Barbershops in Sicily

[Dixieman]

I am going to Sicily in a few months and looking forward to a real traditional barbershop shave with a straight razor while there. Does anyone know any barbershops in Sicily or have any general hints about getting shaved by a barber in Italy? (Not available in any local barbershops where I live in the US so this will be interesting).

[Squire]

I'm sure it will be, Sicily would be a very interesting place for me to visit.

[malocchio]

What a lucky guy...take lots of photos and please post a few !.....

[bernards66]

Where the devil is that Chris Fisher when we need him?! The 'Fisher King' could name specifics I am quite certain. My guess is that there are, indeed, shops in Sicily that do the entire traditional routine including using a real cutthroat razor as there are a few shops in Italy proper that do so. The whole elaborate western style barbershop shave ritual had it's origins in Turkey and the Mediterranean countries after all. So, Sicily would be one of the most likely places to find that tradition still being maintained.
Regards,
Gordon

[Squire]

One would think.

[brothers]

I'd like to check out Lido sometime, as well as Sicily. It's down there somewhere I understand.

[Squire]

My Sicilian friend says they're all good with blades.

[Dixieman]

Thanks. I'll post here again to let everyone know how it goes.

[brothers]

Please do! Some of us don't get out much!

[Squire]

Especially the food, I wanna hear about the food.

[Dixieman]

*Sigh*. Sorry to report it was very disappointing. No hot towel, barber used something that looked like a cutthroat but actually just held a double-edged blade, start to finish in less than ten minutes and this was supposed to be the best barber in town (Ortygia). I've given myself better shaves most days. Only consolation was that it cost only 5 Euros (about $6.50). Still, I would rather have paid more for a really good Italian barbershop shave.

[Squire]

Too bad, well, it's the risks one must assume when relying on strangers.

[JRTASTER]

I'm vicariously disappointed for you!

[Squire]

And rooting for you as well on the next throw.

[bernards66]

What a pity! Still, that doesn't necessarily mean that there are NO shops in Sicily that offer the real deal. Afterall, the only reason I know that there are a few such shops in Italy itself is because Chris F. has reported on them ( like everything else shaving related he has hunted them down regardless of time, energy, or money involved...sigh ). They are the creme de la creme, not the average Italian shop. It's such a shame, 30 or 40 years ago one probably could have gotten a really top notch traditional barbershop shave in practically any town in Italy.
Regards,
Gordon

[brothers]

Thankfully, now we don't have to go find a barber for a great straight razor shave, unless it's just a lark or a holiday adventure.

[Squire]

Does give a theme to a holiday outing though.

[brothers]

[The_whingnut]

Palermo is Beautiful in spring lots of old world mixed with modern. i remember there was a barber near the courthouse there but its been since 07. sorry for the date time stamps it was before i switched my SLr over to digital (all taken with Kodak v803)

palermo APr07 street

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palermo church APR 07

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