Must-have Sicilian Street Food

Traditional cone-shaped Sicilian arancini street food in Taormina, Italy.

The arancini: A Volcanic rush

Swing by any rosticceria (fast food shop) in Sicily and you will find arancini. It’s a hand-held delight made from risotto (rice, cheese, butter, onion and white wine) that is rolled, breaded, stuffed with more cheese and fried until crispy. Endless variations appear, including those that are shaped like a cone (like nearby Mt Etna, perhaps) found on the streets of Taormina.

Once bitten, its hard to resist the volcanic rush: crunchy on the outside, cheesy on the inside.

Headed back to Italy

Are you ready to experience real Italian flavor at the source? We’re headed back to Italy later this year from May 28 to June 6, and we want you to join us.

Important Notice: Today is the final day to submit your deposit without penalty.

• Tour Dates: May 28 – June 6, 2026

• Highlights: Authentic local cuisine, historic landmarks, and expert-led tours.

• Action Required: View the Full Italy Tour Brochure here.

Would you like Fries with That? Fast Food in Ancient Pompeii

Fast Food, First-century style

If you’re hungry and hunting fast food along the streets of Pompeii (and you happen to be around before the volcano smothered the town in AD 79), you might swing by a thermopolium (Greek for “cook-shop”). Pray the line is short.

“L” shaped food counters like this one faced the street and featured built-in clay jars. The jars were filled with food and drink, kept warm by the terracotta. Hearty stews and soups (consisting of pork, seafood, goat, and snails) could be purchased as a entrée, with sides of bread, cheese, and nuts. Of course, no good Mediterranean meal would be complete without condiments, and there was no finer dipping sauce than a pungent garum (made from fish mash).

A well-preserved street in Pompeii.

fast food was A lively industry at PompeiI

In urban areas of the New Testament world, many residential apartments (insulae) lacked cooking facilities. Meals could purchased for take-away in places like this—and incidentally, the more well-to-do residents scorned the thermopolia. Scoff if you will, you McDonald’s-haters; more than 150 soup counters were found here, suggesting that take-away was a lively industry.

Try to imagine the aroma wafting down the street on a cool winter evening.

Do you think the Apostle Paul ever asked for extra cheese?

Linda Baines, one of our Bible Land Explorers, slipped behind the counter to stir the pot, a role she relishes.

Is Italy in your future?

We have a couple of Italy trips on tap this year and next. Here’s a link to a May 28 - June 6, 2026 excursion that has open seats right now. Will you join us? Email your questions here.

Piazza Navona: The Living Spectacle of Downtown Rome

From Ancient Stadium to Public Square

The Piazza Navona in downtown Rome is a place of spectacle (and has been for a long time).

Today it is a public space for shopping, eating, and relaxation.

In the 17th century, it was a showcase of Baroque art with impressive pieces still on display (note Bernini’s “Fountain of the Four Rivers” behind the bubble-maker in the photo above).

In the first century the public square was the location of the Stadium of Domitian, a sports stadium called the Circus Agonalis.

Join Us in Rome in 2026

We invite you to experience these New Testament world connections firsthand. We are hosting two distinct opportunities to explore the "Eternal City" in 2026:

1. Italy Land Tour (Venice to Pompeii): May 28 – June 6, 2026. This journey spans the peninsula and concludes with the wonders of Pompei. View details at the link here.

2. Aegean Cruise Pre-Trip: October 22 – November 3, 2026. Dive into Rome before we set sail for the wonders of the Aegean. View details at the link here or shoot us an email here.

Bible Land Explorer trips are more than a vacation—they are an opportunity to explore the place where faith begins!

Italy in 2026

Bible Land Explorer is headed back to the Vatican in 2026. The visit will be part of our "Taste of Italy" tour that will sample the cuisine, art, history and archaeology of the peninsula. Venice, Florence, Assisi, Rome, and Pompeii are among our stops. Consider joining us, May 28-June 6, 2026. For details, see the link here.

Rome is also a pre-trip excursion option for our Mediterranean cruise slated for later this year. Check out the cruise brochure here.

The Kneeling Atlas of Pompeii: Exploring the Ancient Odeon

A well-preserved Roman sculpture of a Kneeling Atlas supporting a ledge in the Odeon theater of Pompeii, Italy.

Frozen in Time: The Kneeling Atlas of the Pompeii Odeon

One of the most striking details in the Odeon (the "Little Theater") of Pompeii, Italy, is the figure of the Kneeling Atlas. In Greek and Roman mythology, Atlas was tasked with holding up the celestial heavens; here, he stoically supports the architecture of one of antiquity's most intimate entertainment venues.

The Rise and Fall of the Little Theater

The Pompeii odeon was a hub for music and poetry, offering a more refined atmosphere than the large open-air amphitheater nearby. Its timeline is a dramatic window into Roman history:

• Built: 1st Century BC.

• Destroyed: 1st Century AD.

Like the rest of the city, the Odeon was enveloped in several meters of volcanic ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. This cataclysmic event paradoxically served as a time capsule, preserving the intricate stonework of the Atlas figures for nearly two millennia.

Note: have a look at our post on the odeon of Ephesus here.

Walk the Streets of Pompeii with Us

If seeing the well-preserved wonders of the Roman world is on your bucket list, we invite you to join us next year (May 28-June 6, 2026). We are returning to Italy to explore the ruins of Pompeii, the coast of Naples, and the layers of history in Rome.

• Italy 2026: Click here for a link to the brochure.

• Italy 2027: Email us here to get on the waitlist and be ready when registration opens.