Angels were created long ago, before the earth existed. When God created the earth, the angels began singing in applause. ​—Job 38:​4-7.

What is the purpose of angels and the extent of their powers? Angels serve as messengers of God (the word angel is derived from the Greek angelos meaning messenger). Angels can speak, sing, play musical instruments and dance but they are not omnipresent, omniscient or omnipotent and are not meant to be worshiped by us mortals.

Do angels have names and free will? The Bible only names the four Archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel. Other angels have names too, but they chose not to reveal them; all angels have the freedom to choose between right and wrong . . . those who chose wrong joined Lucifer who, in his rebellion, became the first fallen angel.

Do angels have feelings? Angels experience emotions such as joy and longing but do not marry; in western art they are depicted as ageless and often having a gender.

What about the baby angels? Those endearingly mischievous baby angels, known as putti or amorini — are actually quite old. Derived from pagan sources, they were originally members of Aphrodite’s train who conveyed messages of love to humans (why they always pop up around Valentine’s Day).  Renaissance artists such as Donatello and Raphael would breathe new life into them creating a new breed even more fetching and bacchanalian than their ancestors.

How many angels are there? The Bible does not state an exact number, but it attests to their vast number. In a vision the apostle John caught a glimpse of “hundreds of millions of angels.”

May this holiday season bring you good tidings, peace, joy and light!

Buon Natale, Felice Hanukkah e Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

That Italy is timeless almost goes without saying. But what exactly is timelessness and why does Italy practically define it?

Timelessness transcends the past, present and future; it carries a sense of permanence. Timelessness is both a state of being and a state of mind.

Italy, more than any other country, has bequeathed the world a treasure trove of art and architecture with these very qualities.

And Mother Nature has bestowed some of her most glorious gifts on this little boot-shaped peninsula that is barely the size of Arizona.

Less poetically, Italy possesses a human culture and natural allures with no expiration date

But more than this, Italy possesses a special alchemy that has attracted dreamers and travelers alike for centuries.

I sense it most in the quiet . . . a paradox since Italians are the most expressive and exuberant of people. They’re people who just seem to know how to live.

Including, most especially, how to revel in the joy and wonder of small things.

And what could be more timeless than wonder!

For millennia, Sicily has called to us like a siren. It is an island like no other, one of legends and myths. Conjuring both monsters and maidens, Sicily has served as the backdrop to many of the classic stories of antiquity.

On his epic ten-year voyage home from the Trojan War, Odysseus came to Sicily and was kidnapped by Polyphemus the Cyclops, who he blinded in order to escape. From Cyclops’ lair, Odysseus circled Sicily, passing between the clutches of Scylla, a man-eating monster that lived in a cliff-side cave (and who grabbed and gobbled up a few of his crew members), and the whirlpool of Charybdis, thought to be the Straits of Messina.

Today’s Postcards from the Boot will circumnavigate the island, stopping at some of my favorite beaches and coastal towns.
We begin our journey on the northwestern coast in seaside town of Cefalù with its magnificent Norman style cathedral decorated with Byzantine mosaics.
Heading south is the charming harbor town of Castellammare del Golfo, the picturesque village of Scopello, known for its ancient tonnara (tuna fishery), and Zingaro Nature Reserve, a gorgeous protected coastal area with many walking trails.

Perched high above the sea is the medieval town of Erice where you’ll discover the remains of a Norman fort and the Chiesa Matrice (Mother Church) which incorporates elaborate Islamic decorative motifs.

Just south of Erice is one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in the world: the Salt Flats of Trapani and Paceco. They extend to the salt pans of Marsala and the island of Mozia, once an important Phoenician settlement.

Built upon cliffs that rise dramatically from its bustling port, the town of Sciacca offers stunning views of the sea.

Founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., Agrigento became one of the leading cities in the Mediterranean world. Its extensive archeological area, the Valley of the Temples, boasts the world’s best preserved Greek temple and many other magnificent Doric remains that still lie intact under today’s fields and orchards.

Less than 10 miles from Agrigento is the Scala dei Turchi, a masterwork crafted by the sea and wind, and one of Sicily’s most impressive natural wonders.
Rounding the southern tip of the island and heading north we encounter Marzamemi, a small seaside village not far from the famous “baroque queen” of Noto. Marzamemi is deliciously colorful and a “must” if you are visiting eastern Sicily.

The great Roman scholar Cicero called Siracusa the “the greatest and most beautiful of all Grecian cities.” Today it still remains completely alluring, most especially its charming historical center, Ortigia, a small island at its tip.

Taormina was an unmissable stop of the Grand Tour, the cultural pilgrimage of nineteenth-century European aristocracy and a must-see for today’s travelers (especially if you enjoyed the series White Lotus). Its Greek theater, which regularly hosts performances, attests to the taste of the ancient Greeks in choosing scenic places to situate their buildings. From there you can see Mount Etna and on clear days you can even see the coast of Calabria. The view is simply breathtaking.

We have reached today’s last stop, the legendary Aeolians, a cluster of seven volcanic islands where Odysseus visited Aeolus, the god of the winds, who lived in a castle protected by a solid bronze wall on the island of Lipari. Residing on the Aeolian Island of Vulcano was Vulcan, the god of fire, responsible for making the weapons of the gods.

I hope you liked today’s “mini odyssey” and that you enjoy the fullness of summer.

Ciao for now e ci vediamo a Settembre (see you in September)!