MARIA GRAMMATICO PASTRY SHOP

Not far from Trapani a lovely, winding road meanders up a mountain that overlooks the sea, and at the top a picturesque medieval town called Erice appears. With its spectacular views, its beautifully paved cobblestone streets and interesting examples of Norman architecture, it is a town well worth visiting.
After taking in the many points of interest, you will be ready for a break: head for the pastry shop of Maria Grammatico. You will never want to leave. Maria Grammatico has a fascinating story to tell, (see Mary Taylor Simeti’s book, Bitter Almonds). Maria’s family was one of many which, after the war, found itself unable to maintain all of the children. She was placed at the Sangallo Institute, an austere convent for secluded nuns, produced and sold a variety of almond based sweets. It was a life of extreme poverty and hardship for Maria, but she learned the venerable art of almond pastry. In 1964, upon leaving the convent and with only 6 pounds of almonds and a wood stove to her name, she opened a tiny shop and began to produce her own sweets. She very quickly became well known, expanded to a larger shop, and the rest is history! For her, her work is a true passion and she can be found in her shop every day.