Sicily
Sicily is situated between Italy
and North Africa, and is the largest region in Italy
and the biggest island in the Mediterranean. Dominated
for more than 2000 years by ancient rulers, each
culture left its mark and thereby created a rich
historical and gastronomic heritage. Sicily is now
also one of the biggest wine producing areas in
Europe and is gaining significant recognition for
the wine it produces.
Here one finds oneself in a different
Italy, rough and wild; one senses that the past
is stronger than the present. Heir to ancient Greeks,
Carthaginians, Arabs, Normans, Romans and Byzantines,
Sicily is priceless, soaked with history and sun
- “the island in the sun”.
You’ll find prehistoric
tombs, Greek theatres, temples and baroque towns,
nature reserves such as Vendicari and the Plemmirio
Natural Marine Conservation Area and volcanoes,
the most famous of which being “Mt. Etna”.
Only 3km from mainland Italy but noticeably different,
Sicily has a language of its own – its dialects
are still widely spoken and each town remains unique
with its annual festivals and processions. The Southeast
of Sicily boasts much of Sicily’s beauty in
terms of nature, architecture and culture. The Noto
Valley was declared a World Heritage Site in June
2001 by UNESCO and the town of Noto itself is the
European capital of baroque.
You soon have a feeling of stepping
deeper into the past with every step you take along
any of the many narrow, cobbled streets in the old
towns of Ragusa, Noto and Siracusa. You can while
away hours sitting in outdoor cafes, sampling the
diverse culinary delights reminiscent of ancient
rulers.
Sicily is proud and very much
aware of its rich heritage and is actively restoring
many of its fine examples of architecture. The Greek
theatre in Siracusa hosts live performances regularly
throughout the summer months, affording visitors
an opportunity to watch a Greek tragedy portrayed
as it was so many years ago.
One cannot describe Sicily without
remembering the crystal clear turquoise waters,
dramatic rocky cliffs and beautiful beaches that
comprise its shoreline. There are countless small
harbours, filled with brightly painted fishing boats
and surrounded by shorefront cafes.
Open-air markets are a regular
part of Sicilian life too, and offer an incredible
selection of fresh produce, cheese and fish for
sale. It is hard to resist buying more than you
can possibly carry!
