The Nonna's Kitchen
Bellissima Sicilia
THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF SICILY…
There is just so much to say, I just don’t know where to begin…
This unique island is so worth a visit. It covers an area an area of 25,711 square kilometres. The highest point being Mount Etna which is the most active stratovolcano in the world. Did you know that “Etna” means “I burn”.
This magnificent volcano reaches 3,320 metres, and the Roman God of Fire is thought to have lived there! I will talk more about Mount Etna in my “Travel Tips with The Nonna” section.
Sicily is a triangle shaped island which is surrounded by 3 seas, the Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and the Mediterranean. On the East side of the island, where my father’s village “Roccalumera” is situated, stretches the Ionian sea. On the NorthEast corner of the island, you will find “The Strait of Messina”. This separates Sicily from Italy, and here you will find the “Capo Peloro” lighthouse at Punta del Faro.
Sicily lies 160KM NorthEast of North Africa. That’s incredibly close. It’s hardly surprising that Sicily has so much African influence with the food, historical buildings, vegetation, and trees.
Each time I visit Sicily, the first few days are spent sweeping and cleaning the balcony. The soft red beige sands from Africa’s Sahara Desert are whipped up in the wind and swept across the Mediterranean Sea, then, this almost invisible sand settles in places you wouldn’t believe.
You can imagine hundreds of years ago when the Botanical seedlings and spores floated aimlessly around the African lands, migrating North and finally landing and germinating once the winds died back down. It’s amazing, nature.
These are the things I think about constantly, the miracles the weather brings…
THE WEATHER
Sicily’s climate is typically Mediterranean with hot summers in July, August, and September, ranging from 24-45°C. The extreme heat is dry and it’s very welcoming when the winds pick up, but you need to be careful not to burn. If you are going to the beach, always take a parasol and cool bag with plenty of water to drink. If you are in a tourist area, lidos will be plentiful, and no doubt have a bar attached. I will go into more detail on this in my “Travel Tips with The Nonna” section.
In January and February the weather averages between 12-16°C, this is cold for Sicillians.
Whilst in Sicily one January I took a walk along the Lungo Mare – Beach Road, the sun shone brightly and the sea was like a highly polished sheet of glass, I was wearing a T-Shirt and a pair of shorts, it was 14°C. To my amazement, a couple were walking towards me wearing thick ski jackets, woolly hats, gloves and sunglasses…. As I continued on with my walk, I realised I was the minority. Well, I was the only one wearing a T-Shirt and shorts. They must have looked at me thinking “That Muppet must be English!!”.
Anyway, moving on….
The spring months are March – May, the temperature picks up and averages up to 20°C. With each merging season you will find an obvious change with seasonal fruit, vegetables, and other produce. I absolutely love experiencing the seasons.
The landscape is so colourful and vibrant in the spring, and in the summer the heavy scent of Jasmine in the evening air is heavenly.
Jasmine is the flower of Sicily, and truly is my favourite scent.
I have fond memories of my childhood spending holidays in Sicily. My sister and I would spend the evenings playing outside in the rambling alleys, which were veiled with the scent of jasmine. It is amazing how a scent can trigger such powerful memories.
In mid – August it is “Ferragosto”. This is a public holiday which runs for about two days on the 15th. It’s roots originate in ancient Rome when Emperor Augustus invented this Ferra to mark the end of harvest and having a well-deserved rest. If you happen to happen to be in Sicily on August 15th, be prepared, it’s party time, full steam ahead!!
You will find the Sicilians heading towards the beaches, having barbecues, eating, drinking, and as always, children are never exempt/excluded.
there would be loads of fireworks, the noisier the better, after all, this is Sicily…. But we are not finished yet… As midnight would chime from the churches, everyone would jump and dive into the sea. It’s brilliant fun!!
The beautiful island of Sicily…
There is just so much to say!! I just don’t know where to begin.
Moving on to a little bit about history….
Sicily is oozing with history, from Byzantine mosaics to well preserved ruins of Greek Temples. It is hard to believe this magical island was inhabited 10,000 years ago.
Sicily’s strategic location at the centre of the Mediterranean made the island a crossroad of history, a pawn of conquest and empire. A melting pot for dozens of ethnic groups whose warriors sought Sicily’s shores.
Sicilian people will tell you with a totally patriotic outlook, that their island is the centre of the world!!
Sicilians use Italian as their official language . However, they do have their own dialect that includes influences from Greek, Arabic, Norman French, and Spanish. This dialect is a totally different language to Italian.
Now then, Sicilian food…. Which I will once again skim the surface on.
Sicilian food is very different to Italian. It is unique which is down to many factors. The climate, the fertile soil, and the history of Sicily being invaded by so many other countries, not forgetting it only being 150KM from North Africa. The superb choice of locally caught fresh fish, and a diversity of local food.
The fresh produce is plentiful, especially in the villages, local people support local businesses. Each village has it’s own Bakers, Butchers, Greengrocers, Patisserie, Bars, and casual Restaurants.
You will also find that locals have a seaside property and own land in the mountains, similarly to the British having an allotment. The Sicilians will utilise their land all year round.
What enamours me the most is their philosophy for eating locally grown produce. They are very firm and strict with this, and it is down to the nutritional content, including the salt, and the olive oil. My friend Barbara sources hers carefully and the taste hits the palate to perfection. Barbara sources her produce locally. I am like a little eager apprentice, following and learning so much with her quest on nutrient rich food.
I take so much pleasure when I am out and about with Barbara, driving from one orchard to another, gathering freshly picked seasonal fruit and vegetables. It is truly inspirational. These landowners are such genuine, lovely people who take great pride in their harvest.
Sicily is divided into nine provinces, and each province has a food speciality, which I will cover more in another section.
The nine provinces are: Palermo, Trapani, Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Enna, Ragusa, Syracuse, Catania and Messina.
- Each Province is steeped in history.
- Trapani is known for it’s salt planes and the stunning Egadi Islands.
- Agrigento is renowned for the Valle Dei Templi.
- Caltanissetta is rich in history, in the 19th Century there were 88 mines within the territory.
- Enna, once again steeped in history with panoramic views.
- Ragusa, a vibrant Baroque region with sandy beaches and excellent restaurants, and Noto is a must to visit.
- Syracuse is another famous place, known for it’s ancient ruins, so magical and worth a visit.
- Catania is in the foothills of Mount Etna. Here in the centre of Catania you will find the most famous fish market, where the sellers sing and display the most colourful array of fresh fish.
- Finally, is Messina, the closest point to Italy.
One of the questions I get frequently asked is ” Is Sicily part of Italy?”.
So , here we have it, and I will try to make this as simple as possible… Sicily is part of Italy!
Sicily is one of five autonomous regions of Italy. This means Sicily retains its own President of Regional Government.
The other regions are:
- Trentino
- Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Trentino Alto’ Adige
- Sardinia
- Sicily
- Valle D’Aosta.
While Sicily has such a unique culture and history, it is not currently recognised as its own country. After speaking with many of my contacts, family and friends in Sicily, I see great potential for growth and improvement in the region’s economy.
A big hope for me is that Sicily will become a hotspot for tourists. For myself, I am biased. I have lived abroad in several countries and I am fairly well travelled.
Sicily is indeed a hidden gem with its panoramic views, charming historical towns, iconic architecture, and crystal blue seas. Combined with Sicilian sunshine and delectable food, it makes a must to visit.
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