Post on 08-Dec-2014
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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.