This is Castelmola. A quaint little town perched on the Mount side above Taormina. Famous for more than just it’s almond wine and architecture...a unique bar where everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is shaped like male genitalia 😳 It is a cultural experience like no other. From the outside, this bar looks quite pleasant with its multiple balconies and red sun umbrellas pushing towards the sky. But from the minute you clutch the handle of the side door it dawns on you that this bar is a tad bit different from other Sicilian ones. From the artwork on the walls, to the napkins on the table down to the tiles on the floor, all are have a common thread, they are shaped like a p*enis!
The decoration decisions of Bar Turrisi did not come about because the owners are sex-addicts. Instead, there is actually some meaning behind it. Built in 1947, the phallic decor symbolizes fertility. To quote the owner of the bar, “Having had three sons within five years, there was one particular symbol that could represent it all.” The p*nis became the defining symbol of Bar Turrisi and a famous landmark of Castelmola! In the mid-19th century, Taormina, and in general this area of Sicily, was far more progressive than many other parts of the country and even Europe. The furniture and objects displayed were all commissioned by the family and carried out exclusively by Sicilian carpenters and blacksmiths. The owner revealed that an even larger collection remains behind closed doors. "Certain valuable objects are best not displayed. You'd be surprised to hear how many people try and steal objects here. I even had to install cameras last year". Although this special find may not be everyone's cup of tea, adding it to the agenda of a trip to Eastern Sicily may just be the perfect plan!
