“For over twenty-five centuries we’ve been bearing the weight of superb and heterogeneous civilizations, all from outside, none made by ourselves, none that we could call our own.
This violence of landscape, this cruelty of climate, this continual tension in everything, and even these monuments of the past, magnificent yet incomprehensible because not built by us and yet standing round us like lovely mute ghosts; all those rulers who landed by main force from every direction who were at once obeyed, soon detested, and always misunderstood, their only expressions works of art we couldn’t understand and taxes which we understood only too well and which they spent elsewhere: all these things have formed our character, which is thus conditioned by events outside our control as well as by a terrifying insularity of mind.” – Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, The Leopard.
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (1896 – 1957) has been a prominent Sicilian writer that better understood the influence of history and dominations over his island. Sicily is characterized by a beauty of the most heterogeneous kind. Apart from the variety of landscapes and scenarios, a discrete traveler can observe the vast influence that Sicily received from the diverse Mediterranean cultures throughout centuries.
This gallery of images tries to depict the variety of Sicilian beauty that benefited from the Greek, Roman, Normans, Arabic and European craftsmanship and architecture. This complexity of impressions sum up the incredible mixture of arts and cultures that define Italy itself: a country often stranger to herself.
Arabic influences in Syracuse.
… and in Palermo.
Baroque impressions. The resurrection of Italian architecture during the 17th century.
Baroque balconies are so beautiful to catch the eyes of all the visitors.
Do not expect ‘normal’ beaches in Sicily. There is everything special.. Have a look at this special ‘Turkish steps’ close to Agrigento (centre-south of Sicily).
Byzantine character in the Monreale church.
Sicily will also be your best partner for enjoying life while eating incredible confectioneries.
Do not miss Sicily during your next trip to Europe! Sicily, Italy and their motley beauty.
Write an article in response.