Charms of Sicily

Of all the regions of Italy, Sicily covers the largest land area at 25,708 km² and currently has five million inhabitants. It is also the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Floating off the toe of the Italian mainland, the island of Sicily is noticeably distinct from the rest of Italy. This is where Europe starts to take on a flavour of Greece, even of north Africa. It's not just the sometimes blisteringly hot weather - the unique history of Sicily, much invaded and an ancient centre of 'Magna Graecia' has given it a unique, hybrid culture. Sicily also has its own language, a close cousin of Italian, but with Greek and other influences. It's the first language of the island, though you'll find standard Italian (and indeed English) spoken in shops and hotels.

History

Its position in the southern Mediterranean, with the city of Siracusa guarding the Strait of Messina, has made Sicily enormously strategically important since Classical times. The Greeks arrived around 750BC to displace the ancient inhabitants - the Sicani, the Elymians and the Ligures. They were overthrown in turn by the rise of Rome in the late pre-Christian era. Christianity arrived around 200AD, then a succession of invaders including the Vandals, the Goths, Byzantium, the Lombards, Normans, Spaniards, Persians, Aragon and others.

Economy

Sicily is a principal source of the world supply of sulfur. Other minerals mined here include rock salt and asphalt. The petrochemical industry also figures in the economy of the island and is largely dependent on production in eastern Sicily, particularly in Catania and Syracuse and in Ragusa and Gela.

Agriculture is still the predominant occupation of Sicilians; wheat is the most important crop. Cereal grains are grown on the larger estates in the interior and along the southern coast. Smaller holdings are devoted principally to growing grapes, almonds, olives, oranges, lemons, beans, and sumac, used in tanning and dyeing. The fisheries (tunny, sardine, coral, and sponge) are extensive; one-fourth of Italy’s fishing vessels sail from Sicily.

Other occupations include manufacturing wine and olive oil, canning fruit and vegetables, and preparing citric acid. Some glassware, metalwork, and matches are produced in the larger cities. Sicily exports sulfur, fruits and vegetables, sumac, salt, wine, oil, and fish, and imports mainly grain, coal, and iron.

Almost the entire trade is seaborne through the three principal ports, Palermo (capital of Sicily region), Catania, and Messina. Tourism is also an important economic contributor; many visitors come to the region to explore landmarks such as cathedrals, and the Greek ruins at Agrigento, Syracuse, Taormina, and other locations.

Produce

From early times Sicily has been coveted for its fertile land and today Sicily still has a largely agricultural based economy. Its main products are wheat (turned into bread and pasta), barley, corn, peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, potatoes, grapes, figs, pears, peaches, La Ficurinnia or the fig of India (from the West Indies) and citrus fruits and almonds (introduced by the Arabs).

Dairy produce includes a number of cheeses such as Ricotta, Pecorino Siciliano and Caciocavallo Ragusano.

The Sicilian fishing industry provides tuna, swordfish, sea bream, sardines, octopus, squid, prawns and mussels.

Other specialties include wine (for example, Nero D’Avola, Donna Fugata, Regaleali, Malvasia and sweet Marsala), balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, bottled water from Geraci, salt and other food processing.

The Region of Ragusa

The Province of Ragusa is in the south-east of the island. Its capital is the city of Ragusa. It has an area of 1,614 km², and a total population of 295,264 (2001). There are 12 comunes (Italian: comuni) in the province, including Ragusa, Vittoria, Modica, Comiso, Scicli, Pozzallo, Ispica, Santa Croce Camerina, Acate Chiaramonte Gulfi, Monterosso Almo and Giarratana. From Scoglitti to Pozzallo, the Ragusan coastline is approximately 50 kilometres long. Along the Ragusan coast are many fishing villages such as Marina di Ragusa and Marina di Modica. The skyline of Ragusa is punctuated by the towers, domes and cupolas of the many exquisite churches for which the province is known. The area is mostly unspoilt, as during the 19th century and early 20th century there was large migration from Ragusa to the more prosperous areas of Italy and abroad.

Ragusa has changed dramatically over the last 20 years largely due to tourism; however, in many places it remains untouched by the last two centuries, and has escaped unscathed from the excesses of discovery by the travelling world. In places the atmosphere of the 18th century still pervades.