Sicily: a brief history lesson
The island of Sicily is both the largest region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Because of its strategic location in the middle of the Mediterranean, Sicily has been conquered and ruled by many. As a result, the island has developed its own unique art, music, literature, architecture, religious traditions, and cuisine. It makes Sicily my favorite region in Italy!
Planning to visit the island of Sicily yourself? Having some knowledge about the different periods of history will definitely help you get the most out of your trip. Let me take you back in time and talk you through the island's history. Here we go!
Image text
Ancient civilisations
Before the Greek colonization, Sicily was inhabited by three indigenous tribes: the Elymians, the Sicani, and the Siculi. The latter not only gave their name to the island, we also owe one of the most impressive Sicilian archeological sites to the Siculi. I'm talking about the necropolis of Pantalica, where you will find thousands of tombs dug in overhanging walls of the Anapo canyon.
From the 11th century BC, the Phoenicians began to settle in western Sicily. They founded several trading posts, including the city of Palermo.
Image text
Greek colonization
In search of fertile farmland to feed their overcrowded cities, the ancient Greeks arrived in Sicily around 750 BC. They soon colonized large parts of the island.
During the Greek colonization, Sicily was nicknamed Trinacria (three-pointed). It refers to the island's triangular shape. Today Trinacria is mainly used as a synonym for the distinctive symbol on Sicily's flag. Check out my separate post about the Trinacria to find out more.
Image text
The Greek founded several city-states, including Agrigento, Selinunte, Taormina, and Syracuse. Beautiful temple complexes were built in many of these city-states. Several of these are still standing and are among the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in the world. Yes, even better than those in Greece itself!
Image text
Roman Empire
The First Punic War (264 BC - 241 BC) was fought between Rome and Carthage largely over control of Sicily. The Romans eventually won, and Sicily became the first overseas Roman province. Carthage was not finished, though, and two decades later, the Second Punic War (264 BC - 241 BC) broke out. But this war too was lost by Carthage, and Sicily remained firmly in Roman hands.
The island became the granary of the Roman Empire, but little effort was made to Romanize the region. The island's language and culture remained primarily Greek. The most famous archeological remains of this period are the mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale in present-day Piazza Armerina.
Image text
The Arabs
In AD 827, long after the fall of the Roman Empire, Sicily was conquered by the Arabs. They introduced many of today's distinctive Sicilian products, such as lemons, oranges, and pistachios.
The Arabs also introduced sophisticated underground irrigation channels. This invention enabled the city of Palermo to develop into the tenth largest city in Europe.
It may surprise you, but during the Arab rule, the Sicilian population was allowed to keep its Christian religion. In exchange for this favor, Sicilians had to pay an additional tax, the jizya.
The Normans
In the second half of the 11th century, the Normans conquered Sicily. Under its Norman kings, Sicily experienced its golden age.
With time, Sicily would become overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Nevertheless, Christians, Byzantines, Jews, Muslims all lived together in harmony. This variety of cultures resulted in a gorgeous blend of architectural styles. The Duomo di Monreale is a fine example of how Byzantine, Norman, and Arab features come together in one building.
Image text
The Normans also built several castles. A large number of fortresses from this time are still standing. You can often find them on top of a ridge or overlooking the sea. A good example is the Castello di Venere in Erice.
After about a century, the Norman rule came to an end. It was succeeded by the Swabian (southwestern Germany) Hohenstaufen.
The Hohenstaufen dynasty ended with the death of Manfredi at the battle of Benevento in 1266. In the same year, Charles of Anjou was crowned King of Sicily by Pope Clement IV. Charles of Anjou was the younger brother of King Louis IX of France, meaning Sicily came under French rule.
Image text
The Spaniards
In 1282 a successful rebellion broke out against the rule of Charles of Anjou. This rebellion is known as the Sicilian Vespers and eventually led to the War of the Sicilian Vespers.
King Peter III of Aragon also got involved in this war. Peter III of Aragon was married to a daughter of Manfred of Hohenstaufen and therefore claimed the Sicilian throne.
Peter III of Aragon won the war, and until 1409 Sicily was ruled as an independent kingdom by the Spanish house of Aragon. After 1409, the Crown of Aragon ruled the island, which made Sicily part of Spain.
The Spaniards introduced products such as tomatoes and cocoa beans. In Modica, they still make chocolate using an Aztec recipe the Spanish conquistadors taught them.
Image text
Towards the end of the 15th century, the Spaniards introduced the Spanish Inquisition. Its purpose was to maintain Catholic orthodoxy and impose religious unity on people. This particularly affected the Jewish community in Sicily. The Palazzo Chiaramonte in Palermo was the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition in Sicily. In this palace, suspected heretics were tortured and interrogated. Inside the palazzo's prison cells, you can still see graffiti left by the prisoners.
Image text
As if the Spanish Inquisition wasn't enough, many villages in eastern Sicily were destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. Towns like Ragusa and Scicli suffered severely. The subsequent rebuilding created the distinctive architectural style known as Sicilian Baroque. The city of Noto is one of the best places to see some fine examples of Sicilian Baroque architecture.
Image text
Modern Italy and Cosa Nostra
After the War of the Spanish Succession in 1720, Sicily was ruled successively by the House of Savoy, the Austrian Hapsburgs, and the Bourbons. Following the expedition of Giuseppe Garibaldi, Sicily became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
After the unification of Italy, the Sicilian economy proved unable to compete with the north. This led to a wave of emigration. Ongoing government neglect in the late 19th century also enabled the establishment of organized crime networks. The Sicilian Mafia, commonly known as Cosa Nostra, became an essential part of the social structure.
When Benito Mussolini came to power in the 1920s, he launched a fierce crackdown on organized crime. However, the Mafia recovered quickly following the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Anti-Mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone started the Maxiprocessi di Palermo in 1984, in which 1,400 people were charged. The Mafia's response was brutal. In 1992 Falcone was killed by an enormous bomb while traveling on the autostrada near Palermo. The event triggered a general upheaval among the population and in Italian politics.
With this brief history lesson in mind, you are ready to explore the island of Sicily! Hopefully it will help you recognize traces from the different periods of rulership.
