Sicilia aka: Sicily

Most of my family are from Sicily. My grandmother was an orphan on the island and moved to the US in the late 40s. I can’t find out much about her since she passed away and I never got to meet her. Not to mention being an orphan makes finding family ties pretty hard to do. But nonetheless I want to see where my people come from.

It has a dangerous feel to it – Mount Etna, the Mafia etc. I don’t actually know anyone who’s ever been there, everyone seems to stick to the mainland.

I visited Sardinia a few years ago, and would love to visit another Italian island!

When you talk about an inclusive history, Sicily’s right up there at the top of the list. Crossroads of the Mediterranean, Europe, Africa, western Asia—on and on!

I would like to visit Sicily because of its unusual history and situation in Europe. Sicily has been owned by almost every major European power in the last two millennia, not to mention the Arabs as well. It has been culturally influenced by all who have conquered her, and it is a strange relationship they have with Italy now as it has only been part of Italy for about 150 years. Italy has been highly fragmented and Sicily’s position away from the mainland only increases this lack of unity. It would be interesting to see Sicily in its own light, rather than as another part of Italy.

Best food I’ve ever had in my life