An ancient wreck dating back to the 6th-5th centuries B.C has been discovered in the waters off Santa Maria del Focallo the result of an underwater excavation campaign organized by the Sicilian Region’s Superintendence of the Sea in collaboration with the Department of Humanities and Cultural Heritage Studies at the University of Udine concerns remains of a vessel that lay buried under a layer of sand and boulders at a depth of six meters.The wreck which testifies to shipbuilding techniques of the time was made using the “on-shell” method This technique involved the use of planking boards connected with tenon and mortise joints providing the structure with a self-supporting function A feature that makes it a valuable example of ancient naval engineering offering new insights into how seafarers of the past faced the sea belong to the inverted “T” type This complex layering of finds suggests that the area has been frequented and used as a landing or shipping point for centuries which lasted three weeks and concluded in September involved a number of partners and institutions including the Messina Coast Guard’s Diving Unit and the Pozzallo Harbor Master’s Office These provided technical and logistical support making possible highly specialized work in underwater conditions Through the use of underwater photogrammetry archaeologists were able to create a detailed three-dimensional model of the wreck an indispensable tool for accurately documenting and analyzing the structure samples were taken that will be subjected to paleobotanical analysis to further study the materials used in the construction of the ship and the environmental context in which it operated The discovery is part of the “Kaukana Project,” an initiative launched in 2017 to explore and enhance the underwater heritage along the Sicilian coastline between Ispica the project adopts an integrated approach that combines archaeological research advanced technologies and a network of collaborations with prestigious research institutions both Italian and international One of the main goals of the “Kaukana Project” is the reconstruction of the coastal and submerged landscape seeking to restore a comprehensive view of the interactions between humans and the marine environment over the centuries The discovery of the Santa Maria del Focallo wreck enriches knowledge on the subject The enhancement of the underwater cultural heritage is one of the cornerstones of the strategy adopted by the Superintendence of the Sea Discoveries such as the one in Ispicas reveal little-known chapters of Sicilian history and also place emphasis on the importance of protecting a heritage that is in danger of being compromised by climate change “This discovery,” comments the Councilor for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity “represents an extraordinary contribution to the knowledge of the maritime history of Sicily and the Mediterranean and once again highlights the central role of the island in the traffic and cultural exchanges of antiquity datable to a crucial period for the transition between Archaic and Classical Greece is a valuable piece of Sicily’s underwater cultural heritage.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks The Mediterranean climate and the medium-textured soils are the most important contributors to the freshness and crunchiness of the Carota Novella di Ispica PGI The mechanized harvest may leave out some carrots "We foresee a further increase in the volume of branded products and an intensification of promotions aimed directly at the end consumer," said the president of the Consortium during the press tour held on 19 and 20 March it is the innovation in the post-harvest stages are among the most important operators in this sector the visit of the journalists to the warehouse of the producers' organization was an important moment to learn about the processing of the Carota Novella di Ispica PGI who illustrated some data and combined them with the technological innovations necessary to remain competitive with other domestic and international operators in the carrot sector supply the producers' organization with vegetables grown in greenhouses and polytunnels Francesca Calabrese explains how carrots are processed in the warehouse (Click here to see the photo album of the event) we have invested significantly in renewable energy to reduce costs and make the company more sustainable," says Calabrese we installed a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of one of our two plants and on two other smaller roofs the company has built a new one on the roof of its main plant The total capacity is more than 1 megawatt The goal is to keep energy costs down through self-consumption and to contribute to our green strategy." the total turnover of the producers' organization was about 22 million euros "We have recently modernized our early carrot processing plant and implemented new technologies," concludes the manager "including two optical readers with artificial intelligence The total investment was around 1.7 million euros we have started the formal procedure to obtain the tax credit for this investment and we are confident that we will be able to obtain it." Carrot processing at the OP Fonteverde warehouse the project 'La Carota Novella di Ispica PGI in Ho.Re.Ca.' financed by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture The initiative is aimed at achieving the best and most technical events in the field of carrot production dedicated to the operators of the restaurant and catering channel Four seminars will be held in Catania (15 April) For more information:Massimo Pavan+393351249484[email protected] FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com After a few seasons of floods and droughts the year 2025 is finally starting off on the right foot for the Ispica PGI New Carrot campaign president of the consortium that oversees the promotion and protection of these carrots "We started the harvest at the beginning of February in line with the production regulations," says President Pavan "and this year we have every reason to be more than enthusiastic: the first reason is the quality of the production which has been of the highest standard from the very beginning; the second reason is related to the volume because apart from a few parcels damaged by the rains the areas have remained practically undamaged and we will therefore be able to meet all the requests that come in." "There is another reason to be satisfied," he continues "This year we have almost no competition in the Italian market The harvest in Chioggia was stopped early due to bad weather and the stocks in Fiumicino are running out while we are not yet working at full capacity Boxes of freshly harvested carrots that are still in the field The branded product is marketed almost exclusively by large retailers," explains the expert "and this is due to the work we have been doing for years to properly promote the Ispica PGI New Carrot campaign The PGI label is now well positioned and appreciated by the end consumer who knows it and recognizes it among the other products on the shelves In March we will launch a strong campaign on a national radio channel to improve our position at the point of sale." "In terms of foreign competition and the European market," concludes Pavan "we have seen a large presence of stored carrots from Germany they are stored goods that are largely introduced into the distribution channels and therefore which is envied by many for its organoleptic characteristics." In order to protect both the Consortium's member producers and the consumer the Consortium continues to carry out checks at the point of sale wherever possible For more information:Massimo PavanConsorzio di Tutela Carota Novella di Ispica IgpVia B. Spadaro, 9797014 Ispica (RG) - Italy [email protected]www.carotanovellaigp.it Mark Attard and several hundred other Maltese nationals have in common But why go through the hassle of buying real estate on another Mediterranean island located just 93 kilometres away many share the desire to “escape the madness of Malta” citing issues such as traffic and overpopulation “Privacy and quiet is what Maltese buyers want when looking for property here,” says Simona Scartano of Noto-based estate agency Home Sud Home “And we get plenty of enquiries from Malta” Scartano confirms that most Maltese looking for a property want it “con terreno” (with land) and reasonably close to the ferry port of Pozzallo “higher-spending professionals” look farther afield and closer to commercial hubs like Syracuse Catania and the bigger towns in western Sicily Many people buy property in Sicily to find peace and quiet away from busy Malta The other major attraction is the relatively low property prices encouraging people interested in investing in property to cast their eyes across the Malta channel when once they would have looked closer to home Gozo’s construction boom encouraged many Maltese wanting a holiday home to look at the sister island “I bought a five-room house in Gozo 35 years ago for LM2,000 [€4,650],” says retiree Mark Attard Today the house is valued at between €300,000 and €400,000 “A little house that could have been bought for between €10,000 and €50,000 a few years ago is now going for around €100,000,” says Attard you will need another €100,000 or €150,000 to do it up for about €250,000 – instead of a small flat in Malta or Gozo – you’ll have a lovely villa in Sicily with land views and practically no neighbours.” These are typical costs for properties in the most popular area for Maltese buyers costs are higher further north along Sicily’s eastern coast and in the hilly Mount Etna region These average between €2,500 and €3,000 per square metre as opposed to an average of between €1,800 and €2,000 in the south Philip Rizzo warns people to make sure they have a good source of income from outside Sicily because of its high unemployment rates When photographer René Rossignaud bought 7,000 square metres of land on the outskirts of Ispica in 2021 the house that came with it was livable but needed plastering need everything – they have no roofs where they live on their weekly trips to Sicily They are now restoring the abandoned dwellings but it’s also therapeutic and I need that,” he says Mark and Barbara Attard bought “a little house” on a 4,000-square-metre plot in Frigintini some eight years ago and completed all the renovation work themselves meaning all their electricity is provided by solar panels just north of Catania and on the slopes of Mount Etna is Trecastagni the Rizzos are plugged into the Sicilian electricity grid to the tune of some €4,000 a year – to light and heat their six-bedroom house and swimming pool Retired auditor Philip Rizzo turned his property into a luxury bed and breakfast complete with pool in the Sicilian countryside The cheaper cost of living in Sicily is another reason more Maltese people are choosing to buy a second home on the Italian island “One can live reasonably comfortably on a monthly budget of around €1,800 especially if one opts for fresh local produce,” explains Rizzo But energy costs have soared considerably in the last two years the price of fuel is substantially higher compared to Malta and a car is a necessity for those considering buying a property in the countryside those who may find it difficult to live on €2,000 a month in Malta will not solve their problems by taking a ferry to Sicily and taking up residence there Which is probably why most Maltese who own property in Sicily do not live there permanently “I would say 95 per cent are part-timers because they’re young and have to work or they’re parents or grandparents who want to see their children,” explains Attard Mark and Barbara Attard live ‘off grid’ in the Ragusa area commutes regularly between Ispica and Malta I try to pack all the work in two or three days that I’m in Malta,” he explains One of the disadvantages of living in Sicily but it is a problem for younger people.” Rizzo adds: “It’s not easy to find a job in Sicily as it has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe One must have a guaranteed regular source of income from outside Sicily before considering such a move.” is the one alternative that could make relocating permanently to Sicily workable Maltese property hunters ask estate agents for properties with land like Philip Rizzo’s Cirasa Luxury Country House is to go into the bed-and-breakfast business He bought his 20,000-square-metre estate in 2016 which had an extensive orchard and a dilapidated country house and which was professionally renovated in nine months the family moved in and it was replete with all modern comforts until we began to feel the financial pinch of the considerable running costs of an orchard of some 600 trees we only hosted family and close friends,” he explains four of the six bedrooms were set aside for rental and Cirasa Luxury Country House is now an upscale B&B The B&B or Airbnb route has been taken on by several who own property in Sicily it was done to offset the renovation costs of their second homes or to supplement pensions Rizzo and many other retirees do not commute as frequently “The poor quality of the public health care system in Sicily is without doubt worrying to both the local population and to foreign nationals who spend considerable lengths of time there,” explains Rizzo “Waiting times for non-emergency surgery and even for periodic check-ups are atrocious and the quality of in-hospital care is far below what one will have become accustomed to in Malta over the past 25 years or so.” is to obtain overseas private healthcare insurance in Malta but this becomes prohibitively more expensive as one gets older Selecting to live reasonably close to a ferry port or airport to enable quick travel back to Malta This might not be a pleasant way to live a quiet purchasing property in Sicily – or wherever else and for whatever reason – should never be done hastily the day will come when these real estate owners will miss the ferry for the last time A 70-year-old Maltese man who preferred to remain unnamed said: “I bought my Sicily property to get away from Malta and to relax there I may have another 20 or so years of retirement But it’s something tangible I’ll leave my children.” please register for free or log in to your account Ispica - Contrada Scalaricotta è una località nel territorio di Ispica confinante con la contrada San Giovanni Parte di Cava Ispica Sud ricade in questa contrada dove si riscontrano tombe a forno risalenti all’antica età del bronzo (facies castellucciana 2200-1450 a.C.) Ispica - Appuntamento con l'insabbiata a ispica il 26 27 e 28 maggio in piazza Sant'Antonio Abate per iniziativa dell'omonima confraternita Nelo spazio urbano già scenografia del Film Kaos dei fratelli Taviani un tappeto di sabbia colorata con disegni di ispirazione religiosa.  Ispica - E’ morto Masino Thomas Fidelio Componente della storica band “Osaka 2000” era conosciuto da quanti hanno fatto e fanno ancora musica Ispica - Si terrà dal 1 al 4giugno l'edizione 2023 dell'Insabbiata di Ispica anche quest'anno in programma in piazza Sant'Antonio Abate.  La piazza antistante la cinquecentesca Chiesa di Sant'Antonio Abate ad Ispica già scenografia per il film Kaos dei fratelli Taviani si riveste di uno stupendo tappeto di sabbia variopinta L'ideata è dell'Associazione culturale "Insabbiata" Quest'anno il tema dei bozzetti sarà il cinquantesimo della morte di Pablo Picasso.  Una donna di Avola è stata ricoverata all'ospedale Maggiore di Modica con trauma toracico Sul posto l'ambulanza del 118 e i carabinieri L'altro ferito ha rifiutato il ricovero in ospedale.  un'auto in fase di sorpasso avrebbe travolto le altre due.  Ispica - Si svolgeranno giovedì 18 maggio e venerdì 19 maggio alle ore 19 due incontri con il professor Paolo Magri dal titolo: "L'istantanea nel mondo in guerra Conflitti e possibilità della pace" Magri è vice Presidente Esecutivo e Direttore dell'Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale (ISPI) e docente di Relazioni Internazionali all'Università Stavolta mostra alcuni scatti fotografici a Porto Ulisse Ispica - Raffaele Lombardo torna in provincia di Ragusa e lo fa per un appuntamento politico.  Conferenza Stampa “Le sfide della Ragusa Autonomista” il 28 ottobre alle ore 16.00 presso la sala conferenze del Ristorante Casale Graffetta sita ad Ispica in C/da Graffetta – SR 47 Fabio Mancuso – Responsabile Organizzativo MPA Sicilia Angelo Galifi – Vice Presidente del Consiglio Comunale di Ispica Chiuderà: On Raffaele Lombardo – Fondatore del Movimento per l’Autonomia.  Lo scontro una Nissan Qashqai e uno scooter L'auto – guidata da una donna e proveniente da Ispica in direzione Pachino è entrata in collisione con lo scooter su cui viaggiava il 24enne Il giovane è morto sul colpo.  Ispica - A pochi chilometri da Ispica nascosto dagli alberi ed arbusti si rinviene un ipogeo indicato dagli archeologi come Ipogeo A Si tratta di una catacomba risalente all'età tardo-romana inequivocabilmente cristiana per via della presenza di due cristogrammi e caratterizzata dalla presenza di due baldacchini e di diversi arcosoli in buona parte distrutti forse per trasformare l'ambiente in deposito Carmelo Cucuzza guida nella esplorazione dei luoghi visitati Ispica - Il Movimento Sviluppo e Solidarietà entra nella giunta comunale di Ispica guidata dal Sindaco Pierenzo Muraglie L'ingresso in giunta avviene a pochi mesi dal voto delle amministrative rinviato all'autunno a causa del Covid.  Ispica - "E così il Monumento ai Caduti ha riavuto la sua ringhiera protettiva in ferro battuto piccolo capolavoro del nostro artigianato locale del secolo scorso mentre il Monumento veniva lasciato indifeso dagli assalti dei vandali" A commentare la notizia il capogruppo consiliare del Pd Gianni Stornello.  Ispica - Nomina ad assessore comunale per Giuseppe Pluchinotta Il già vice presidente del consiglio comunale di Ispica è stato insignito stamattina dell'incarico di assessore con deleghe allo Sviluppo Economico Ispica - Non gli si può certo rimproverare disattenzione per la cultura popolare siciliana Stefano Gabbana ha ri-postato su Instagram una foto di Ispicaospitalitadiffusa.com aggiungendo i cuoricini di affetto per la settimana santa ispicese.  La foto è quella degli ex voto di cera che i devoti tributano alla Madonna durante il periodo della Passione.  Ispica - Dal 24 giugno riapre e sarà fruibile uno dei lidi estivi più affascinanti della costa fra Ragusa e Siracusa gestito -ed è questa la novità - dal managemet della Locanda Don Serafino in uno specchio di mare intimo e riservato rimasto incontaminaato e perciò baciato dalla Bandiera Blu il lido si candida a diventare la meta più ambita dell'estate 2018 Ispica - Sale a sette il numero dei candidati alla carica di sindaco di Ispica Scende in campo anche Paolo Ferlisi.  è sostenuto dalle liste ‘Comitato S Maria del Focallo – Marina Marza’ ‘Area Popolare’ e ‘Ferlisi Sindaco’.