Properties in Palermo

Palermo is located in the north and is also the capital of the island of Sicily. The former royal palace – dating back to the 9th century – and the Palatine Chapel are among the places every tourist should visit.

The port and the Ballaro street market are a real treat and highly recommended.

Sicily, the history of a great island known as ‘Trinacria’

Knowing just a little about Sicily’s history is a gross oversimplification of the beauty this region has to offer, not least because this great island has led a fascinating ‘life’ ever since its colonisation.

Many peoples have attempted to ‘dominate’ it, given its excellent geographical and maritime location, which represented an excellent strategic point militarily and a splendid position for trade between Africa and Europe.

It is estimated that the first colonisation was of Greek influence; evidence of this can be seen in the splendid archaeological sites, dating back over 2,000 years, which display Greek structures and architecture. Incidentally, Sicily itself has always had a pagan influence that drew on Greek rather than Roman gods and goddesses.

The coat of arms of Trinacria—that is, Sicily, so called because the island has ‘three horns’ in its territorial outline—always relates to a pagan symbol known as the triskele, signifying triplicity or movement.

If we look at a little of Sicily’s history, we can see that it has always been invaded by various neighbouring peoples, including the Sicans, Phoenicians, Turks, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, French, Byzantines and Spaniards.

Evidence of this can be seen in the typical influences and traditions that have shaped its cultural evolution, from fashion to culinary arts, which blend with African traditions and local customs.

On a Sicilian-style holiday, you simply must rent a house in Sicily or a stunning villa with a sea view, right near one of the historic landing sites or archaeological sites that you can visit whenever you like.

Arab influence, interesting facts about ‘Sicilian cannoli’

The Sicilian cannolo is a typical dessert of this region, but why does it have such a distinctive shape? The filling, made of ricotta, is often used in African recipes, so why do we find it in Sicilian pastries?

As we have mentioned, Sicily has been subject to many invasions by African peoples, including the Byzantines. Well, the origins of the Sicilian cannolo are linked precisely to this people.  Its shape resembles the male member, with a series of references to both the filling and the external decorations of the ‘male sex’. The Byzantines used to bake ‘phallic’-shaped sweets in honour of a god of fertility.

In the past, and still in some villages where women remain deeply committed to traditional customs and dress, there was the famous ‘Sicilian veil’. This is a veil, available in various lengths, which women used to cover their heads when entering a church, out of respect for the sanctity of the place. Similarly, it was also used to cover the heads of married women, who were not supposed to attract the gaze of other men, and of elderly women; however, there was also a Sicilian veil that was so long as to cover the body, which was worn by unfaithful women or those who had been cast out by their families.

The Sicilian veil derives from the famous Arab ‘burqa’, which is worn by women to cover themselves and reveal themselves only to their God. In Sicily, it was also used by women to avoid leading men into ‘temptation’. As it is a large island, men would often arrive by sea—whether for trade or to invade the coast—who might rape or abduct local women. This is how the ‘Sicilian veil’ came into being.