"Italy without Sicily leaves no image in mind: Sicily is the key to everything."
commented Goethe his trip to Sicily, in a letter comes from his work "Journey to Italy" dated Friday, April 13, 1787.
Many other poets and artists of all time were impressed by the exotic beauty and art in Sicily.
Homer, Cicero, Lucretius, Carducci, Quasimodo, and many others have enthusiastically described what they had seen in the streets of Palermo, Siracusa, Catania and other Sicilian cities, large and small.
Some intellectuals have also outlined an identikit of the Sicilian people.
Cicero, about the Sicilian, he wrote in his De praetura Siciliens: "Whatever happens to the Sicilians, they the comment with a joke ...."
I have to say that Cicero was right. The Sicilians have the gift of bringing a good mood even where apparently can not always work.
Sure, Sicily, we all know, was a region that has cried so much and still, unfortunately, still mourns the crimes of a past not too far away. Of this, however, I will speak shortly.
I now speak of Sicily, starting with a little 'history.
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. Cradle of many civilizations, the meeting place of different peoples, it is striking for its landscape so varied and fascinating.
The ribs are arranged around large bays, inlets and headlands bold narrow, long sandy beaches and huge cliffs.
The mountains are a continuation of Calabria and the Apennines are divided into Peloritani in Erei and in Iblei. Etna rule with its crater, still smoking from all the volcanoes in Europe.
The artistic expressions are the most varied and transform walking the streets of cities in a real time travel.
Trinacria is the capital of Palermo.
Palermo is also my hometown. Located on the northern coast, it has always been the combination of artistic and natural beauty.
Many assumptions were made about the origins of the city. Probably the Phoenicians were the first to enter it and named it "Ziz", which means flower. Panormus is the name given by the Greeks and means all port.
All rulers (Roman, Arabic, English, Angevin, Aragonese, Bourbons) that went to Palermo left a trace in the language, culture and art in Palermo.
Palermo is also known for the beauty of its beaches. Mondello is the beach Palermo. Located 12 km from Palermo, is one of the finest resorts: its tropical sea and its fine sand attracts thousands of swimmers each summer, Italians and foreigners.
and sunset there is a real show!
Now we enter the heart of Palermo, the old town, which is one of the largest in Europe.
Among its streets are the diverse markets of Palermo, the main poles of attraction in the city. The narrow streets of folklore
Vucciria, Cape Ballarò and have a unique charm in the world.
In these places you will experience the oriental flavors and tastes of typical Sicilian dishes, fresh fruit, Sicilian oranges and fresh fish. Among
un'abbanniata (song of Arabic origin used by sellers to sponsor their goods) and the other, you seem to cross roads without time.
Everything there seems to incite life, smile and cheerfulness, even if it is very poor roads.
Unfortunately, between those roads has also developed a certain mentality, the mafia.
And yes, the Mafia in Palermo and Sicily in general, is a terrible reality that deserves attention.
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