Thursday, November 19, 2009

100 HORSE CHESTNUT TREE - SAN ALFIO




Last weekend, we went to see the 100 Horse Chestnut tree near San Alfio. It is believed to be the largest chestnut in all of Europe. The name comes from the traditional story that when Princess Giovanna of Aragon that during a sudden rainstorm the young Joanna (Giovanna) of Aragon, Queen of Naples, travelling with a mounted suite of around a hundred retainers and knights, sought shelter under the huge tree.

Joanna of Aragon was the second wife of King Ferdinand I ("Ferrante") of Naples and Sicily (1423-1494), who she wed in 1476. The royal dynasty of Aragon had ruled Sicily since the War of the Vespers in 1282, and by now the "Italian" branch also ruled (from Naples) the southern third of the Italian peninsula. King Ferrante's reign was characterised by, among other things, high taxes.





...the path up to the chestnut tree....



....Two different views of the 100 horse chestnut tree. It's huge! A fence has been put around the trees since people have cut off branches and have burned portions of it.....






... Some really pretty flowers under the tree -- they look more like spring flowers to me, strange to think that it is the middle of November ....



After leaving here, we went home to roast and eat some chestnuts we picked the weekend before on Etna.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

PRICKLY PEAR FESTIVAL IN MILITELLO


Looking out over the country-side while driving to the festival



..a cactus farm on the way to Mitello. Prickly pears have only been grown commercially in Sicily for the last 15-20 years. Lots of farms and homes have some plants growing near the edges of the property ... provides a traditional food for the table and also makes a good deterrent to discourage animals from escaping. The straight rows indicate that it is a farm....



..close up of a cactus farm ...


... prickly pears for sale ... the Sicilan name for them is "fico (or figli) de India" ... some are sweet, some are bland, lots of different types. They can be peeled and eaten fresh (seeds and all, and there are lots of small seeds in them), used to make a thick sweet (Mostardo) that is about the consistancy of the fig filling in a Fig Newton or made into candy....



--detail on apartment building balcony ....


A baker (his shop is through the door part way up the steps) offering freshly made sweets of locally grown figs, almonds, cactus pears ....



....side street ...


A square within the festival area ...


Carriage from the mid-1800's ....

Some wonderful bells in the city museum ...



Bell detail ....