OBSERVANT EYES IN THE MAIN PIAZZA will have noticed a large wooden structure that has been erected along one end.

"There's going to be a big sfila on Sunday here," Jake at Caffe' d'Italia told me, leaning over the gelato counter tonight as I treated myself to a small cup of stracciatella. "Ladies in different outfits. Voglio vedere."

"Ah," I replied. "Miss Mondo."

All the town awaits.

In anticipation of this upcoming event, we present a series of exclusive photographs of last year's Miss Mondo competition, taken by Dr. John Caputo, which demonstrate the history, the pagentry, the majesty, and the magic of Miss Mondo.