A Snapshot of the Sicilian People

When traveling in Sicily,  you’ll find real people, the locals who work hard and take pride in everything they do. Most of the time, they do it with a smile. In my experience, they seem genuinely happy to engage in conversation. It’s never “just business.”

Here are just a few examples from my travels that have formed my opinion.

When I noticed these cyclists in Taormina, I realized they were collecting newspapers out of trash bins and stuffing them into their clothing. Intrigued, I approached them and asked about it. They smiled and told me it was to keep warm. Instant insulation. What a great idea! Leave it to the Italians to improvise with whatever is available. I loved it,

In the center of Catania, I came across this Sicilian gentleman who was set up for business in the street. I love how he used all surfaces of his vehicle for shelf space to display his fresh produce for the day.

Fragole di Maletto, translates to Strawberries from Maletto.   Maletto is a small town about 25 miles northwest of Catania, and 3000 feet above sea level, nestled on the slopes of Mt Etna. The strawberries are considered to be the most delicious in Italy, and in June a strawberry festival takes place in this hilltop town. The D.O.C. designation on the sign interested me, because normally the designation is applied to wines and other products strictly regulated. I wondered whether these strawberries from Maletto were also controlled.

Street vendors are common sights in Palermo, like this one in his colorful cart with sfincione, a Sicilian cousin of pizza made with a thicker sweeter dough and topped with a thick tomato sauce. Delizioso!

What I love most when traveling to Italy is interacting with the locals. I have found the Sicilian people to be some of the friendliest in Italy, and this skilled artisan from Caltagirone is one of them. I met Marianna Ferreri as she was creating a bracelet made of an intricately designed type of lace. I was fascinated  and learned it is called Pizzo di Tambolo. I’ve never seen anything like this and decided to purchase two of her handmade lace bracelets (in italiano, they are called bracciali). They hold a special place in my heart, and every time I wear one, I think of Marianna and that visit to Sicily.

This well-dressed group of older gentlemen apparently were comfortable with the tradition of il dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing. They were sitting outside a café, shooting the breeze and discussing world problems. They didn’t mind at all when I asked permission to photograph them. Grazie, signori. Sometimes just strolling with no agenda produces the most memorable moments.

Always dressed to impress, Gaetano Camardo, a master craftsman shoemaker, greets his customers with a smile as he welcomes them inside Lorenzo Camarda Shoes in Taormina, Sicily.On Corso Umberto, not far from Porta Messina, is his authentic Sicilian shoe shop.

The Camarda family has a nearly century-old legacy of three generations of quality Italian shoes produced by hand. It was such an honor to meet Gaetano and Lorenzo Camarda, this father and son family who own and operate the shop. Along with their beautiful assistant, Melania, they welcomed us with smiles and made us feel at home here. The quality of their shoes is excellent, and I’m so happy we purchased several pairs while we were there.

These men were just hanging out together in Piazza del Duomo in Cefalù. They were more than happy to allow me permission to photograph them. I wondered what world problems they were discussing.

Often families will stroll the streets of Sicily together, but this father and son touched my heart, as they strolled arm in arm. These are my cousins, Calogero and his son Antonio, from 2012. I have always loved this photo.

The Sicilian people have always been kind, generous, and willing to help. I am reminded of the time we were trying to navigate the narrow steep streets in Cesarò, the small village of my maternal grandparents. Several locals came out of their homes and offered to direct us before we drove down a staircase. That is just one of the reasons I fell in love with Sicily.

 

Have you been to Sicily? What was your experience? I love feedback, so please leave a comment.

Grazie and Ciao.

I have so many more stories about the people I’ve met in Sicily, but  that is for another blog post. You can read more about my travels in Sicily in My Love Affair with Sicily, available on Amazon in paperback, kindle and audiobook.