The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Italy:
Sicily
Sicily (Sicilia), the largest island in the Mediterranean, is a place of contrasts. Salty old farmers, widows in black veils, dry mountains, and clear seas can all be found, but so can poverty, backwardness, and the Mafia. Though recent progressive movements by the government and the Sicilian people themselves have provided hope that the region will one day get out from under its feudalistic thumb, the Mafia continues to be a real presence in the everyday lives of Sicilians.
Over the centuries, the island's location, fertile soil, and warm climate encouraged every great Mediterranean civilization to invade it--from the Phoenicians to the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Bourbons. In spite of its millennia-long economic and political instability, or perhaps because of it, much of Sicily retains its traditional flavor. Some of the best Greek ruins in the world are in the ancient cities of Siracusa and Agrigento, and the capital, Palermo, is a quagmire of cathedrals and exotic palaces and gardens. When you're not at historic sites improving yourself, beaches call out for sunbathing, and volatile Mt. Etna beckons to be climbed. Best of all, after a long day in the sun, you'll have the chance to sample some of Italy's best seafood, prepared with a delicate mix of Arab, Greek, and Spanish spices.
|
