Italy Trivia: Sicily Travel Facts
Syracuse, Catania, Marsala, Palermo, Lipari, Agrigento & Messina
Apr 3, 2007
The cities of Palermo, Messina, Syracuse, Catania, Lipari, Agrigento and Marsala have plenty of tourist attractions. They're all full of history - including the piracy of Barbarossa, the invasion of Garibaldi's troops and the myth of Scylla and Charybdis - as well as more up-to-date treasures such as the end of the Godfather trilogy. Here are some facts and trivia that may be of interest to visitors travelling to Sicily, Italy.
Palermo facts and trivia
- The Sicilian capital was the setting for the dramatic end to the Godfather movie trilogy. You can follow in the footsteps at the Teatro Massimo.
- The International Puppet Museum, featuring over 6,000 marionettes, can be found in Palermo.
Messina facts and trivia
- The Strait of Messina is thought to be the setting for the myth of Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla was a sea monster, and Charybdis a deadly whirlpool.
- Political debate is underway over whether the Strait of Messina should be bridged to the Italian mainland. If the proposals go ahead, it would be the longest bridge in the world.
Syracuse facts and trivia
- Famous mathematician Archimedes lived in Syracuse.
- The Roman theatre in the Neapolis Archaeological Site was the third biggest in Italy. It’s overshadowed by the Greek theatre though – performances are still staged there.
Catania facts and trivia
- Famous conductor Bellini was the chief conductor at the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania.
- The Festa di St Agata, held in February every year, is arguably the most spectacular festival in Sicily. It is held in celebration of Catania’s patron saint, who is revered for refusing lecherous advances and undergoing terrible torture rather than succumbing.
- Piazza del Duomo, the city’s main square, is World Heritage-listed by UNESCO.
Agrigento facts and trivia
- Agrigento’s patron saint, San Calogero, is said to have saved the town from the plague.
- The major attractions of Agrigento are the five Doric temples, which are remarkably well preserved.
Lipari
- One of the Aeolian islands, Lipari’s history is notorious for piracy. In the worst incident, Barbarossa (or redbeard) went on the rampage, and massacred much of the town’s population.
Marsala facts and trivia
- Garibaldi started his re-unification of Italy from Marsala, where he landed with a force of 1,000 men in 1860
- Marsala is home to the world’s only remaining Phoenician ship.
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