Category Archives: Italy

Blog entries about Italy

Discovering Jewish Connections in Sardinia

Posted on May 19, 2019 by

Sardinia is an island famed for its unearthly beauty. Sardinia is second only to Sicily in its size among the Mediterranean islands. Like Sicily, Sardinia attracted numerous waves of invaders: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, the Italian city-states of Pisa … Continue reading →

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Book Event at Visible Voice Books

Posted on April 28, 2018 by

        Book Event at Visible Voice Books:   Irene Shaland and her new book  The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories    Saturday   May 19th 2018   7:30 PM  Limited seating.  Advance registrations strongly suggested. Call 216-961-0084 to register. … Continue reading →

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Lecture: Jewish Renaissance in Sicily and Sardinia

Posted on February 12, 2017 by

The infamous 1492 Edict of Expulsion of the Jews forced close to 500,000 people into exile from Sicily. Many had to leave their home country where they lived for centuries, but still many, with nowhere to go, were pressured into … Continue reading →

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New Ad for The Dao of Being Jewish Book

Posted on February 5, 2017 by
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The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories Released

Posted on January 18, 2016 by

New book of stories from Irene Shaland is now available in paperback. In The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories Irene Shaland presents a collective Jewish narrative from various parts of the globe. She takes the reader on a … Continue reading →

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Villa Romana Sicily – Must See for Italy History Buffs

Posted on February 11, 2015 by

Villa Romana del Casale located in Piazza Armerina in Sicilian heartland is not-to-be missed site for all history and art enthusiasts. Covered by layers of mud for 700 years, rediscovered in 1950, and reopened in 2003 after over forty years … Continue reading →

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Overlooked by visitors, Catania is a masterpiece of Sicilian Baroque

Posted on November 9, 2014 by

The third largest city of Sicily, a UNESCO-listed Catania lies in close proximity to the majestic mountain Etna. The city was always subject to the brooding moods of that volcano.  In the late 1600s, Mt. Etna struck twice: first drowning … Continue reading →

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Following the Steps of Tennessee Williams in Sicily: Taormina’s Casa Cuseni

Posted on October 28, 2014 by

I came across the name “Casa Cuseni” while reading about Tennessee Williams and his beloved partner, painter/poet Henry Faulkner, spending many happy months in Taormina while staying in Casa Cuseni. I knew then, without a doubt, that when we are … Continue reading →

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Best B&B in Palermo

Posted on October 22, 2014 by

I selected a B&B in Palermo called BB22 not only because of its high reputation and excellent reviews, but also because I wanted to support those who restore Palermian ancient palaces.  BB22, a hidden gem in the heart of historic … Continue reading →

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Sicily: Glorious Sicilian Food! And The Best Place in Palermo to Discover It

Posted on October 14, 2014 by

Sicily is not Italy, even though the island has been administratively part of that country since the 1860s. Likewise, Sicilian food is not Italian, though of course it has been influenced by the mainland cuisine.  Only in Sicily, a paradise … Continue reading →

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