Sant'Agata procession in Catania.
02/Feb/2017 to 07/Feb/2017.
CLICK HERE for the Sicily post of February 2020
CLICK HERE for the Sicily post of February 2019
CLICK HERE for the Sicily post of February 2018
CLICK HERE for the Sicily post of February 2016
CLICK HERE for the Sicily post of February 2015
CLICK HERE to read more about the Sant'Agata procession in Catania
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Thursday 02/Feb/2017.
Home to Milan journey.
14:55-15:55 Meridiana 266 flight from Marseille to Milan-Linate, 1h.
(238€ for all four flights, Marseille-Milan-Catania, including the two return flights).
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| Marseille, fishermen stall at the "Vieux Port", today at noon, sunny, 14 degC (on my way to the airport I made a stop there for a visit to the the Indian embassy). |
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| Flight announcement for the Marseille-Milano flight. |
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| Milan weather... not so nice. Fog, smog, rain, wind, 6 degC. |
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| A welcome "Spritz" at the "Globe Bar". |
Friday 03/Feb/2017.
Fondazione Prada & Milan to Catania Journey.
17:40-19:25 Meridiana 229 flight from Milan-Linate to Catania, operated by Air Italy, 1h45.
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| Weather forecast for Catania. Mostly sunny and temperatures reaching 20 degC. |
Fondazione Prada (Milan).
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| The Haunted House. |
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| William Copley (1919-1996). |
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| William Copley (1919-1996). |
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| Edward and Nancy Kienholz exhibition. "76 J.C.s Led the Big Charade". |
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| The vintage bar. According to me, the finest place of the museum. |
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| Appearing in a funny cut 100 dollar note (original artwork: "Feel-Like-A-Hundred-Bucks", William Copley). |
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| Managed to wear a sexy thong in the museum (original artwork: "Mirrors", William Copley). |
Journey to Catania.
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| Gate announcement for the Milan-Catania flight with Meridiana. |
|---| Casa Lantana, San Gregorio di Catania, Italy, 55€/night/2p incl. breakfast.
Saturday 04/Feb/2017.
Catania.
06:00 AM Messa dell'Aurora in the Duomo.
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| An Intimate religious service, despite the early hour, and the overcrowded cathedral. |
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| At the end of the mass, a "Mass Hysteria" breaks out when the reliquary bust of Sant'Agata passes by. |
The Fiera (fruit and vegetable market).
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| Just 0.40€ for a kilogram of excellent Sicilian navel oranges ! |
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| Breakfast table at the B&B. |
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| Entrance to the Santonini at Palazzolo Acreide. http://travelguide.michelin.com/europe/italy/sicily/siracusa/palazzolo-acreide/santoni |
Catania.
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| View on the Piazza Duomo and over baroc Catania from the dome of the Badia di Sant'Agata church. The balcony overlooks the city over 360°, from the sea to the mountains. |
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| "Il Liotru", the back lava stone elephant, symbol of Catania. |
|---| Casa Lantana, San Gregorio di Catania, Italy, 55€/night/2p incl. breakfast.
Sunday 05/Feb/2017.
Catania.
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| Another good-to-eat breakfast item. |
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| Simeto Natural Reserve. |
17:00 - Sant'Agata Procession.
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| Shop display windows are decorated with pictures of the Saint. |
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| At sunset, people converge to the city center. One million people attend the event ! Procession streets are covered wit sawdust, to avoid the candle wax sticking to the street tiles. But even so, after cleaning, many accidents occur from slipping cars and scooters. |
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| The 12 candelore come first in the procession. |
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| Next, come the "devoti" carrying huge candles, some weight up to 60/80kg. |
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| It takes them hours to bravely await their slot in the procession. |
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| A very serious activity. |
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| With "Devoti" proudly showing their attributes. |
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| Then, several hours later slowly arrives the silver "Fercolo" with Sant'Agata's bust. The whole procession will last for 12 to 16 hours, taking the full night. |
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Here comes Sant'Agata. |
|---| Casa Lantana, San Gregorio di Catania, Italy, 55€/night/2p incl. breakfast.
Monday 06/Feb/2017.
Castiglione di Sicilia.
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| Castagno dei Cento Cavalli in Sant'Alfio, said to be 3000 to 4000 years old, with a 22m circumference. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castagno_dei_Cento_Cavalli |
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| View on Taormina as an eagle's nest on the Sicilian side (this side), and Calabria on the continental side of the street of Messina. |
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| Castiglione di Sicilia, where there is an excellent restaurant (Ristorante Sine Tempore). |
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| "Un buon caffè", to close the lunch. |
|---| Casa Lantana, San Gregorio di Catania, Italy, 55€/night/2p incl. breakfast.
Tuesday 07/Feb/2017.
Return journey.
09:30-11:20 Meridiana 220 flight from Catania to Milan-Linate, operated by Air Italy, 2h40.
CANCELED BY THE AIRLINE (40€ refund).
18:50-20:20 Brussels Airlines flight SN3150 from Milan-Linate to Brussels, 1h30.
21:05-22:50 Brussels Airlines flight SN3603 from Brussels to Marseille, 1h45 (169€ for those two extra flights).
|---| Home
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