Il Papiro

Pignoli are Sicilian cookies; a type of macaroon typical to Sicily that is popular cookie throughout all of southern Italy, as well as in Sicilian communities in the US. There are many relatives and similar cookies that can be found through Italy and is also quite like the panellets served on All Saints Day in Catalonia. Made with almond paste, they belong to the amaretto family of biscuits.

These delicious crescent or round biscuits are golden in colour and are studded with golden pine nuts, which are also called pignoli and for which they were named. Moist, soft and chewy, they are, sadly, usually reserved for special occasions such as holidays like Christmas. This is due to the fact that almond paste and pine nuts are the primary ingredients and both are relatively expensive. However, they can still be found with relative ease in bakeries and food stores throughout Sicily. Just find a vacation rental in Sicily and you can try them for yourself.

Cannoli are one of the most famous and beloved of all Italian desserts, particularly among Italian-Americans, and are pastries that come from the Sicily region. The origins can be traced back to the Arabs during the Emirate of Sicily and similar pastries are known to have been popular across the Islamic world during that period. They have been traced back to the Palermo and Messina areas and were traditionally prepared as a treat during Carnevale season. The dessert eventually became a year-round staple throughout Italy. In singular form they are known as cannolo, a word that means "little tube" and they are just that, little tube-shaped fried pastries with creamy, sweet fillings, usually comprised of ricotta.

Visit the stunning capital of Sicily called Palermo! This beautiful coastal metropolis is over 3000 years old and is a major advocate of history, culture, architecture and gastronomy! It’s located in the northwest of Sicily in the gulf of Palermo, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The urban area within and surrounding Palermo is the 5th most populated in Italy. Tourists have a great choice of holiday rentals in Palermo to choose from where they can relax after busy days of exploring this exciting place!

Palermo is a very catholic city. One of the biggest events is the feast day of the city’s Patron saint called St. Rosalia every year on July 15th. Witness the colourful processions and festivities that take place at this exciting time of year. Sounds of jolly music fill the air, smells rise up from delicious street food and the sights to be seen of people laughing and chatting together is truly a heartwarming experience!

The Arab-Norman architecture of Palermo is a collection of buildings and monuments with design and decorative features that came about from an intertwining of cultures. Sicily's history is a tale of a long succession of rulers from a variety of places and cultures. Sicily was especially influenced by the Islamic conquest (827-1091) of lands in what is now Italy and then by how this combined with Norman rule (1071-1194). Alongside Byzantine influences, this led to a multi-ethnic culture that saw Western and Islamic cultures combined in art and architecture among other areas. Find a luxury villa in Sicily and you could see it for yourself!

Palermo Cathedral was founded on the site of a Muslim mosque, which in turn had replaced an Early Christian basilica in 1184 by the Archbishop of Palermo. His aim was to create something more astounding than the cathedral at Monreale nearby and so a competition broke out between the two cathedrals which became known as the “Battle of the Two Cathedrals”. It is still debatable as to who the winner was but the cathedral at Palermo is stunning in its own right. A fantastic example of the Arab-Norman architecture that is awaiting news on UNESCO status and which is one of the defining characteristics of the city, it is a must-see for any with a love of Western churches, Islamic architecture and Byzantine mosaics as it sees all three combined.

The Arab-Norman architecture of Palermo is a collection of buildings and monuments with design and decorative features that came about from an intertwining of cultures. Sicily's history is a tale of a long succession of rulers from a variety of places and cultures. It was particularly influenced by the Islamic conquest from 827 to 1091 and Norman rule from 1071 to 1194.

These various influences and cultures have all left their mark on the island and it is especially evident in the art and architecture of Sicily. The city of Palermo is dotted with buildings that are fine examples, incredibly fine examples, in fact, of Arab-Norman architecture.

These buildings are so admired that they were declared an official UNESCO site in 2015.