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