’ (John Julius Norwich).