Latest news with #Sicilian
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
The Renaissance of Sicilian villages drives tourism / Many visitors are experiencing rediscovered heritage
Visiting a 'borgo' entails activating a form of immersion with all five of the senses highly aroused: in a village perched on the Madonie Mountains or stretched out comfortably above the sea, one looks, tastes, touches, smells and, above all, one listens: voices from the earth and from water, community tales, ancestral sounds that can come to life in a chalk cave where stories of kings, ladies and ingenious inventors are told. The five senses, for sure, but one Sicilian village manages to go beyond that, and visitors know it, so much so that an increase in tourism - and not just in the traditional summer months - is tangible, with a rise of over 7 percent last year alone. It attracts people looking for flowery alleys, a family that sets a table for you with products that taste like home, a 'scattered hotel': a word for everyone, a tradition which is not lost in Sicilian villages: an all-round, 360-degree experience. In recent years, Sicily has confirmed its status as a region with strong growth in village tourism, where the focus is on small towns rich in history, art and authenticity. And the clearest evidence of this is in the Rai Il Borgo dei Borghi contest: this year's winner is the baroque historic hamlet of Militello Val di Catania, with 7,000 inhabitants, 21 churches and UNESCO recognition since 2002 along with the Val di Noto; it is the fifth triumph, since the Borgo dei Borghi crown had previously been taken home by Gangi (2014), Montalbano Elicona (2015), Sambuca di Sicilia (2016) and Petralia Soprana (2018). The victory has already had a tangible impact - the mayor of Militello, Giovanni Burtone speaks of a growing influx, 'a flood of visitors at spring weekends'. The Sicilian Region has used this success as a lever for sustainable and culturally aware tourism; but it is the entire Val di Noto -with Modica, Ragusa, Noto, and Caltagirone- that registered a 10 percent increase in overnight stays in extra-hotel facilities (b&b, inns, scattered accommodation) in 2024; and which grew by 15 percent between 2022 and 2025, thanks to demand increasingly oriented to the authentic experience. And there has also been continuous growth (+5%) for Montalbano Elicona (Messina) Borgo dei Borghi winner in 2015; about 40,000 overnight stays in Petralia Soprana (Palermo),which got the award in 2018, while Buccheri (Siracusa), although not winning, received the recognition of 'best culinary destination' in 2021 and its agritourism facilities increasing by over 20%. The villages are not only told by their stones, but also by their flavors: from Bronte pistachio PDO to Monti Iblei oil, PDO cheeses and Pat sweets, each product becomes a spark for an authentic experience. The Borghi dei Tesori network, which unites some 70 small municipalities in all nine Sicilian provinces in a single territorial regeneration project under the aegis of the Vie dei Tesori, one of the largest circuits to promote cultural and landscape heritage, amplifies the link between visits to cultural sites, food and wine tours, and meetings with local communities and artisans each year. The recipe is based in offering a focused but varied product: each itinerary (this year on spring holiday weekends) unfolds with churches, museums, ancient monasteries and traditions, small charming restaurants and artisan workshops. And young people are coming back: both the diverse community of digital nomads who choose places that offer a high quality of life (nature, affordable prices, good food, no metropolitan stress), combined with the possibility of working remotely; and many young people, initially forced to leave the region for study or work, have now decided to play the card of relaunching their family businesses, perhaps with a Third Millennium outlook; driving new investments and boosting local economies, thanks also to regional incentives.
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Free ice cream at Hamilton Equi's to celebrate awards success
Customers can sample three flavours including the highly-rated hazelnut brittle on August 2 at the Burnbank Road parlour Customers at Equi's in Hamilton can enjoy a taste of success on Friday, August 2 – as the ice cream producer gives away free scoops of its latest award-winning flavours. The century-old local firm is marking its latest success at the prestigious Great Taste awards by giving away exclusive samples of its specially-created hazelnut brittle, pistachio & Sicilian orange and Parma custard & vanilla croquant flavours. All three were among the company's magnificent seven winners in the food industry honours; with hazelnut brittle earning the leading accolade of three stars to give Equi's their best result in the awards for six years and their first three-star top prize since 2017. Now customers at the Equi's ice cream parlour on Burnbank Road can try one of the flavours in Friday's free giveaway as staff celebrate earning a grand total of 11 stars for seven different products at the awards, which are organised by the Guild of Fine Food and judged by more than 500 food and drink experts. Earning the coveted top award, hazelnut brittle was described as 'a really special gelato that is skilfully made', with impressed judges adding: 'The only thing we'd change is that we wanted more!' The three-star accolade 'places it in the top 1.5% per cent of more than 14,000 entries' to the annual industry contest, and means it now qualifies as an entrant for the prestigious Golden Fork awards. It will be on offer at the Hamilton shop this week alongside pistachio and Sicilian orange which earned two stars, and Parma custard & vanilla croquant which earned one. Equi's also earned a star each for their strawberry cheesecake, classic double cream and pistachio & balsamic fig flavours; plus the two-star award for their pistachio swirl gelato in what was their 10th successive year of taking part in the Great Taste awards. Chief executive David Equi said: 'To receive 11 stars this year, our best result since 2019, is a proud moment for the whole team, but the three-star award for our hazelnut brittle is the real cherry on top. 'It's the kind of recognition that reflects our relentless pursuit of flavour and craftsmanship, and we're thrilled to see it going forward to the Golden Forks.' Equi's – which was founded in Hamilton and now has its factory and headquarters in Rutherglen – has now earned a total of 80 stars since first entering the Great Taste competition. The company's latest accolades follow a successful 2024 which saw them win two titles at the Royal Highland show, launch new branding featuring Michelangelo's famous sculpture David wearing a Glasgow-inspired ice-cream cone hat, and launch several new flavours including a limited-edition Taylor Swift special to celebrate the Eras tour arriving in Scotland. * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
LeMonde
18 hours ago
- LeMonde
Mount Etna: Sicily's protective, thunderous mother
In the eyes of those living around Etna, there seems to be a mix of fear and affection for their environment. In northeastern Sicily, Europe's highest and most active volcano has every reason to inspire fear. Since the beginning of 2025, it has already erupted four times – in February, April, May and again at the start of June – spewing columns of dark smoke kilometers high into the Sicilian sky. In the villages scattered along its slopes, people nurture "an extraordinary love" for the volcano, as Emanuele Occhipinti shows through his "A'Muntagna" project, carried out between 2018 and 2023 and now the subject of a book nearing completion. "People see Etna as a living entity, like a mother who protects them, whom they gaze upon affectionately. A mother who can also be stern and threatening, but who does not prevent either the young or the old from seeing themselves as her children," said the 46-year-old photographer, himself a native of Sicily. 'The fertility of its land' Through a house window, one glimpses a frightened girl standing before a stable; the closed face of a farm boy, sitting with the door open at the front of a car, lost in the fog; the watchful eye of a shepherd; in a church, nuns reciting the rosary as if to ward off the elements and seek the Lord's protection. But the photos also capture the lightness of daily life: a card game at the local bar, or portraits radiating serenity.
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Crocodile that terrorised town for three days turned out to be an inflatable toy
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video An Italian town has been left red-faced after a crocodile floating in its river turned out to be an inflatable toy. Police and animal control officers brought in drones to track down the reptile as it floated in the Sanguinara river near Ladispoli. Pictures and videos of the toy were shared around the town and on social media, although nobody seemed to pick up on the fact that the croc was always in an identical pose and never seen moving. The search went on for about three days – until the crocodile was finally revealed to simply be an inflatable toy. One woman who spoke to local media said the crocodile was a 'toy we leave here for other children to play with', adding a 'large dinosaur' toy had also been left in the same area. Now the town's authorities are threatening legal action for 'causing alarm' – but it's not known who they will direct the complaint against. Earlier this week the town's mayor, Alessandro Grando, issued a press release warning residents to be careful. In an updated statement shared on Facebook last night he admitted the incident had been a 'false alarm'. Mr Grando said: 'After the necessary checks that have been carried out, we can finally confirm that there are no dangerous reptiles in the Sanguinara River. 'Although it was an unlikely circumstance, the competent authorities carried out all necessary checks to exclude any potential risk to the public. More Trending 'Following investigations, the following emerged: a citizen of Ladispoli declared that she had placed a toy in the playground adjacent to the waterway, matching the photos that have been circulating in recent days, which someone had deliberately placed in the river, causing the chaos that ensued. 'This is reckless behavior that we will pursue with a complaint against unknown persons for causing alarm. 'With this communication, we can finally put this matter to rest, reassuring everyone that there is no risk and that it was just a joke in terrible taste. 'We thank the police, volunteers, and all citizens for their cooperation and patience.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Sister of Sicilian mafia's 'last godfather' freed from prison MORE: Girl, 3, unaware 7ft constrictor snake was slithering in her bedroom while she played MORE: World's best pizza chef reveals 'horrendous' ingredient he'll never use
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
Best Pistachio Butters: Walmart Vs. Premium Spread
Pistachio butter is having its moment in the culinary spotlight. It's rich, nutty, and has been popping up everywhere lately, from gourmet grocery stores to TikTok. I'm a devout pistachio fan, but some of the jars I've seen online go for $15 or more, which feels a little wild for something I'm spreading on my morning toast. So, I was curious when I spotted Bettergoods Pistachio Butter at Walmart for around $6. It's part of their new private label line aimed at trendier, premium-style ingredients but with budget-friendly prices. To see how it stacks up, I tried it side by side with a jar of Il Colle Del Gusto Pistachio Spread, which goes for close to $17. I tasted both straight from the spoon and on a mini croissant from Trader Joe's. While they're both pistachio-forward, they turned out to be totally different in style, which surprised me more than I expected. Here's a quick ingredient breakdown for each pistachio butter:Walmart — pistachio, sugar, vegetable oils and fats (sunflower oil, coconut fat, cocoa fat), nonfat dry milk, whey, sunflower lecithin, extra virgin olive oil, natural and artificial flavoringIl Colle Del Gusto — Sicilian pistachios, sugar, extra virgin olive oil, rice flour, sunflower lecithin as emulsifier First up: Walmart Bettergoods Pistachio Butter Price: Around $5 (check your local store)Size: 6.7 ounces The texture instantly stood out. It's fluffy and semi-whipped, almost like pistachio frosting. It spreads beautifully, holds its shape, and could easily go in a piping bag. (Think: soft holiday sugar cookies à la Lofthouse style.) It would also be delightful to spread on top of brownies, too. Flavor-wise, it's on the sweeter side (there are 16 grams of sugar per 34-gram serving), and there's a faint aftertaste that feels a little artificial. The ingredients list confirms it includes artificial flavoring, which makes it seem less 'pure' than the others. It's still tasty, it just doesn't necessarily scream 'pure pistachio.' But if you're into dessert-y spreads and don't mind the artificial add-ins, this one delivers as a playful, budget-friendly option. Here are my final thoughts: Want to cook recipes in step-by-step mode right from your phone? Download the free Tasty app right now. Next up: Il Colle Del Gusto Pistachio Spread Price: Around $17Size: 8.1 ounces Il Colle Del Gusto is on the other end of the texture spectrum. It has a visible layer of extra-virgin olive oil on top when you first open the jar, so a good stir is required. Once mixed, though, it becomes smooth and drizzly, much more like a traditional nut butter. The flavor is richer and more pistachio-forward, a bit less sweet (this one has 38 grams of sugar per 100-gram serving, so less than Walmart's) and more roasty and earthy. It felt closer to what I'd expect if I ground up pistachios myself. It's not a candidate for piping, and it might run off your toast if you're not careful, but I could see it working really well in smoothies or drizzled over gelato. One review said they used it as a cheesecake glaze, and another said they blend it into their espresso, both of which sound sublime. Here are my final thoughts: So, which pistachio butter is the winner? Honestly, it depends on what you're using it for. Want something spreadable for holiday baking or dessert-style snacking? Walmart's Bettergoods version is the way to go. The whipped texture is playful, though I could do without the overly sweet flavor and subtle artificial aftertaste. If you're after a pure, more pistachio-forward bite, I'd lean toward the Il Colle Del Gusto Pistachio Spread jar, even if it takes some extra stirring to get there. That said, both versions contain a bit more added sugar than I'd prefer, and as a big pistachio fan, I'm still holding out for a jar that lets the natural flavor of the nut really shine. If you're not quite as nutty for pistachios as I am, you'll probably enjoy either one (and might even prefer the sweeter, more budget-friendly option). At this point, the next logical step feels like making my own homemade batch for a comparison. Have you tried making your own? If you have any tips, send 'em my way before I dive in! For more pistachio-forward desserts, dinners, and more, download the free Tasty app to browse and save our favorite recipes — no subscription required.
