VERY INTERESTING: SICILY

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Interesting Facts About Sicily, Italy’s Southernmost Region

The beautiful, mysterious volcanic island of Sicily has long captivated the attention of readers, travelers, and explorers, from ancient times all the way until today.

I dreamed of visiting Sicily for most of my life, and when we finally had the chance to visit, it exceeded my sky-high expectations.

Ragusa Ilba in Sicily as seen from above--one of the Baroque towns that make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island and are full of interesting facts about Sicily

The Sicilian language is still spoken on the island.

Though today the official language of Sicily is Italian, and most residents speak Italian, Sicilian is still widely spoken–in fact, if you step off the beaten path in Sicily and start heading into smaller towns less populated by tourists, you’ll even see it written on menus and signs!

Some of the best-preserved Greek ruins outside of Greece are in Sicily.

The Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, in particular, is remarkably well-preserved, and comes with a mere fraction of the crowds as the ruins in, say, Athens–definitely one of the most interesting facts about Sicily for travelers planning a visit!

One of the most famous Italian novels is set in Sicily. 

The Leopard, written by Giuseppe Tomasi Lampedusa, is set in 1860s Sicily at the time of the unification of Italy.

Told from the perspective of a Sicilian prince who is facing a rapidly changing culture and place in society while watching his family grow and change, the novel addresses, above all else, the cultural transition that took place on the island when Sicily was absorbed into the unified country of Italy.

The author is a descendent of the family central to the story of The Leopard, and while the accuracy of the character portrayals is a bit up for debate (not all the family members agreed with the author’s take on them), the story is moving and interesting.

I did find the book a bit slow toward the beginning, but walked away glad I had taken the time to read it and get some historical Sicily facts and context before visiting.

Sicily makes delicious wine.

Sicily’s volcanic soil and Meditteranean climate make it ideal for growing wine grapes, and the island is home to several wine regions, most notably Mount Etna, Noto, Faro, and Vittoria.

Once upon a time, Sicily ruled itself as the Kingdom of Sicily.

Long stretch of empty beach in Avola Sicily with the clear sea visible on the left, an excellent stop on any Sicily road trip itinerary

… but it has also been ruled by many of Europe’s most famous empires.

… including the Ancient Greeks, the Byzantines, the Romans, the Arabs, and the Normans, just to name a few.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking