Italian Culture, Sicily

Blogger and others: Future articles here will venture into a focus on Italian culture from many perspectives and will include many topics that provide examples of our culture, including food, drink, art, architecture, history, regionalism, etc.

I have chosen Sicilia for the first article, as an example of regionalism and diversity. Italy is a unique country in many ways, but especially because it is a nation of diverse regions and traditions. Every Italian region is a mini country with its own history. In fact Italy did not become a unified republic until 1861, after California achieved statehood in 1850. Sicily is the epitome of a melting pot of influences due to its history of invaders, wanting to control such a strategic location, Obviously, the various ethnic groups which occupied Sicily left their imprints in the architecture, cuisine including dolce. 

I think if you haven't yet visited Sicily, you will want to go. There are many reasons to like this island. The cuisine is remarkable with influences over centuries from Spain, France, Greece and North Africa. The blending of the various herbs, spices, styles, etc. provide for the most distinctive cuisine in all of Italy. Of course there are many other reasons to visit this island. There are beautiful and historical vistas along the miles and miles of coastline. The climate is the mildest in Italy mainly due to its location near North Africa. The wines have come into their own and there are beautiful wineries to visit. 

There are many Greek ruins in Sicily, some of which are in better condition than those in Greece. There is, of course, the most famous of volcanoes, Mt. Etna, just north of Catania near Taormina, one of the most visited areas of Sicily. Taormina sits high above the Ionian Sea with breathtaking views of the coastline.

There are fascinating cities to visit, Palermo, Catania, Messina, Siracusa, Agrigento, to name a few. There are very historical and well-preserved towns such as Modica, Noto, Taormina, Cefalu, Enna, and many more. The people of Sicily are warm and friendly. They love that you love their island! Many of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in Italy are in Sicily.

In summary, Sicily is just one of the unique regions in Italy. I believe that the best way to understand and enjoy Italy’s diverse culture, is to embed yourself in it, and live like an Italian.