Tag Archives: Taormina

My Trip In Sicily~Looking For Il Volo, by Daniela

Hi – just a shout out to everyone experiencing these crazy and unusual weather phenomenas we are having right now… fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, any flooding, etc.  It’s been a really crazy year for weather and I’m sure we will all be glad when the new year starts.  Puerto Rico had a direct hit with Maria and I read the entire island is without power.  Let’s pray that the guys keep missing all of this tragic weather and stay one step ahead!  🙂  One more bit of news – just a reminder that we will only be doing ONE POST per country.  Brazil has 3 concerts alone from Sao Paolo, as well as Curitiba.  Look for Curitiba/Sao Paolo next Monday.

Ok, now on with this lovely story from Daniela… In search of…. 


Summer was at the door. We usually spend part of August at the sea but this year we had the idea of ​​going to Sicily.
My husband is Sicilian, but for 39 years we did not return to Sicily moreover, it was well known that Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca would have had a whole month of holiday and with a pinch of luck we could meet at least one of them.
While I was preparing for the trip we would have traveled definitely train, as my husband does not like flying or even going to the ship.   I keep reading news about Piero and Ignazio, because it is clear that Gianluca will spend his summer at Roseto.
I read right away that Ignazio stayed with Alessandra in Sardinia where IL VOLO had their last concert so I miss the hopes of seeing Ignazio because he will stay the summer in Sardinia.
I focus on Piero.
We had a very detailed program, which included visiting almost all Sicily and visiting many places and monuments.
Meeting one of the boys would be the icing on the cake.
Last year Piero and his brothers spent their holidays in Taormina
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The evening before our visit to Taormina, I find out that Piero this year is not on vacation in Taormina, is  in San Leone, darn,  just this year had to change program ??
Even though I was a little disappointed, Taormina is always beautiful, I have seen the Greek Theater, a magnificent place for our guys concerts, and then the Botte where they often go to eat, the Metropole hotel where they stay and the Bambar where we also got a granite.
All places frequented by IL VOLO, but no trace of them.
That night, back to the B & B I realized what I call “the power of the union IL VOLO”, I phoned two virtual friendships known thanks to the common love for the boys. They live near the area where I was and so have come to know me, it was beautiful.   I now  know Melina (of which I posted the review of Taormina) and Nancy.
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The next stage of the trip is Agrigento, but passing from Naro, the town of Piero.
I would never go to Piero’s house, I wanted to see the Castle and House Teca dedicated to him.
We arrive at Naro which was almost noon. It was incredibly hot. Beautiful country in the hinterland, with all tuff houses.
As Marie and Jane had told us the roads  more go up and more tighten, we had thought to park down and walk on foot.
We did a long staircase and at last there is the castle, almost a manor that dominates the valley.   We take some photos and enter the courtyard. As I search the door of House Teca di Piero, a caretaker looks out and says “we are closing, we reopen at 4pm”, useless to insist.
We could not wait, we had an appointment at 3pm in Agrigento and definitely would not return to Naro again.
Darn it for the second time.
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As we reach our destination in Agrigento, I see on the map the place where our B & B was very close to San Leone where Piero is spending the holidays, not even 3 miles. I’m very happy, I have another chance to see Piero.
The next day we wake up early, we have planned a beautiful hike to the VALLE OF THE TEMPLES, an enchanting place full of history.   We walk for hours under a burning sun, but what we have seen repays us from fatigue.
It’s 2 pm and we have not eaten yet.   I suggest to my husband “we go to lunch at San Leone”?
We park at the harbor and have lunch and then take a long walk to the harbor, the nearby beach and the promenade.
Of Piero there is no shadow. It is very hot and we are tired of the day, we go back to the B & B for a shower and rest.
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The next day we headed to the SCALE OF TURKS where Piero posted photos with friends and his watercraft.
Even here nothing Piero, but we still have it all afternoon and my dear husband still takes me to San Leone for an ice cream.
Again we walk back and forth on the waterfront, we stopped until evening, seeing a beautiful sunset and the lights of the night.
My husband was more disappointed for me, nothing Piero.
I thought maybe that day Piero had gone to visit his parents.
Patience. Let’s go back to the B & B.   I connect to my phone that was unloaded and what do I see ??? Many photos of Piero just posted made in San Leone, exactly where we were up to 5 minutes before.
It is not possible, that anger.
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I lost hope to see Piero.
The trip continues, we go to Palermo. As we travel, I keep reading the news from my cell phone and what do I find out? Ignatius is no longer in Sardinia, now he is in Marsala.
Evviva, Marsala is closer to Palermo, maybe I can even see Ignazio, my favorite !!
Palermo is a huge, beautiful, chaotic city, full of monuments and my husband’s birth town. After seeing Palermo in the long and wide, we decide to visit  the surroundings also Erice very close to Marsala.
As we climb up the beautiful fortress of Erice what do we find out? Ignazio in those days is at Favignana, one of the Egadi Islands that you can see very well from the fortress of Erice, but to reach them you have to take the ship, which my husband will never do.
But Ignazio, why have not you been to Marsala for a few days yet? Darn, this opportunity is also lost.
 
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Our trip is about to end, we have seen magnificent cities full of history and marine landscapes of an enchanting blue color.
Sicily is truly enchanting, and the delicious food.
We did not meet  Piero or Ignazio, patience there will be other occasions.
Returning home I saw photos of Ignazio and Piero published in the same places I was just before.
Darn, the guys did not synchronize the time with me.
Next time we will be better off, meanwhile Sicily is in my heart !!
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Credit to owner of photos that I’m guessing are Beppe’s!

Notte Magica – Taormina! June 1, 3-4, 2017

nottemagica headerOnce again, I sit before a blank page, wondering what will appear from my fingertips?  Three more beautiful concerts, gone in a flash.  They made the ancient stage come alive once more.  Sicily – home to Piero and Ignazio.  A special feeling for them.  As in the picture below, they say they sang their first concert in Italy from that stage.  It was there that Italy first heard, live, the beautiful words of “Memory” sung by Ignazio, Gian’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and Piero’s “No Puede Ser.”  In those moments, Italy finally knew what they had been missing; what the Americans already knew!  They are greeted by friends and family wherever they go, but home is always a special place.  As you watch the many videos and pictures that came through, there was no doubt that Piero and Ignazio were having a grande time.  Even Ginaluca joined in the fun on occasion!  I was fortunate to hear a little bit of the June 1 & 3 concert live, thanks to Ivolomusic on Instagram, however, they did not seem to do it for the last concert – but I was home, ready and waiting!  I heard Piero’s solo and Tonight from Ignazio and a few others.  Glorious as always.  The same, yet different.  The stage and the lighting there was beautiful, as only Taormina and the Teatro Antica can be.  So, here we are with some clips and pictures of some of those glorious nights.  I apologize, I might not know which night is which, but the video usually indicates it.  Credit to all owners.

This picture below from Il Volo music – they say “our first concert was on this stage!”Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, crowd

Image may contain: 4 people, concert, night and indoor

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people sitting

Picture above…. saying goodbye to Taormina… (wonder if Igna had been having some bad hair days? He seems to be wearing this Madrid cap in many photos!)

Look at the beauty and lights of that backdrop below!

taormina stage

Ok, don’t know how they do it, but it looks like this is a good portion of most of the concert!  June 1, 2017   Enjoy!

 

And this, the guys having a little fun in the streets! Note Maria Grazia filming with her phone… 🙂  Dani/Daniela, or if anyone can translate what they are singing or saying, that would be fun!  It seems like it’s impromptu?

 

One more thing to add that I thought was pretty cool, if you missed it.  This is from Il Volo Music’s FaceBook page. I think you can actually hear the orchestra flub a bit!  If you keep watching the videos, there are some really great ones! (Watch for Piero in his dressing room in the 2nd one… 😉 ) Hope the link works!

Yes, 3 more down and still many more to come!  The guys do get a bit of a break, but are then off to Malta on June 8!

 

Just a little side note….don’t know how many have noticed, but our Il Volo Flight Crew Instagram account has been deactivated.  I hear this has been going around, as well as some getting their virtual hands slapped by FaceBook.  Please be cautious out there on what you post.  I don’t know how they are making these decisions, but I know a few of our crew members have been affected by it.

Also a special shout-out to Jane & Daniela for keeping this site at a cruising altitude…. 🙂

 

 

Il Volo Off Stage: Sights and Sounds

Hello!

I don’t know about you, but when The Guys are touring in Europe, I love the hear the sounds and see the sights around them…so beautiful and charming!

~~ Kelly

 

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Il Volo Professional ~~ Live Tour 2015; Taormina

Il Volo Facebook
Il Volo Facebook

 

Hey Everyone!

I don’t know about you, but when I hear, “Taormina,” I always think of Il Volo.  Just as I would when I hear, “Sicily,” or “Abruzzo.”  It is just as indelibly linked to them, in my opinion.

According to their friend, Claudia, she described Taormina as a place that you feel immediately at home, even though you’ve never set foot.  Since Our Guys always seems to enjoy themselves there, I can’t doubt it!

 Taormina Travel Guide ~~ goitaly.about.com; Gina

~~ Kelly

 

 

 

 

Il Mondo

UrbanWeek Redazione; All Things Il Volo

 

 

 

 

O’ Sole Mio

Il Volo Diary; LiJoy

 

 

 

 

Piove

Catena Giardina; All Things Il Volo

 

 

Taormina Concert #1  ~~ All Things Il Volo

Taormina Concert #2 ~~ All Things Il Volo

 

 

floriana La Monica

 

 

 

 

 

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Il Volo Professional ~~ New Wave 2014, Abruzzo Press and Taormina Wrap Up…Just Because

Hey Everyone!

I think I’ve–dare I say it?–finally caught up with our busy globe trotters and can take a bit of a rest until they hit Mexico at the end of the week.  Perhaps a drink right in the middle of that group of guys in the picture Gianluca Instagramed a little while ago….no…?  OK…fine…. *pouting*   😉

 

Il Volo Performs At the New Wave Music Festival

Bing Images
Bing Images

 

After an emotional and amazing week in Taormina, The Guys headed to Riga,  the capital of Latvia, and Jurmala to participate in the New Wave Music Festival.  The festival is a six day event with two days dedicated to international competition, though Il Volo did not compete; they appeared as special guests, singing two crowd favorites.  To read more about the event, 

 

Click here —> http://www.hotelbaltpark.com/en/blog/new-wave-2014-in-jurmala#!  ,

here —>  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riga to learn about Riga,

and enjoy the pictures and videos below. 

 

Il Mondo; New Wave 2014

O Sole Mio; New Wave 2014

By NovayaVolna

Click here for All About Il Volo’s New Wave Gallery —> http://www.ilvolo.mus.br/2014/07/il-volo-on-new-wave-2014-gallery/

“Grazie!” Grazie #newwave #newwave2014 #latvia #jurmala #riga #lettonia; Il Volo Facebook

They Talk Fashion

By All About Il Volo

 And they gave an interview to Mix TV, a Latvian music television station geared toward young people.

Mix TV Interview… *raised eyebrows*….

By Mix TV, проект портала Mixnews.lv

Yes, Gianluca; we love your looks from Brioni.  Ooh, la la!  Unfortunately, I’m not blonde.  Dang!

 

Press Conference in Pescara

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From Latvia, they headed “home; sweet home,” or more correctly: Gianluca did.  Ignazio and Piero went with him to prepare for their press conference in Pescara to talk about their upcoming concert in Abruzzo in September.  In attendance were: Pescara’s mayor, Marco AlessandriniGiovanni Di Iacovo, Council Member of Culture, Massimo Fregnani, the Italian tour promoter  and, of course, their faithful manager, Michele Torpedine.

Click here — > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescara for information about Pescara.

Interview in Pescara; found by Athina Angelopoulos

Click here —>  http://www.rete8.it/it/component/allvideoshare/video/latest/spettacoli-il-volo-a-pescara-il-5-settembre.html for the video, and

here —> http://www.rete8.it/it/cultura-e-spettacolo/15797-il-volo-a-pescara-il-5-settembre.html for the written article (how are you all doing with your Italian?)

You can also see a video of some of the conference with a translation at All About Il Volo here —> http://www.ilvolo.mus.br/2014/07/il-volo-on-antenna-10-italy/

 

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Oh…one more: Gianluca Jokes About Ignazio’s Appetite

By All About Il Volo

 Good Luck, guys!  I know you’ll have as much success in Abruzzo as you did in Sicily!

 

Tormina Wrap Up

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I’m guessing that everyone has seen about everything that there is to see about Taormina, but I found a few more things.   Enjoy!

 

 

Small mention of Il Volo with them holding their Tao Award during the presentation; Found by Anthina Angelopolous

By Sestarete

All About Il Volo Links:

Rai 1 Taormina Interviews —> http://www.ilvolo.mus.br/2014/07/il-volo-interview-rai1/

Estate en Diretta English Translation —> http://www.ilvolo.mus.br/2014/07/il-volo-on-estate-in-diretta-translated-to-english/

Playlists from ilvolo_russia

Thank you, Maria!

 

Just Because

If you don’t know that The Guys believe in faith and family, you need to read this interview from Zenit.  If you already know, read it and fall in love with them more.   😉

Click here —> http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/il-volo-award-winning-trio-taking-world-by-storm-speaks-to-zenit-on-faith-family-franciscropped-a-mlla-linked-feb-5th.jpg

Ciao!

~~ Kelly