Since the publication of my book BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6, I have been much more aware of butterflies and how they can be observed in so many places. On my recent trip to Sicily, I was surprised and pleased to discover a butterfly "house" tucked away just off one of the main streets of the capital city of Palermo. (In Italian, a butterfly is a farfalle.) 
We bought our tickets and went through the netted door. Inside the enclosed room, hundreds of tropical butterflies flew around in the warm moist air, resting on leaves and feeding on flowers. One kept landing on my husband's hat! A chart showed pictures of butterflies from America, Africa and Asia so that one could identify the butterflies that were flying around. 
In one corner was a container of chrysalises suspended from a strip of foam. A few butterflies rested at the bottom as their wings dried. Soon more would emerge from their chrysalises. It was truly a butterfly heaven! Here are just a few of the many beautiful butterflies we saw.
