Sicily Amazes - Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

Sicily Amazes - Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

Our tour of Sicily came at the right time as it liberated us from the frenzy of moving to a new home. Goethe said in 1787 after visiting the island, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.”

 

We have been to Italy many times but had not given much thought to a stay in Sicily. As more people told me of its beauty, history, and culture, I knew we had to experience the island.

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To mitigate the hassles of air travel (there were none), we landed in Palermo with Peter and Sara one day before the tour began. And on that first day, we strolled to experience.

 

Palermo was a remarkable delight. What to us seemed at first like chaos and confusion was rather the rhythm in the daily lives of the Palermitans . . . frenzies of robust behavior mingled with years of history, multicultural food, Baroque architecture, snug alleys, small streets, iron-fashioned balconies, clothes hanging to dry, weathered castles and the cathedral where we climbed one hundred fifty steps to see the city from high above.

 

We were immersed in the cacophony, the aromas, and the wonders of the historic outdoor Mercato Ballero. Dating back centuries, the market’s history encompasses the traditions of the locals who shop for their groceries today as they had for centuries. They stopped to look. So did we. They stopped to listen. So did we. They stopped for a café. So did we. They stopped to chat. So did we. They stopped for a cannolo. So did we. We wanted to be like them.

 

Palermo, though wonderful, was a small part of our tour as we made our way around the island, visiting historic sites, mythology, mythological creatures, wineries, salt-making processes, a caper-producing farm, the marionette museum, and a treasure of ancient ruins, and archeological sites; some of the best-preserved Greek structures outside of Greece are in Sicily. We visited the site of the 1992 massacre of Judges Falcone and Borsellino by the Sicilian mafia; a day that sits heavily yet on the hearts and souls of Sicilians.

 

This exceptionally diverse island offers beaches, mountains, and active volcanoes. Its cathedrals and buildings show evidence of centuries of history. Sicily has been a home for Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, and many others for thousands of years; a crossroad of cultures, landscapes, and cuisine. We experienced exceptional beaches, charming villages, islands, wineries, olive producers, and towns high in the hills. Mt. Etna is a world wonder.

 

There is so much more that cannot fit into this piece. Oh yes, the food. At one point, while eating a local dish of pasta sardine, or maybe it was pasta alla Norma, I looked up at my fellow travelers and asked, “Are we fitting in all the marvels of Sicily between our stops for their exceptional food?”

 

Their answer was simple. “Yes, but no. Marvelous food simply complements all this great island has to offer.”