| f you are looking for a European tourist destination, | | | | centenary. The movie Godfather Part III included a |
| consider the island of Sicily, an island in southern Italy. | | | | famous violent scene that took place on the Teatro's |
| Depending on your specific interests, this beautiful area | | | | steps. |
| can be an ideal vacation spot. It offers classic Italian | | | | The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) also known as |
| food and fine local wine. And many parts of Sicily | | | | Palazzo dei Normanni (Norman Palace) was the seat |
| haven't yet been discovered by tourists. This article | | | | of government for centuries. It is now the home of the |
| presents Sicily's historic capital, Palermo. A companion | | | | Sicilian Parliament. The Cappella Palatina (Palatine |
| article presents western Sicily. Another companion | | | | Chapel) was the royal chapel of the Norman kings of |
| article presents eastern Sicily. | | | | Sicily. Its mosaics are well worth seeing. The building |
| Palermo is Sicily's capital and largest city with a | | | | and its furnishings are a great combination of Arabic, |
| population of about 700,000. It was founded in the | | | | Byzantine, and Norman styles. If you are lucky you'll be |
| Eighth Century B. C. by the Phoenicians who wanted | | | | able to see the Sala di Re Ruggero (King Roger's Hall), |
| to take advantage of its natural harbor. This | | | | the royal apartments to get an idea of how the other |
| strategically city was conquered time and time again. | | | | half lived. |
| For example, it was once a Muslim city with two or | | | | Make sure to see the Museo Archeologico Regionale |
| three hundred Mosques. The period of the Norman | | | | Salinas (Salinas Regional Museum of Archeology) with |
| occupation starting in 1072 and lasting for well over | | | | its prehistoric cave drawings and a expertly |
| one hundred years was considered Palermo's golden | | | | reconstructed portion of a Greek temple in Sicily dating |
| age. The conquests continued almost unabated. | | | | back two and half millennia. Then for a change of |
| Palermo was heavily destroyed during the Second | | | | pace visit the Museo delle Marionette (Marionette |
| World War. To some extent Palermo is still in the | | | | Museum) with its focus on Sicily in the days of the |
| hands of a conqueror, the Mafia. | | | | Normans. Many marionettes are hundreds of years |
| We'll start our tour with the Cathedral, built in 1185 on | | | | old. There are live marionette performances at the |
| the site of a Byzantine basilica transformed into a | | | | Theatre Cuticchio. |
| mosque by the Saracens in the Ninth Century. | | | | You might want to finish your tour of this very special |
| Construction continued for centuries, with each addition | | | | city at the Piazza Pretoria (Pretoria Square). The |
| or renovation done in the style of the times. This | | | | fountain that dominates this square contains hundreds |
| building contains a solar observatory, built in 1690, which | | | | of sculptures whose lack of clothing led to the name, |
| served to coordinate Palermo time with St. Peters in | | | | "Fountain of Shame". We suggest that you see this |
| Rome, and to ascertain the correct day to celebrate | | | | square at night. |
| Easter. As elsewhere in Sicily, lava was an occasional | | | | What about food? Sicily has always adapted foreign |
| construction material. | | | | foods to come up with Sicilian versions. The Greeks |
| Among the dozen or more historic churches worth | | | | brought vegetables, fish, and grape vines; the Normans |
| visiting are San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi (St. John of | | | | brought cod and baking. The Arabs introduced nut and |
| Lebbrosi) dating from 1072, San Giovanni degli Eremiti | | | | fruit trees, lamb and goat, cheese and pasta including |
| (St. John the Hermit) whose style includes multiple | | | | couscous. Put these influences all together and you |
| Arabic influences, the Greek Orthodox church La | | | | have Sicilian cuisine, unique Sicilian cuisine. |
| Martorana also known as Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio | | | | Let's suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with |
| (Saint Mary of the Admiral), and San Cataldo (St. | | | | Pasta con le Sarde (Pasta with Sardines and Bread |
| Cataldo), with its red Saracen domes. The latter two | | | | Crumbs). Then try Insalata de Mare (Steamed Fish). |
| churches overlook the Piazza Bellini behind City Hall. | | | | For dessert indulge yourself with Cannoli (Deep fried |
| The nuns of Martorana were famous for their fruit and | | | | Pastry stuffed with Ricotta Cheese and Candied Fruit). |
| vegetable shaped marzipan that they used to | | | | Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including |
| decorate barren fruit trees. While the convent no | | | | local wines with your meal. |
| longer exists, this candy is still being made. But you | | | | We'll conclude with a quick look at Sicilian wine. Even |
| won't find it in trees. Talking about trees, many | | | | though Sicilians drink less wine than the residents of |
| churches and other buildings are situated in or near | | | | any other part of Italy, Sicily holds first place among |
| beautiful parks. | | | | the 20 Italian regions for both acreage devoted to |
| Santa Maria dello Spasimo was built just over 500 | | | | wine grapes and for total annual wine production. If |
| years ago. It was honored by Raphael's painting Sicilia's | | | | Sicily were an independent country, it would be the |
| Spasimo hanging in the Prado in Madrid, Spain. This | | | | world's seventh largest wine producer. The following |
| church subsequently became a hospital and even a | | | | statistic may surprise some people: Only a bit more |
| warehouse. It is now an open-air theater and cultural | | | | than half of Sicilian wine is red. Sicily produces nineteen |
| center. | | | | DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine |
| Talking about theaters, the Teatro Massimo (Great | | | | Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination |
| Theater) is Italy's largest (and Europe's third largest | | | | of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. |
| opera house) even if its seating for 1350 spectators is | | | | Only about 2% of Sicilian wine carries this sometimes |
| less than half of the original plan. The original Teatro | | | | prestigious classification. Sicily's best-known wine is |
| took twenty two years to build; it was closed in 1974 | | | | Marsala DOC, first exported to England well over two |
| for safety and remained closed for twenty three | | | | hundred years ago. Most Marsalas are sweet; some |
| years, reopening a mere four days before its | | | | are great, others are not. |