SICIOLOGY

Sicily 2018 - 2020

" Food, Tradition, and Survival Through Uncertain Times "

In 2018, I arrived in Sicily through the Workaway program, to dive into its vibrant culture.

Over two years—before and during the COVID lockdown— I documented life on the island.

My journey took me from working on farms and staying in a wild garden yurt overlooking

Mount Etna to living in Palermo’s bustling streets with a camera in hand.

Sicily comes alive during harvest season with Sagre — local festivals celebrating food and wine.

I experienced this firsthand, picking lemons and olives, learning about ancient grains,

and working alongside farmers producing honey near Etna.

From making pasta the old-fashioned way to sampling Limoncello and full-bodied wines,

I tasted the heart of Sicilian tradition.

One of the highlights of my time was staying at Dimore del Valentino in Sampieri - Scicli,

a family-run gem in southern Sicily. This unique property is both an exotic plantation and a picturesque retreat.

The family has transformed their old Sicilian finca-style farmhouse into several charming studios, each blending rustic elegance with modern comfort. Every year, they welcome guests from around the globe with genuine warmth and a deep passion for sharing their slice of paradise. Surrounded by lush gardens and rare plants, it’s a place that feels both connected to the land and steeped in history.

My time there offered an intimate look at the slow, authentic rhythm of Sicilian life.

Later, I spent two months in Palermo, wandering its historic streets, photographing its rhythm—a mix of chaos and beauty that only this city can offer. It's is a city built on layers of history. The Arab influence is clear in La Kalsa’s narrow alleys, while Norman, Greek, and Spanish traces appear in its architecture and traditions. The vibrant markets of Ballarò and Vucciria contrast with the polished streets of Politeama, and Mondello offers the quiet coastal retreat.
It’s a place where past and present meet, each neighborhood adding a distinct piece to the city’s complex identity.

In early 2020, my partner Salvatore and I returned to Belgium, dreaming of starting a business selling Sicilian products and take-out streetfood. But COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown crushed those plans. With everything in limbo, we decided to take a chance and return to Sicily in our van, driving through Italian empty highways, evading police checkpoints, and crossing into Sicily under tense circumstances.

One surreal moment stands out: on a nearly deserted ferry to the island, I found myself needing a restroom. A boatswain, surprised to see a woman onboard, led me to the captain’s private bathroom. Peering out of a small window, I saw Sicily approaching in the distance. At that moment, I felt like a fugitive—illegal and anxious, but excited, for we had made it .

Once back in Sicily, we took refuge in the countryside family home. While the world grappled with the pandemic, I spent a year and a half in nature, surrounded by simplicity and kindness. The lockdown’s chaos felt distant here, under the clear skies of an island that seemed untouched by the world’s unraveling.

In the mountains of Piano Battaglia in Sicily, I experienced the making and eating of fresh ricotta in a rustic mountain hut, surrounded by grazing cows. In the south, I spent a day at a ceramic studio learning to shape and paint Sicilian ceramics under the guidance of one of a renowned and celebrated ceramic master of Sicily.