Sicily... A Mediterranean Experience

When I think about Sicily I find it difficult to say that it's simply an island of Italy, a simple stretch of its culture... Now, it's true that Sicilians, the southern in general, often represent the Italian abroad... and allow me... not always appropriately... Who around the world, for instance, doesn't know about "The Mafia", people wearing a "coppola", playing the mandolin, speaking with a thick accent and threatening to kill their own mothers for not keeping their mouths shut... while eating spaghetti....
A friend of mine was once asked to give a lecture about Italian culture and history to a class of American kids... As a magician he carried their young minds across the ocean through the acts of the Roman Empire, Michelangelo inventions, Caravaggio's paintings, the intricate story of The Betrothed, the culinary art... In my mind I pictured these kids listening attentively, ruptured by the words... almost bewitched, as it were... so understand my disappointment in finding out that at the end of the lecture the only question was: "Dude, do you know any mafia men?"

Sicily represents a separate culture in the Italian culture, so strong to influence the idea other populations have of the entire country it belongs to...
But who are we kidding... this image, is our fault, we have exported it, and even if it doesn't correspond to reality there something true about it especially here in Sicily: the strong sense of the family, the honor and respect, the strong attachment to their culture and traditions... all of these make of Sicily an appendix of Italian culture, something that lives on its own a jewel of the boot shaped country...
It's one of the main touristic destinations in Europe, and even if I spent only three days here, I was able to take a mouthful of its tasty beauty...
It's a perfect combination of culture and natural beauty, dominated by different populations along the years, from Greeks, to Romans, then Arabs, each colonization left a trace that it' s still possible to perceive today.
It's for this reason that the Cathedral of Monreale becomes a masterpiece with its impressive glass mosaic, covering the whole interior... or Mozia, a Phoenician island linked to the main land by a road build in the 4th century BCE and even though the waters have concealed most of this ancient treasure it's still possible to wade the sea bed and step on these big paving stones laid by the Romans 4 centuries before Christ...
But Sicily it's not only history, you'll be astounded in The Zingaro national reserve... a mountain chain with steep cliffs and adorned by several little bays, a 7 km long trail which links all the "celette" (bays), each one differs from the other and beautiful in its own way, so amazing to be difficult to describe... Small creeks, with crystal blue water, natural swimming pools, reachable only by foot by following a trail hidden among aloe vera plants and palm trees...
A day here starts well if you sink your teeth in a cannolo (a tube-shaped shell of fried pasta dough, filled with a sweet and creamy ricotta cheese), which goes well with your espresso but if you really want to follow the tradition then a coffee flavored Granita Siciliana with whipped cream on top can be a valid substitute to your coffee... don't be judgmental... few things are as good as this... and when lunch time kicks in don't forget to taste an "Arancino", a deep fried rice ball coated with breadcrumbs and filled with ragù, mozzarella cheese and/or peas (they have originated in Sicily in the 10th century)..
Here in Sicily you can take in a full breath of mediterranean air, explore the past, enjoy the present or simply let its crystal blue waters wave you stress away...

Pictures here.....

Thanks to Erika, Stefy, Enrico, Mimma, Simo, Nico and Lele