Page 45 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

SICIL Y THROUGH THE Y EAR  43

Average Daily Hours of Sunshine
Hours Hours Sunshine
12 10 Sicily has the highest
average hours of
8
9 sunshine in the whole
6 of Europe. As the
6 chart shows, the
4 sunniest period is from
3 May to September.
2 In the autumn and
winter months it can
0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec be cold and rainy.
costume of various tests of
courage on horseback, in
honour of the great Norman
king, Roger I.
Processione della Vara and
Cavalcata dei Giganti (15 Aug),
Messina. Gigantic statues
of the founders of Messina,
Mata and Grifone, are paraded
through the streets, followed
by a float bearing a huge,
elaborate triumphal cart and
tableau called the “Vara”.
Sagra della Mostarda (syruped
Taormina’s stunning Greek amphitheatre, a venue for cultural events in summer and candied fruit), Regalbuto
and Gagliano Castelferrato, Enna.
on the island, particularly St Joseph is honoured with a Sagra del Pane (bread) (last
inland but occasionally even procession of fishing boats Sun in Aug), Monterosso
in coastal areas. bearing the saint’s statue. Almo, Ragusa.
There is fried fish for everybody Sagra del Pomodoro
June in the main square. (tomatoes), Villalba, Caltanissetta.
Torneo Internazionale di Festa di San Giacomo (24 & A celebration dedicated to one
Tennis Challenger (early Jun), 25 Jul), Caltagirone. The town’s of the island’s most commonly
Caltanissetta. Brings together long ceramic stairway is and successfully grown
some of the best tennis talents decorated with lighted candles products, the tomato.
from around the world at the representing assorted figures Sagra del Grano (wheat),
Amadeo tennis club. and scenes. Raddusa, Caltanissetta.
Sagra delle Fragole e dei Frutti International Cinema, Music,
di Bosco (strawberries and fruits Theatre and Dance Festival
of the forest), Maletto sull’Etna, (Jul–Aug), Taormina. An impor-
Catania. This festival features a tant and popular inter national
market display of fruits and festival that forms part of the
berries, fruit products and Taormina Arte series of events.
tastings, as well as folklore,
drama and musical events. August
Taormina Arte (Jun–Sep). Sagra della Spiga (9–14 Aug),
Cultural events at the Greek Gangi, Palermo. An entire week
Theatre, with leading figures of parades and spectacles.
from the entertainment world. Festa dei Burgisi (9–14 Aug),
Gangi, Palermo. Festival
July dedicated to the goddess
Festa di Santa Rosalia (9–14 Jul), Demeter, symbolising man’s
Palermo. Six days of festivities labour and the fruits of the
in honour of the city’s patron earth. A parade of young people
saint, who, according to legend, in traditional costume plays a
saved Palermo from the terrible central role.
plague of 1624. Palio dei Normanni (12–14
Festa di San Giuseppe (last Aug), Piazza Armerina. Historical The statues of Mata and Grifone
week). Terrasini, Palermo. re-enactment in period at Messina

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