St Lucy of Syracuse: A biography
St Lucy, or Santa Lucia, is the most famous citizen of Syracuse, Sicily. She is the saint of light and brings knowledge and hope to those who need it most. She died young but spent her life as an active protector of the weak and oppressed. Lucy was revered in Syracuse nearly immediately, and within a few generations she was honoured in mainland Italy as well. Over the centuries her cult continued to spread and prosper. Mountains in California, schools in Kenya, cities in Australia, festivals in Sweden and even a country in the Caribbean have been named after her. Lucy is a saint, a martyr and her relics are stored in Catholic churches. Yet she has entered the secular world, and she attracts people who never set foot in a church. She has a power of uniting a community which is rare and wonderful. This is her story.
The Spring of Arethusa
Travellers want to experience and know a place, not just sightsee. This book is for them.
The spring of Arethusa in Syracuse, Sicily, has attracted Roman senators, inspired Renaissance artists and encouraged admirals in the Age of Sail. According to legend the natural spring is a nymph from Greece who fled an unwanted lover to reappear on the rocky island of Ortygia. Today Arethusa is one of the most visited sites in Syracuse and is the symbol of the province. Arethusa, along with St. Lucy, is one of the twin souls of the city.
The Spring of Arethusa is the first time the history of the nymph and fountain has been published for a general audience. It is the first of the Syracuse, Sicily: City of Water and Light pair of books. The companion, St. Lucy of Syracuse: A Biography, was released in 2024.