Sicily. It's a living, breathing contradiction. On the one hand it's baroque buildings. On the other it's Arab craftsmanship. Mount Etna simmers in contrast to the island's turquoise coastline, while young entrepreneurs are giving the place a 21st-century twist without a neon-lit resort in sight. There is one constant, though - amazing food.
It’s Godfather country, so it’s definitely very Italian. But look a bit harder, and you’ll find Sicily’s been shaped by a whole lot more than just the mainland. Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Goths, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans have all had their say at one point or another, and something of each has rubbed off on the Sicilians. What’s more, these independent-minded people continue to borrow the best bits from the world around them, without kissing goodbye to their own traditions. That means you’re looking at a cosmo-cool beach scene one minute, orange groves, pine-clad mountains and sleepy villages the next. And then of course, there’s the island’s biggest attraction – Mount Etna. Towering over Catania and Taormina, it represents Sicily perfectly – quiet on the outside, bubbling with life underneath.
