Sicily, the biggest island in Italy and the Mediterranean Sea boasts of its rich history and traditions, art and culture, and wonderful natural beauty. Frederick II, King of Sicily, once said: “I don’t envy God’s paradise, because I’m well satisfied to live in Sicily”. Well said!
To be surrounded by the beautiful sea, breathtaking mountains and countryside, grandiose volcanoes, and charming fishing villages, it’s a dream come true. Would you like to experience dreamy Sicily? Sit back and enjoy while these fun facts about Sicily take you on a one-time journey around the island…
1. Sicily is truly ancient.
Sicily was inhabited 10,000 years ago.
2. It’s regarded as a crossroads.
Its strategic location at the centre of the Mediterranean has made the island a crossroads of history, a pawn of conquest and empire, and a melting pot for a dozen or more ethnic groups whose warriors or merchants sought its shores.
3. Many left their marks here.
Throughout its history, Sicily has been influenced by a variety of different cultures, including Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Norman, Saracens, and Spanish.
4. It was taken over by Italy in the 19th century.
In 1860 Giuseppe Garibaldi and his expedition took control of Sicily and the island became a part of the Kingdom of Italy.
5. It’s technically separate from Italy now.
In 1946, Italy became a republic and Sicily became an autonomous region.
6. What’s the capital of Sicily?
The capital of Sicily is Palermo.
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7. The language is amazing.
The Sicilian language is not a derivative of Italian but a distinct language with Greek, Arabic, Catalan, and Spanish influences.
8. The capital alone is influenced by lots of cultures.
Palermo, from the Norman to the Arab style, from the Greek to the Spanish attestations, the capital of the region is a melting pot of cultures and a place of lively street markets.
9. It’s a delicious city.
Palermo is one of the five cities Forbes Magazine deemed as having the tastiest and most varied street food.
10. They love opera here!
Located in Palermo, the Teatro Massimo is not only the largest opera house in Italy it’s the third-largest in Europe. It’s featured in a famous scene in The Godfather, part three.
11. Settling’s been occurring here for centuries.
The Greeks settled Sicilian towns between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE.
12. It’s a ‘living museum’.
The whole island is littered with relics from ancient Greece.
Taormina is a refined town that holds amazing treasures, like its incredible Greek Theatre.
13. You’ll love the beaches here.
Scala Dei Turchi with its white cliff rising above the blue sea is among the most beautiful beaches all over Sicily.
14. It’s big with diggers.
Syracuse and the island of Ortigia are one of the largest archaeological areas in the Mediterranean.
15. Mediterranean history has plenty of roots here.
Syracuse is also the birthplace of Greek mathematician and engineer Archimedes, and home to the temple of Athena, a Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre.
16. There’s an enormous archaeological park.
Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples is a popular destination thanks to its perfectly kept archaeological park, the biggest in the world.
17. Take in the architecture!
Noto is the unquestioned capital of the Sicilian Baroque, with an artistic heritage made of stunning churches and palaces.
18. The beaches rank very highly.
Lampedusa with its jaw-dropping sea and beautiful beaches, like the “Rabbit beach”, is ranked among the most beautiful in the world.
The western end of the island holds astonishing beaches, unique archaeological sites, and sensational nature, like the Zingaro Reserve.
19. Sicily made a big impression on UNESCO.
There are seven Sicilian sites currently listed by Unesco’s World Heritage.
20. It is the Italian beach capital.
Sicily has more beaches and kilometres of stunning coastline than any other part of Italy.
Sicily has coasts on 3 different seas, the Mediterranean Sea in the south, the Tyrrhenian Sea in the north, and the Ionian Sea in the east.
21. There’s volcanic land out here.
Are you a beach person yourself? Rent a boat and sail to the Aeolian Islands, seven islands, each different from another, with dreamy beaches, coves, and two active volcanoes.
Sicily is home to one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, which has been spewing out lava since 1500BC. Its last eruption happened in June 2014.
22. Ever heard of Etna?
Located near the popular tourist resort of Taormina, Mount Etna is a must-see attraction….if you can handle the heat!
According to scientists, Etna is around 60,000 years old.
23. Start the day with toothache!
Sicilians eat ice cream for breakfast. A creamy sorbet-style dessert called Granita is scooped into freshly baked brioche and eaten as a morning treat that is light and refreshing in the warm summer weather.
24. Coffee is also a big draw here.
Coffee culture is the lifeblood of Italy and Sicilians are no exception. Local cafes are for eating, drinking, socializing, and even taking care of a little business.
25. The wine here is wonderful.
Sicily is the 4th biggest wine producer in Italy. The wine from Sicily is particularly famous abroad, mainly the Marsala wines.
26. Local pistachios are very tasty.
Pistachio trees are grown all over the island and the fragrant green nuts are used to flavour ice cream, as sweet fillings for confectionery and pastries, in rich pasta sauces, in glazes for meat and fish.
27. Seriously – check out that street food!
You can’t leave Sicily without tasting the sizzling street food or experiencing the enthusiasm and energy of the open-air traders.
28. Poems have a big place in Sicily history.
The sonnet was invented in Sicily by Giacomo da Lentini, in the 13th It comes from the Italian word sonetto, meaning little poem.
29. Where The Leopard came to be.
One of the most famous Italian novels is set in 1860s Sicily at the time of the unification of Italy: The Leopard, written by Giuseppe Tomasi Lampedusa.
30. Mafia roots lie deep in Sicily.
The Italian Mafia originated in the mid-19th century to protect the orange and lemon estates surrounding the city of Palermo.
According to legend, the word “Mafia” itself originated as an acronym of the phrase “Morte Alla Francia, Italia Anela” (“Death to the French is Italy’s Cry”), which was the motto of Sicilians fighting the French in 1282.
31. However, much of the island is anti-Mafia.
Corleone’s small anti-Mafia museum recounts the terrifying history of Sicily’s Cosa Nostra crime syndicate, focusing on the brave efforts of the anti-Mafia campaigners and judges who spoke out against organised crime rather than succumbing to the Mafia-promoted culture of omertà (silence).
32. Sadly, it’s a poor region.
Economically, Sicily is one of the poorest regions in Italy. The official unemployment rate is twice that of the national average, hovering around 20%.
FAQs about Sicily
Is Sicily generally safe?
Yes, on the whole, Sicily is safe for tourists to visit.
Is Sicily expensive to travel to?
Not really - it is surprisingly affordable to vacation in Sicily, compared to elsewhere in Europe.
Do people speak English in Sicily?
English is not the main language in Sicily. However, you will find many tourist services make sure to speak the lingo!
Do you know any fun facts about Sicily? Share them in the comments below!
