In this video, I am strolling along Via Vittorio Emanuele, which represents the heart of Palermo’s historical district. What’s interesting about this video is that you will see three unique stores and shopping in Palermo. These are stores that are unique to this Sicilian capital and are likely not found elsewhere in the world.
One of the stores sells limoncello. Italians enjoy this liqueur after dinner. There are several varieties, one of which is made with milk to add a creamy flavor.
Similar Italian liqueurs are made with orange, orange and coffee, raspberry, watermelon, etc.
Prickly Pear and Almond store in Palermo
Another store on this road sells products related to almonds and prickly pears, also known as cactus figs. Ficchi d’India are very common throughout Sicily.
Made from this fruit are liqueurs, as well as jellies, and you can consume the fruit directly from the plant. You need to be careful of the thorns. You can purchase them with or without the thorns. This plant has beneficial digestive qualities.
Furthermore the next store on this road is one that specializes in pistachios. You will notice that in Italian, “pistachio” has a double “c” instead of a single “c” in English. Common throughout Sicily are pistachio nuts, especially in the town of Bronte. You can find them in desserts, gelato, liqueurs, and spreads.
A lesson on Italian pronunciation
Typically, a “c” preceding an “i” is pronounced like the “ch” sound in church. However, the “h” placed after the “c” will give it a sound like the “c” in cat.
Finally, vendors selling “spremute,” which are fresh-squeezed juices are also on this road. Typical juices that you can consume are orange, blood orange, pomegranate, pear, lemon, and grapefruit.
Italian Vocabulary for this Video in Palermo:
store – negozio
stores – negozi
road – via
fresh-squeezed juice – spremuta
fresh-squeezed juices – spremute
orange – arancia
blood orange – sanguinello (more about Sicilian blood oranges)
pear – pera
pomegranate – melagrana
pictachio – pistacchio (notice the double “c”)
prickly pear – fico d’india
prickly pears – ficchi d’india
Other Links:
Shopping in Italy, Italian Stores Vocabulary
