SICILYCAPITAL CITY: PALERMO

INTRODUCTI

ON

MAP OF SICILY

LOCATION

Largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, along with surrounding minor islands

Also surrounded by Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas

Considered to be part of Italy

Separated by Italian mainland by Strait of Messina

Area of 25,707 sq km; population (2000) 5 million

Agriculture is still the predominant occupation of Sicilians

AGRICULTURE

Primary economy

MAIN CROPS:

Wheat, Barley, Corn, Olives Citrus Fruit, Almonds, Wine Grapes, Cotton, Cattle, Mules,

Donkey, Sheep

HISTORY

SICILY HAS BEEN CONQUERED BY MANY PEOPLE, MAKING ITS CULTURE AND HISTORY RICHER

Many landmarks and all kind of influences: Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Muslim, French, Spanish, Austrian, etc…

Throughout much of its history, Sicily has been a valuable prize, fought over by many warring nations, mainly due to its important position on the Mediterranean trade routes

PALERMOCAPITAL CITY

PALERMO

North-west coast of Sicily

Palermo was conquered by the Arabs in 831 became capital of the independent emirate of Sicily

Cathedral (12th century), Palazzo dei Normanni…

Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Norman and Arab influence on architecture

ATTRACTIONS

Valley of the Temples in Agrigento

Greek theatre at Taormina

Palazzo dei Normanni

Mount Etna

TRADITION

Practically all Sicily traditions revolve around or are in same way related to the church.

*Most are devout Roman Catholic

* Superstitions

SUPERSTITIONS

If you enter someone’s home through one door, you should also leave through that same door. Otherwise, it’s bad luck.

Sicilians say that if you want to sell your house, you should bury a plastic statuette of St. Joseph, upside down in the front yard. Preferably under the “For Sale” sign.

Friday the 13th

IMPORTANT PEOPLE

FOOD/CUISINE

FOOD/CUISINE

Food and wine are among Sicily’s main attractions

a tasty salad made with eggplant (aubergines), olives, capers and celery, makes a great appetizer.

CAPONATA

is a thin paste made of crushed or powdered ceci (garbanzo) beans and served fried

Panella

is a rich, sugary cake filled with the same delicious filling.

CASSATA

MAFIA

Despite Sicily’s accolades, it is best known for being the home of Mafia

MAFIA was the given name to organized groups of Sicilian brigands in the 19th and 20th century

Organized in feudal times when lords hired brigands to guard their estates in exchange for protection from the royal authority

MAFIA

In 1992, when two prominent Anti-Mafia Prosecutors were assassinated, the central government began a military operation which ended in 1998 after many organized crime figures were jailed.