Sicily

Sicily, island of contrasts

The most imposing sight on Sicily is, according to many, the Etna, the volcano dominating the city of Catania, notorious for spewing out fearsome streams of lava in a magnificent eruption, but when quiet, being a silent majesty, sometimes allowing its top to be covered with snow.

Sicily is an island where “the landscape does not know the happy medium between exuberance and modesty”, at least, according to Prince Don Abruzzi of Salina, a character from Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel “ Il Gattopardo” (the Leopard), with many autobiographic details and based on his own but mostly his grandfather’s life. The novel was very controversial at the time, and for quite a many of years it could not be bought in Italy. In 1963, Luchino Visconti made a world-famous movie from the book, starring then great actors such as Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale. more