In the movie “The Beautiful Legend of Sicily”, when Malena walked gracefully and confidently through the Cathedral Square in Syracuse, she became the center of attention, and audiences around the world were also attracted by the most beautiful woman in the world – Monica Bellucci. From then on, people’s impression of Sicily was no longer a crime island, but a paradise on earth.
Why go to Sicily?
If you don’t go to Sicily, it’s like you haven’t been to Italy, because only in Sicily can you find the source of Italy’s beauty. “- Goethe, April 1787
Others said: “If Italy is a cup of coffee, then Sicily is a cup of espresso, which condenses the essence of Italy.” Sicily is extremely rich in terrain and rich in changes. There are some in Italy, and Sicily basically has all: mountains, oceans, hills, volcanoes, all the essence are concentrated in the 25000 square kilometers of land. At the same time, ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Spaniards, Austrians, and others successively ruled here. The island is filled with relics from more than 2000 years ago, and abandoned castles can be seen everywhere. It is truly amazing to have so many historical sites on a small island. It is not an exaggeration to call Sicily a natural historical museum, where historical buildings from various periods are perfectly integrated.
People who have been here say that this peaceful island has a primitive and beautiful temperament; However, upon careful observation, one will find that this small island, which has a history of three thousand years, is not so “simple”. The ancient and exquisite buildings reveal a culture that seeps out from history, and the locals stubbornly maintain their traditional way of life, which is also a precious art… However, what is most unforgettable and touching is the simplicity and enthusiasm of Sicilians.
World Cultural Heritage
2500 years of foreign rule have allowed Sicily to inherit a profound cultural heritage, from elegant Greek architecture to Norman style cathedrals, luxurious palaces that blend Byzantine style with Arab craftsmanship, and sparkling Baroque towns in the valleys. On this island, which covers only two-thirds of the area of Hainan Island, there are actually more than 10 world cultural heritage sites distributed. Therefore, this travel itinerary is also an experience of world cultural heritage.
1.The Palazzo dei Normanni
2.Cappella Palatina
3.Duomo di Monreale
4.Segesta
Enjoy Sicilian specialty cuisine slowly
In the book ‘Eat Pray Love’, the author describes the delicious Italian pasta, bamboo shoots, summer pumpkins, and other delicacies she enjoyed in Rome, and ends her perfect meal with the famous Italian dessert tiramisu. This is a typical Italian meal pairing. In addition to traditional Italian cuisine, we will also slowly savor Sicilian traditional dishes and specialty snacks in the streets and alleys of every Sicilian town we pass by or arrive at.
Sicily, as the largest island in the Mediterranean, greatly benefits from the ocean, and seafood is the best gift from the sea. The best seafood in Sicily is oysters. Although the quality may not be the best in the world, the way of eating here is very unique: first, pry open the lid of the oysters, then place them directly on the shelf and cook them over low heat. However, there is also the most important step, which is to mix champagne, fresh cream, and white pepper into a sauce, pour it over the oysters and grill over high heat for 3 minutes, and finally pour a spoonful of the freshest lemon juice. When you put it in your mouth, the taste is refreshing and stimulating, it’s simply amazing!
Sicily is rich in sardine, and people are also good at cooking sardine. Sardine roll and sardine pasta are very special. Some people describe the taste of sardine pasta as “sweet in sour, fresh in sweet, fresh in fruit and salty”.
The sea urchin here is one of the “Three Great Flavors of Sicily”. Paired with parsley, lemon, olive oil, and sea urchin yellow, it creates a unique flavor here. You must try sea urchin spaghetti and sea urchin rice to discover a new world.
The three major flavors of Sicily, besides sea urchin which is a seafood, are eggplant and pistachio. Sicilians make eggplants into salads and can also make them into mixed noodles; And pistachios can be used in sauces, dishes, and various desserts.
Italian desserts are unparalleled, and Sicilian desserts are even more stunning. The famous Tiramisu.
Italian ice-cream (Gelato) is a unique product. It adopts the traditional family manual workshop mode, and adjusts the proportion of raw materials randomly according to the maker’s personality and mood, so that each Gelato has its own personality. Therefore, it can be said that “there are no two Gelatos that are identical in the world”. Gelato’s production strictly follows natural principles, using seasonal fruits, natural nuts, milk, eggs, etc., and even not adding a drop of water during the production process, except for the moisture contained in the raw materials themselves. When making gelato, the stirring speed is very slow and less air is injected, so the texture is very dense and the taste is more delicate. But in fact, most gelato uses milk instead of cream, so its taste is both soft like cream and smooth and refreshing like milk.
