5 Things you Didn’t Know About Sicily
Spending a vacation in Sicily means not only sunbathing on the best beaches of Sicily but also embarking on a journey of discovery to learn and experience the multi-faceted characteristics and culture of one of the most important centres of activity in Mediterranean history.
This is exactly what makes the Southern Italian island (the biggest in the Mediterranean) so appealing to visitors, because it is a treasure trove of hidden knowledge – and we are not just talking about its great collection of ancient Greek, Roman, Arabic, Northern European and North African temples, ruins and monuments of art like the cathedrals and churches which are spread all over the island and its Aeolian and Egadian Archipelagos. From the local gastronomy to the architectural wonders dating back over 3000 years, Sicilian history has impacted popular culture in more ways than one.
The capital, Palermo – located in the Northwest, is a central destination for tourists who want to experience the best of authentic and traditional Sicilian recipes. In fact it has been established as the European capital of street food, being nominated by Forbes magazine as one of the top five cities in the world with the best local cuisine, and ranking first in Europe. Here you will experience everything that Sicily has to offer food-wise, with a large variety of delicacies served by street vendors.
Sicily also grows the best and sweetest kinds of pistachios in the world – the Gelato al Pistacchio is in fact another favourite among locals and tourists alike. Sicilian pistachios are also used in many recipes ranging from pasta dishes with garlic and tomato to grilled swordfish (another specialty of the Island, offer of the teeming waters of the Mediterranean where swordfish along with tuna and sardines abounds), croissants, and to make an extraordinary Pesto sauce that complements an infinite variety of course dishes. The most famous pistachio in the world probably comes from Bronte.
It may come as a shock, but the Godfather movies were not shot in the town of Corleone, but in the regions around Messina and Taormina – specifically in the towns of Savoca and Forza D’Agrò. Do not despair, however, as – by some strange coincidence of fate – in real life Al Pacino really was born in the town of Corleone! And you can still enjoy a wonderful gastronomic adventure at the Bar Vitelli in Savoca, where in the famous scene Michael Corleone asks – quite bluntly – the owner Apollonia for his daughter’s hand in marriage.
Another less-known fact that makes Sicily unique in terms of ancient architecture is its wide variety of beautifully preserved Temples, amphitheatres and archaeological ruins, considered to be even better than those in Greece. Check out the 5th Century B.C. Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, housing the Temples of Juno, Concordia, Olympian Zeus and Hercules among others; as well as the Greco-Roman amphitheatre in Taormina (3rd Century B.C.), and you will be amazed at their preservation throughout the millennia.
A further fact that may come as a surprise – considering especially that the economy in the South and particularly Sicily since the early part of the 20th Century was destroyed by Mafia control well through the period following the 1950s is that in the early to latter part of the 19th C (1814-1860) the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies which also incorporated Naples, was the richest kingdom in Italy. The unification of Italy in 1861 also contributed to Sicily’s demise and along with the infiltration of the Mafia in Italian politics, did little to speed up the South in terms of industrialization compared to the other Italian regions.
Have you been to Sicily, or is it on your travel bucket list?
*This is a collaborative post.
I would like to visit Sicily for its tasty food and cuisine.
Whistle* that beach is just se manifique! What an awesome view! Loving all those light blue tones. Sicily sounds EPIC, would love to visit
It is absolutely stunning isn’t it. x
Sicily is definitely on my travel bucket list! I plan to eat my way through! LOL 🙂
Haha I am with you on that how delicious does the food sound! x
Sicily is on my bucket list for sure. I can’t wait to be able to afford this trip.
I shall keep my fingers crossed it doesn’t take you long. x
I would love to visit Sicily, or anywhere over seas to be honest! I really do hope that I can make it there at some point!
Good luck – I really hope you manage to visit yourself one day 🙂 x
I would love to visit here, hopefully next year!
Ekk how exciting I hope you manage to make it next year 🙂 X
I would love to visit Sicily; it just looks like heaven on earth! And anywhere that has the best pistachio’s is a place I need to go! x
How fun that he was born htere. I wanted to go to Sicily once upon a time. Everything seems so different and fascinating. I heard the water had steams too, I think that would be interesting to see.
I agree it is like a bit of a dream location one of those that you see in your dreams. x
I didn’t know squat about Sicily in the first place so this was great info! I always love learning about new places!
Glad to have taught people a little about such an amazing place. x
Omg what a beautiful place!!! And I definetly didn’t know these things about sicaly
Oh this is so on my list of places to visit. I think we will hop over the pond next summer!
I would love to visit Sicily! I had no idea, that they grow the sweetest kind of pistachios! Who wouldn’t love that?!
Sicily sounds like a great place. I want to have a vacation and I hope I can go there someday!
It is absolutely beautiful isn’t it – an amazing place to go away to! x
I would love to go to Sicily. I’ve been to Venice, Rome, Milan and the Italian lakes but would love to explore Italy more. I didn’t know they had temples, amphitheatres and archaeological ruins there!
I would visit just for my stomach. I love italian foods and especially the coffees.
Hahah they offer some amazing dishes in that part of the world that is for sure! x
Such a beautiful place! I didn’t know much about Sicily until I read this article. It’s one of the places that I’ve always wanted to visit. Reading this has been fun, thanks!
It is just beautiful isn’t it – so much to do and see that perhaps some didn’t know about. x
I knew nothing about Sicily before this post, it looks like such a gorgeous and sounds like an amazing place. I’d love to visit at some point if I could!
It is a beautiful, amazing and vibrant place to explore 🙂 most definitely recommend. x
Beautiful! There’s nothing like Sicily! I love learning more things about it as people would often mention the usual, the food, the places to go to, but not really as in depth as this post. Thanks for all the cool info about Sicily!
It is such an amazing place isn’t it – I would love to be able to take off and explore the world. x
Sicily is in my bucket list! I knew about those pistachios from Sicily. Its true but the taste and the sweetness is very distinct. Its funny, but every time I hear someone mention “Sicily” all I get in my mind is Estelle Getty (Sophia of the show Golden Girls). Her famous line, “Picture this. Sicily. 1922.” I hope to visit this beautiful place someday!
I shall cross my fingers tightly that one day you get to make it to Sicily and see it all for yourself. x
I’ve never had the pleasure of traveling to Sicily but I’m really intrigued by it after reading this, I want to try the delicious food. I would like to go on a road trip around the US first and then make my way to other countries. So much to look forward to in the near future!
Sicily is definitely on my travel bucket list! I had no idea about the pistachios coming from there. I’d love to try some of their authentic pistachio gelato!
It is amazing the little facts we just don’t realise isn’t it till someone points them out 🙂 x
It looks like it would be so beautiful. The water is simply gorgeous! I would love to visit here one day.
Isn’t it so beautiful, imagine being able to walk down their every day. x
I am of Sicilian descent and have been to Sicily a couple times . It’s gorgeous and I can not wait to return.
Oh wow, I hope you manage to go back there one say and experience some more of it 🙂 x
i really want to visit sicily. ive seen so many beautiful photos and ive learnt something about it from reading this. it is always interesting to learn about the history
I love knowing little bits like the history of places as well – it is always interesting to know how things have progressed over the years. x
It looks absolutely beautiful there! At some point I would love to visit Europe and this would definitely be one of my stops!
I would love to see more of Europe as well, one day I’d like to just take off and explore! x
Sicily is one of those cities I just need to visit. I am not sure if my husband has been but it totally looks like a romantic spot!
It does seem so romantic doesn’t it – can just imagine doing a get away to there with the other half. x
I didn’t know about the pistachios.
Sicily is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It is a magical place.
This is definitely one place I’ve always wanted to visit. My grandfather was Sicilian
Oh wow so you have family links I hope you manage to visit one day 🙂 x
We’re going to spend a day there next month – a stop on our Med cruise. Looks beautiful doesn’t it?
Oh wow I bet that will be amazing – have a wonderful cruise! x
I would love to visit Sicily – mainly for ALL the food! LOL
Haha snap – it looks like one of those places that would just be amazing! x