Sicily - Italy - page 541

14 Sicily

14

It's fiery, friendly, and utterly unlike
any other region of Italy.

by Barbie Latza Nadeau
N O MATTER HOW YOU ARRIVE ON THE ISLAND OF SICILY -- WHETHER
straight into the bustling confusion of Palermo, by sea through the historically per-
ilous Straits of Messina, or by air under the shadow of Mt. Etna's volcanic plume,
you cannot escape the other-worldly feeling that defines this island. In many ways,
Sicily is the “other” Italy, a region so steeped in uniquely Sicilian tradition that it
hardly seems related to the mainland. Instead, Sicily is more like a fiery, distant
cousin, and almost everything, from the unique twang of the local dialect to the
spicy food, is intensely indulgent and surprisingly unlike what you may expect.
Most of what is considered Sicilian—from city names to social habits to
desserts—is derived from ancient Arabic culture. Add to that a breathtaking terrain
that often feels exotic, with prickly-pear cactuses growing along the roadsides and
palm trees lining the village streets. Mix
in a healthy dose of mob history and
legendary passion—both romantic and
religious—and you've begun to scratch
the surface of what it is to be Sicilian
and what you should look for when you
visit.
This unique heritage is one that
these island people are intensely proud
of. Most here feel that they are
Sicilians first, Italians second. There are even old-time Sicilians who brag that they
have never been off the island. Once you've visited, it's not hard to see why they
would never need to go anywhere else.
DON'T LEAVE SICILY WITHOUT . . .
TEMPTING FATE ON A LIVE VOLCANO Sicily is home to some of the
world's most active volcanoes, which are welcoming spots for nature lovers and arm-
chair volcanologists alike. The massive Mt. Etna, on the eastern coast, and the
extremely active volcanic island of Stromboli, off the northern coast, are part of a
volcanic arc that also includes the active volcanic islands of Vulcano and Lipari.
These are milder in temperament, but still rewarding natural wonders to explore. A
relatively new range of volcano tours (p. 569) makes it easy (and safe) to get close.

“ To have seen Italy without hav-

ing seen Sicily is to not have seen
Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to
everything.

”

—J. W. Goethe, Journey To Italy

VISITING NORMAN PALERMO All over the city of Palermo you'll stumble
upon buildings with Norman, Arab, Byzantine, French, Roman, and Greek influ-
ences. The Palazzo dei Normanni (p. 548) and the Cathedral (p. 550) highlight
any walking tour of Sicily's capital city.

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