Sicily

Sicily has been influenced by the many ethnic groups that have passed through its territory, marking its art and culture: Pieces of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Muslim, Norman, Angevin, Aragonese, Catalan culture... Each of them has left its mark, architectural traces, masterpieces of art, transforming the whole island into an open-air museum unique in the world.

Sicily, a land of illustrious writers, started the Sicilian School at the court of Frederick II, where the first vernacular developed. Among the most illustrious are: Giacomo da Lentini, inventor of the sonnet; Luigi Pirandello with his Nobel prize for literature; Luigi Capuana and Giovanni Verga, both verists; Salvatore Quasimodo, another Nobel prize winner; Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, well known for his historical novel "Il Gattopardo", and many other authors.

Sicilian cuisine is part of a complex and articulated gastronomic culture. The list of typical products is very long, in fact, each province and each municipality has its own specialty and even the names of the same foods vary from area to area.

The culture of street food is very strong, and the most representative dishes are: panelle (pancakes made of chickpea flour), crocchè (fried croquettes made of boiled potatoes), sfincione (a kind of double layer pizza full of onions), sandwiches with spleen ( veal spleen and lung), and stigghiole (roasted lamb guts).

Symbol of the strong confectionery tradition of Sicily is the cassata, a sponge cake stuffed with sweetened ricotta, surrounded by royal dough and decorated with candied fruit. Cannoli, a fried wafer filled with sweetened ricotta. An alternative to ice cream is granita, very common in Sicily, chopped with ice and fruit syrups.

Sicily is an ancient land, which boasts a series of unique archaeological sites, sunny beaches, numerous archipelagos and islets. Sicily is also an ideal year-round tourist destination, thanks to a mild climate and a perfect mix of history, excellent cuisine, a lively nightlife and, first of all, a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

There are many places to visit and discover, such as the tiny town of Taormina, one of the most visited tourist destinations in Italy, or as Cefalù, included among the most beautiful villages in Italy. The Valley of the Temples of Agrigento, Taormina, Palermo and Catania will leave you breathless with their monuments and archaeological sites.

If you want to experience exciting excursions, Etna, the island of Stromboli and the Alcantara gorges will make you experience unique emotions in contact with nature.

Thanks to its geographical position, it has played a very important role in the historical events that have had as protagonists the peoples of the Mediterranean. The succession of multiple civilizations has enriched Sicily with urban settlements, monuments and remains that make the island one of the privileged places, where history can be relived through the images of the signs that time has not affected and that has been handed down to the present day.

One of the symbols of Sicilian culture is the colourful Sicilian cart. Wooden cart transported by horses in the eighteenth century were used for agricultural purposes, still widespread today, are an attraction for tourists from around the world. Another noteworthy tradition is the "puppet theatre". The Sicilian puppets represented a leisure, like the cinema for us today. The shining armour of the paladins enchanted adults and children alike. In the historical centre of Palermo there are several theatres where traditional shows are still staged today and a museum.