Tag Archives: Sicily

Francesco Cupani

Posted on 23/10/2019 by carolinemmurray

The Alpine House @CUBotanicgarden is pretty stunning at the moment, what with the cyclamen, autumn crocus and colchicums – do go and have a look! Among all the incredibly photogenic flowers, I came across Colchicum cupani, which compelled me finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, Gardens, History, Italy, London, Natural history | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Akragas

Posted on 12/02/2016 by carolinemmurray

So, there we were on Monday morning at Palermo train and bus station, clutching our remaining possessions to us, not sure what else the robbers might home in on – the clothes off our backs, perhaps? Or was the university … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Botany, Gardens, History, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Orto Botanico

Posted on 08/02/2016 by carolinemmurray

The things I most disliked about Sicily were (a) being robbed; (b) the number of wild birds (especially goldfinches) hung up in tiny cages. On the plus side, there were plenty of things to like, including the Botanic Garden at … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Gardens, History, Natural history | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Cost of Sunshine

Posted on 05/02/2016 by carolinemmurray

‘Apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, how was the evening?’ My recent encounters with the criminal fraternity of Palermo were pretty trivial by comparison with the assassination of a President of the United States, but they really brought home to me … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Sicilian Vespers

Posted on 30/01/2016 by carolinemmurray

Medieval European history is one of those subjects, I think, which can be approached only when one is still very young. All those Ottos and Heinrichs, Guelphs and Ghibellines (Welfen und Wibellingen), Hohenstaufens and Wittelsbachs, Frederick Barbarossa and Frederick II … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments