How to find yourself in a Sicilian State of Mind

Despite the various differences among the Italian people, one thing that everyone seems to agree on is that Sicily or as it is called in Italian “la Sicilia“, is a unique gem of a place within the greater sphere of Italy. If you ask any Italian about Sicily, they will respond with the same three things, “La Sicilia è bella. Si mangia bene in Sicilia. Il mare è meraviglioso.” Basically, “Sicily is beautiful. One eats very well in Sicily. The sea is marvelous.” It seems all of the Italians appreciate a Sicilian state of mind.

It’s the state of mind that exists when we are here to make good use of today, the things that have been provided to us, while respecting the past. Living with the joy of today and not the worries of tomorrow.

Yes, Sicily is part of Italy, but it has a spirit and history that uniquely defines the Sicilian people and the Sicilian lifestyle.

I have always wanted to return to Italy after my first trip to the Aeolian Islands three years ago (you can read about that adventure here). So when my friend Vicki suggested we make a trip in February along with a few of our long time friends from school, I was more than happy to join. We have known each other for over 45 years and decided to discover our Sicilian state of mind together. Vicki would arrive first, followed by our friends a few days later.

Step #1 to a Sicilian state of mind – Dimenticate tutto!

If this is your first visit to Sicily, forget everything you think you know about Sicily. Arrive as a blank canvas with only the desire to have Sicily paint its image in real-time.

Most of my understanding of Sicily was based on watching American TV films. My perception was mysterious and shaded by stories of Sicilian gangsters and mafia types. I knew it wasn’t the real Sicily or the true Sicilian state of mind. I would have to visit in order to update my thinking.

We found the people as beautiful as the scenery. After just a few days, I realized why the Italians have such an affection for Sicily. The people, the culture, the food, and the natural beauty are undeniable.

Everywhere we went, we encountered beautifully dressed elegant women and handsome men. We were offered a “buongiorno” or “buonasera” with a smile. The people in the shops, restaurants, and bars were eager to share their recommendations for tourist sites or what pasticceria serves the best cannoli.

You will find the views of Mount Etna and the Mediterranean breathtaking, but you will also find the cosmopolitan energy of Catania, Palermo, and Siracusa perfectly paired with the beauty of their city centers.

You won’t see Sicilian life as depicted in The White Lotus.

If you’ve seen The White Lotus, which was based in Taormina, Sicily. That would have given you a small sense of the beauty and architecture of Sicily. It was entertaining, but it failed to represent the Sicilian people.

I felt it portrayed the American characters as modern-age slick, certainly with their own screwed-up lives, but the Sicilians were characterized as antiquated people with questionable scruples and dark stories or widowed nonnas dressed in black.

What I found in Sicily was the opposite. The Sicilians were warm and friendly people. They not only seemed pleased to see the tourists return, but they also had a level of hospitality and openness that was unmistakably genuine. There was nothing antiquated or negative in my experience.

The rest of the gang arrived later that week, Melanie and Millicent joined from America, along with my Italian friend, Germano.

We stayed in Palermo for another week to visit the western side of the island, and the towns of Cefalù, Trapani, Erice, Agrigento, the famous Valley of the Temples La Valle dei Templi, and the Turkish Steps Scale dei Turchi.

We spent the last week rewriting our own version of The White Lotus, forgetting all that we thought we knew about Sicily to make room for the Sicilian state of mind that we will never forget.

Step number 2 – Mangiate le cose che volete mangiare.

In Sicily you can eat the things you want to eat with maybe a little less guilt because is the cradle of the Mediterranean diet.

You will find olive oils rich, green, and pungent. The local dishes contain eggplant, tomatoes, onions, rice and fennel or melanzane, pomodori, cipolle, riso, and finocchio. After all, this is the home of caponata, involtini, arancini, and pasta all norma.

Almonds, pistachios, and citrus fruits are blended with herbs and spices to make outrageous pestos or to flavor and decorate deserts.

Because Sicily is an island, the sea provides an amazing selection of swordfish, octopus, red shrimp, and anchovies, or pesce spade, polpo, gambero rosso, and alici.

Always try the desserts.

Finally, the deserts of Sicily are the things you must enjoy. You can easily find yourself in a cannoli or cassata sugar coma after a few days of sampling the simplest but most flavorful combinations.

Don’t pass up the opportunity to sample some of the best food in Italy for fear of gaining weight. You will walk off most of those meals.

So, now that I’ve awoken your appetite, perhaps you can check out some of the most famous Sicilian dishes and desserts at Gambero Rosso. They are the gold standard for dining out and cooking at home in Italy. I use them often to find recipes that I have tried in various regions of Italy. Most recipes can be found in English and Italian. I encourage you to try them!

You will be surprised at the simplicity of the desserts and astounded by the flavor. Like the rest of Italy, simplicity is key to producing some of the best food you will ever taste.

Step number 3 – Preparatevi a stupirvi e perdetevi in Silicia!

Prepare to be amazed and lose yourself in the history and beauty of Sicily.

The first inhabitants arrived in Sicily over 10,000 years ago. Its position in the center of the eastern and western Mediterranean made it an enviable strategic position.

Greeks, Phoenicians, Turks, Romans, Byzantines, Spanish, French, and ultimately, in the 1800s, the Italians all conquered and attempted to weld Sicily into their culture.

This vast and profound history of ruling and conquering has created one of the most unique places in the world in not only the anthropological impact but also the architectural impact on an island the size of the state of Massachusetts.

The Sicilians represent a beautiful piece of Mediterranean history and it shows wherever you find yourself amongst the people, the architecture, the culture and the history.

Give yourself enough time to explore Sicily and its architectural wonders.

I think Sicily deserves at least a month to tell its story and show its true treasures. You will want time in Palermo, Catania, and Siracusa. After that, another few weeks to see the regional towns such as Marsala, Trapani, Erice, and Noto. Don’t forget the islands off the coast of Sicily like Favignana, Lampedusa, and so many more.

The most predominant architectural style of Sicily is called Sicilian Baroque. It descended from the Spanish rule of Sicily in the 17th and 18th centuries.

This expansion of architectural style resulted from the rebuilding effort required after the great earthquake of 1863, measuring 7.4. It destroyed most of the southeastern part of the island between the earthquake and the resulting tsunami. It remains the largest earthquake in Italian history.

In addition to the more relatively modern architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries, Sicily is blessed with ancient historical structures. From Greek temples to Roman theaters, Sicily has some of the most fantastic ancient remains in not only all of Italy, but all of the world.

There is the Valle dei Templi near Agrigento, the great Greek theaters of Taormina, Siracusa and Segesta, just to name a few.

Step number 4 – Andate in Sicilia!

My last tip is this. Go see this beautiful place that has an amazing story to show and tell.

Meet the wonderfully kind people that were born on this beautiful island with a history that is impossible to imagine.

Eat the food that will make your mouth cry for more and your heart sing.

Experience the crazy beautiful discord that exists among 10,000 years of history.

See the natural beauty that calls Sicily home.

Take time to appreciate the Sicilian state of mind that exists uniquely in Sicilia and is part of the gift that is Italy.

Thanks for following along on my journey through Sicily. It would not have been possible without my friends, Vicki, Melanie, Millicent, and Germano. We made a lot of Sicilian memories that will last a lifetime. I hope you liked the stories and the photos. If you would like to follow along on all of my journeys through The Spaghetti Diaries, please subscribe below. Not only do I help you create your own Sicilian state of mind, but I pay special tribute to my home, Italy, the most beautiful place in the world.