Jul 12, 2007
What sort of impact do operations of the Mafia have on your visit to Sicily?
Following the appearance in these posts of my recent reactions to Sicily (which were quite positive), I've been peppered with questions from readers on the role of the Mafia in Sicily and the impact of that role (to the extent it exists) on the tourist.
Call me naive, but the impact of the Sicilian Mafia on the tourist is nil. From arrival to departure, you hear not a word of Mafia activities, and no tourist to my knowledge has ever been targeted by a group that has every business reason to encourage visits.
Though Sicily's economic problems -- it is one of the poorer parts of Italy -- are sometimes "pinned" on the Mafia, just as many Sicilians will talk of the wave of foreign invasions that kept Sicily from becoming a strong nation-state for so many centuries. Its strategic position in the center of the Mediterranean made it a constant and irresistible prize for a succession of conquerors. It suffered especial damage from Allied bombardment and battle in World War II.
It is this turbulent history that provides the basis for a fascinating tour. In no other part of Europe with the exception of Malta is it possible to see so many striking remains (Greek and Roman temples, Muslim mosques, Norman cathedrals) of the key eras of human history crammed into such a small space. And all this is found in a place of striking natural beauty, of fields and rolling hills covered with such lush vegetation and agricultural richness that, by all rights, it should be one of the most prosperous areas of Europe rather than one of its poorest.
Far less developed than the rest of Italy, Sicily is also far less expensive, and rarely do you encounter the startling prices or overcharges that are sometimes found in more heavily-visited parts of Europe. You also encounter a warm and welcoming local population who, in my experience, are constantly gracious towards the visitor. I'm going again.
Write and read comments about this post.
Call me naive, but the impact of the Sicilian Mafia on the tourist is nil. From arrival to departure, you hear not a word of Mafia activities, and no tourist to my knowledge has ever been targeted by a group that has every business reason to encourage visits.
Though Sicily's economic problems -- it is one of the poorer parts of Italy -- are sometimes "pinned" on the Mafia, just as many Sicilians will talk of the wave of foreign invasions that kept Sicily from becoming a strong nation-state for so many centuries. Its strategic position in the center of the Mediterranean made it a constant and irresistible prize for a succession of conquerors. It suffered especial damage from Allied bombardment and battle in World War II.
It is this turbulent history that provides the basis for a fascinating tour. In no other part of Europe with the exception of Malta is it possible to see so many striking remains (Greek and Roman temples, Muslim mosques, Norman cathedrals) of the key eras of human history crammed into such a small space. And all this is found in a place of striking natural beauty, of fields and rolling hills covered with such lush vegetation and agricultural richness that, by all rights, it should be one of the most prosperous areas of Europe rather than one of its poorest.
Far less developed than the rest of Italy, Sicily is also far less expensive, and rarely do you encounter the startling prices or overcharges that are sometimes found in more heavily-visited parts of Europe. You also encounter a warm and welcoming local population who, in my experience, are constantly gracious towards the visitor. I'm going again.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: sicily
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
