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A nice selection of Sicilian treats and wines – but they don’t come cheap.

In this unusual grocer’s there is a wide selection of prepared foods, cheeses and vegetables, and a great choice of wines.

Since 1882 Altieri has been producing their own uniquely designed pieces in gold, coral and ceramics.

This established Marsala family offers tours (in various languages) of the cellars and tastings.

At his bakery, master baker Tommaso Rizzo uses Sicilian durum wheat or the ancient tumminía variety to make breads leavened with natural yeast and baked in an oven fired with olive branches. There are also the delicious biscotti picanti – biscuits made with black pepper and anise.

The name, the House of Tuna, says it all. In the heart of Favignana, site of the matanza (see Fishing Techniques), shop for canned tuna in oil and bottarga (dried tuna egg).

The museum store sells boxes of traditionally produced sea salt. Sea salt has a rich flavour, which can vary, along with its saltiness, according to climatic conditions; the fine grain of the stone-ground salt adds texture to foods (see Saline, Salt Pans).

In addition to ceramic plates, this family business produces traditional figurines of Sicilian peasants for nativity scenes and miniature terracotta replicas of traditional foods.

Signora Parisi weaves exceptional rugs in geometric patterns and colours traditional to Erice. Her masterpieces, however, are rugs woven to her own designs, with naïve scenes of the Sicilian countryside, each signed with her initials, PP (see Pina Parisi Tappeti, Erice).