A Mosaic of Cultures
Walking among the Nebrodi mountains and looking out over the Aeolian Islands, one perceives what we might call "the sound of the Sicilian soul". A sound that is not just voice or dialect, but a mosaic of influences: Sicilian as a language was born from the encounter of Greeks, Arabs, Latins, Normans, and Spaniards. And in the same way, the character of the Sicilian people is an intertwining of different elements, stratified over centuries and fused into a unique identity.
It is a complex soul, hospitable and proud at the same time, like the mountains that protect and the sea that opens to the horizon; a soul that carries within it the strength of the elements.
Here the air is that which descends from the ridges and smells of the freedom of griffins; the water is that of the springs and streams of the Park of the fiumare and lakes; the fire is the passion of its people for what they do, the light and the volcanic memory of the island; the earth is fertile, ancient, mother, giving genuine food.
The Characteristics of Sicilians
What are the characteristics of Sicilians? What are the words that represent them? Generation after generation, some traits have been preserved intact that are difficult to find so accentuated even in other peoples.
These are merits but also flaws. Sicily is a land of strong contrasts: anyone born there or who has chosen to live there knows this well. Thus, Sicilians have inherited that ability to make seemingly irreconcilable aspects of character coexist.
After all, with a past like theirs, they could only have drawn from so many different cultures, giving life to a mix all their own, very personal and unique.
Ingenuity. Faced with any situation to organize or resolve, a Sicilian will find a solution or a loophole. Rest assured, they will not lose heart.
Adaptability. Even in the most hostile situations, which seem to have no way out, a Sicilian will find their dimension. And they will overturn events.
Tenacity. Sicilians have great tenacity. They don't give up very easily, to the point of being, sometimes, too stubborn.
Generosity. Sicilians are very generous and know how to share what they have. What surprises non-Sicilians, sometimes, is precisely this innate ability to perform kind gestures, without necessarily wanting anything in return. If you ask for directions to a place, it is likely that the person you asked will accompany you there!
Affection. Sicilians are very affectionate and welcoming, they are so with their heart. Having a Sicilian friend is a great fortune, because they will give you all their warmth.
Extroversion. Sicilians are positively open towards others. They love social interaction, even too much…
Ability to communicate. Whether with gestures or words, a Sicilian knows how to make themselves understood everywhere. Don't believe it? Try meeting a Sicilian abroad, they will always be able to make themselves understood immediately.
Presumption. Well yes, we can't just mention merits! Sicilians are often a bit presumptuous and claim to know everything. Do they really?
Noisiness. It's useless to deny it: a Sicilian has more than others the tendency to raise their voice, for better or for worse. Let's say it's difficult for them not to be heard.
Indiscipline. Sicilians can be a bit too undisciplined, almost as if rules were made for others and precisely to be broken.
Cunta e Canta: The Sicilian Storytelling Tradition
The Sicilian cunta e canta… his passions and his happiness, his sorrows, his sadness.Rosa Balistreri will accompany us with her songs.
Cuntari means many things. To tell: "vi cuntu nu fattu" (I'll tell you a story). To be important: "chiddhu cunta assai". And, of course, to count: "cu avi dinari assai sempri cunta / cu avi mugghieri belli sempri canta" (he who has much money always counts / he who has a beautiful wife always sings).
The saying contrasts the world of arithmetic, displayed in the calculation of wealth (dinari assai), and the world of women and eros (mugghieri bella) which generates joy and the song that expresses it. Counting and singing support each other.
What to Do in Sicily
An urban and naturalistic trek to discover Sicily. A discovery of the peoples and dominations that have followed one another, made through words: expressions and terms that will take us to the heart of this people.
Where to Eat
Tastings of typical products, all with excellent raw materials and varying price ranges from trattorias to gourmet restaurants:
- Trattoria Annunziata — Traditional grandmother's cooking
- La Macina — Typical cuisine revisited in a modern key
- La Fornace — Classic Sicilian cuisine
- Monte San Giovanni — Classic Sicilian cuisine
- La Rosa dei Venti — Classic Sicilian cuisine
- Demenna — When two young chefs from the Alma haute cuisine school make a dream a reality
Where to Stay
The village of San Marco d'Alunzio is a widespread hotel. There are a good number of beds, from B&Bs to hotels.
Practical Information
Although it is in the hills, San Marco d'Alunzio is well connected to the airports of Palermo and Catania.
The best time to visit is from March to October, but even in the winter months, although there are fewer events, it is possible to visit both this village and the neighboring ones.