SICILY
Info
Sicily is a Latin name that dates back to the Greek Sikelia; the name of an ancient population that lived on the island called Sikeloi. The region also has another name, Trinakria, which means three points. The emblem of the island is the head of Medusa, one of the three gorgons, from which point three legs bent at the knee as if flowing one after the other (symbol of the sun in its three forms - god of spring, summer and winter). The history, culture, tradition and food and wine of the island have meant that "Sicilia" is already a brand known throughout the world. Sicily is an autonomous region of the Special Statues.
Most of its five million inhabitants live in the big cities: Catania, Messina and Palermo. The latter is the capital of the region and has the highest population with 1 million inhabitants (city and hinterland). Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. It has the largest surface area of all the Italian regions and is also the southernmost. The Strait of Messina separates it from the mainland by almost three kilometers and the Strait of Sicily from Africa by only 140 kilometres. The island is approximately triangular and its three sides lie on the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Sicilian Channel and the Ionian Sea. Sicily has three wonderful archipelagos: the Aeolian and Ustica islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Egadi islands to the west of the coast of Trapani, and the Pelagie and Pantelleria islands to the south, a few kilometers from Africa. In recent years the regional authorities have tried to fully exploit this enormous natural heritage and have invested large sums (around 40 million euros) through the "PIR - Minor Islands" financing program. The morphology of the island is composed of: hills (61.4% of the territory), mountains (24.5%) and plains (14.1%).
Etna dominates the east of the island. It is an active volcano and is the highest in Europe, with its 3,263 m. At the foot of the volcano extend the plains of Catania, the result of centuries of floods deposited by the most important river on the island, the Simeto. Its strategic location in the center of the Mediterranean Sea made it vulnerable to long periods of foreign rule over the centuries, which left traces not only in the island's culture but also in its economy. Greek rule over the island was a period of great splendor, bringing with it culture and great economic growth. From the Greeks we inherited the pomegranate and the almond, but above all the large expanses of olive groves and vineyards that today produce a large part of some of the best wines in Italy. The Romans didn't leave much to the island. They settled here in the 3rd century BC. and brought with him the practice of large estates.
From the 9th century, the Arabs returned splendor and economic stability to the island. Crops of carob, bitter orange, lemon, sugar cane, cotton, sumac, date palm and mulberry thrived in the fertile soils and mild climate and these are crops that are still grown in Sicily today. Following the Arab rule came the Norman-Swabian rule, which left a legacy of unique art and architecture throughout the island. Sicily is known above all for the beauty of its coasts, its mild climate and its numerous archaeological sites, natural parks, baroque cities, Arab-Norman monuments and for its 14 UNESCO world heritage sites.
The Sicilian Region was the first in Sicily to compile a 'List of intangible cultural heritage' (or living heritage) approved by UNESCO. As a result, oral traditions, ritual events and festivals, and traditional crafts have gone from common cultural events to part of our cultural heritage that needs to be protected, promoted, and shared with the world.
Throughout the year, Sicily celebrates countless folklore, cultural and religious festivals. Each city has its traditions, its festivals and its events. The holidays of the Catholic Church are of great importance within Sicilian folklore. The festivals of Santa Rosalia in Palermo, Sant'Agata in Cantania, Madonna della Santa Lettera in Messina, Santa Lucia in Syracuse and the Good Friday procession in Enna attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. Large non-religious festivals include the Carnivals of Sciacca, Acireale, Termini Imerese and Racalbuto. The Greek games in Syracuse and the Cous Cous Fest in San Vito Lo Capo are also famous throughout the world, as are the numerous festivals and village fairs, the most famous of which is probably the Almond Blossom Festival in Agrigento. The Sicilian puppet theater also deserves a mention. In 2001 it was included among the masterpieces of humanity and the intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. The Puppet Opera is the Sicilian puppet theater and brings to life characters from the Charlemagne cycle. The theater season at the Teatro Massimo is very popular all over the world. It is one of the most beautiful theaters in the world and every year offers a full program of operas, concerts and ballet productions.
Sicilian cuisine is another of the treasures of Sicily, famous throughout the world, especially for the abundance of quality, genuine foods and wines, extraordinary flavors and good mix of food from both the land and the sea. Furthermore, Sicily is also considered the birthplace of the Mediterranean diet, a perfect example of a healthy and balanced diet.
Sicilian viticulture has managed to imprint its name in the world. Products such as Marsala fortified wine, but also highly prized native vines such as Nero d'Avola and Controlled Designation of Origin vines such as Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Passito di Pantelleria are now known throughout the world.