| Outside of Palermo, we visited the town of Belmonte Mezzagno, from where my paternal grandmother, Caterina Buttacavoli, came. On our second visit to this town we found the house where she was born, from the address on her birth certificate. It was a delight to see this home of my Grandmother and my Dad's many aunts and uncles. It looked as though no one has lived in the house the 105 years since they left Sicily to travel to New York City. We met members of the Allotta family, "cugini distanti". Allotta was my great grandmothers name. We have also gotten to know the very kind people at the municiple building where we searched for family records on both our visits. |
| Leaving Belmonte, we were taken to see this shell of an old monastery which is situated on a site that has a spectacular view of Palermo. At the far right corner of the building, the door seen in my painting, leads down several steps to a shrine to our Lady. It is in to total darkness except for one bare lightbulb. There was evidence that fresh flowers are still being brought there by the devout. The plaque on the exterior of the building telling of the fact that Garibaldi had slept here on his march of the 1,000 men to Palermo, was pointed out to us. |
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| Monastery view of Palermo |
| My Sicilian Heritage |
| The house where the Buttacavolis lived was either the first or third doorway on the right. The addresses have been changed in recent times. The condition of these buildings are in much more disrepair than I have illustrated them. |
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| Belmonte Mezzagno |
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| S. Crocifiso The "Chiesa Madre" in Belmonte Mezzagno is located in Piazza Garibaldi |
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| Prints available |
| All watercolors are 11x15 inches and prints of the same size are available. |
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| via Ascuitta, Belmonte Mezzagno |
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| Piana degli Albanesi |