The Castellammare del Golfo Social Club opened its doors on November 15, 2025, at 2 p.m. for a heartfelt community gathering celebrating A Year of Photography by Letizia Mariotti.
Held at the club’s home at 8746 25th Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, the exhibit captured the essence of the club’s traditions, friendships, and everyday moments that define the enduring bonds within this closely knit community. It featured 20 black-and-white photographs from the Columbus Day Parade celebrations to making homemade pasta and fresh ricotta and birthday parties to dinner dances.
The exhibition on display was further enriched by personal artifacts and photographs, each offered by members as a window into their own family’s history. Vases and metal bowls, arranged by Sara Palazzolo, evoked the timeless beauty of Sicilian ruins, weaving a sense of historic presence into the exhibition. Spread across a long table, black-and-white photographs captured transient memories preserved forever. With quiet pride and joyful enthusiasm, Rosa Ditta, Anna, Damiano Palazzolo, and Angela Scotto brought me into their worlds. From weddings to photos of their parents and family members, and even themselves as children at five and six years old, these precious moments stood frozen in time. Each image carried a story waiting to be discovered, memories and voices that spoke across generations, awakening a profound sense of belonging and connection.
As many of the women gathered upstairs, mingling with friends, the men made their way downstairs to prepare lunch. In conversation with Joe Ditta, he shared stories of the club’s history and traditions of the moffolette.
“I am Joe Ditta, This is an old tradition, where "moffolette" are made for Saint Martin's Day, and we eat them with oil, salted anchovies, or cheese. This tradition was introduced at the Castellammare club in the 1950’s. On the day of making moffolette, whoever was turning 70 years old would have a celebration with a cake and moffolette. This tradition always continued like this, and we try to keep it going. We are all friends here; we are all like a family.”
Damiano Palazzolo then recounted the history of the Mofolette, connecting its ancient past to present day.
“So, how did the moffolette come about? On November 11th every year, the famous grapes harvested in Sicily in September turned into wine by November. Many years ago, there was a famine, and the wine did not turn out well, so the owners had trouble selling their wine. Finally, one year, on Saint Martin’s Day, the wine came out good. So, the women immediately went and lit the oven and made this type of bread to go with the wine. And that’s how the famous moffoletta came about, which, as Joe Ditta said, is made with anchovies, or cheese. For example, in the Palermo region they use ricotta, which I also like and I add tomato. In short, everyone can make it however they want. From that moment in time, the tradition has lasted, I believe for centuries. On the occasion of today, we held this famous exhibition of old black-and-white photographs and Sicilian objects. We skipped November 11th and did it today, so all our friends could be here to eat the famous moffolette.
Long live Castellammare and long live Sicily!”
