Travel guide Sicily

The legendary Piaggio APE 500! These three-wheeled vans with moped engines are used by street hawkers to sell their wares at the market, but also by craftsmen who find this vehicle handy for transporting goods through the narrow streets of old towns. Some are decorated like works of art.

A Mediterranean crossroads, Sicily is a melting pot of the Arab, Byzantine and Norman cultures that occupied it in the Middle Ages. An Arab-Norman culture developed: the court of Roger II of Sicily, who spoke Arabic, included Muslim poets and scientists. Nine Arab-Norman buildings are listed by Unesco.

The circles of meetings, discussions, culture, various games, former fishermen or friends of X and Y... flourish all over the island. While during the passeggiata the ragazzi throw longing glances at the ragazze who pretend to do the windows, these places frequented by the old ones do not miss charm.

The best ice creams in the world are Italian. A peremptory assertion? Perhaps. But generally speaking, when it says gelateria artigianale (artisanal ice cream parlour), it's a very good sign and you shouldn't be disappointed. Favorite flavors in Sicily: pistachio and almond. In summer, you can enjoy a granita.

Lost amid the waters and winds, Sicily proudly holds to this image: they are the Sicilians, the others - those on the mainland - are the Italians. Marginal and original, it is the crossroads of Byzantine, Arab, Spanish and Norman cultures, and remains open to Africa and the Orient, turned towards the sea.

What a pleasure to attend a Sicilian wedding! You're bound to come across one on the church forecourt. The bride is often filmed, while the guests compete in elegance. The women are perched on high pumps. The men wear black suits and white shirts with cufflinks. Italian class!

Greek mythology is important in Sicily. Persephone was kidnapped by Hades in Enna. Poseidon's daughter Charybdis almost sank Ulysses in the Strait of Messina. Hephaestus' forge was in Etna, and Aeolus, the god of the winds, resided in the Aeolian Islands. As for Dionysus, it was in Sicily that he discovered the vine.

The "law of silence" in Sicilian. It's THE rule in the mafia, but also in general: on an island, everything is known! Sicilian proverbs say it all: "He knows a lot who can keep his mouth shut", "The best word is the one you don't say". And for those who don't understand: "If you want to live, don't get involved in too many things."

Everywhere in Sicily, and especially in summer, siesta time is sacred, and if the shops can stay open until 1:00 or 1:30 pm, there is no question of opening the eye and the door before 4:30 pm. This is an opportunity to wander around the city and enjoy this magical moment of calm. Beyond that, the city comes alive with its inhabitants.

The tonnara is a small fortress on the sea used for tuna fishing. The fish were trapped there in cages according to an Arabic method from the 9th century. Roberto Rossellini shows it in Stromboli. For a long time, this tradition was the only income for many Sicilians. Nowadays, the tonnares are renovated into hotels, restaurants, bars...

The flag of Sicily, with a head and three legs (the Trinacria - from the Greek treis àkra, "three promontories"), comes from the myth of the fisherman Nicola, nicknamed Colapesce. He had discovered that one of the three columns supporting Sicily had been devoured by the fire of Mount Etna. He decided to stay underwater to support the island.

A volcanic land, Sicily is under constant threat of new eruptions. Stromboli, Vulcano and the most famous of them all, Etna, are still going strong. The latest eruption, in February 2021, was particularly spectacular: the lava fountains and flows were clearly visible at night from Catania.