20 Interesting Facts About Sicily

The charming island of Sicily has a rich history and an equally rich culture, fascinating from many perspectives. Traditions and customs remain strong here, and despite the influence of modern values from other countries and Italy itself, Sicilians largely remain quite conservative.

Facts About the Island of Sicily:

1. Cicero, the famous ancient orator, lived here for a significant period.
2. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
3. Locals speak the Sicilian language, although most also know Italian.
4. Due to the constant movement of tectonic plates, Sicily is slowly, very slowly, moving closer to mainland Italy.
5. The oldest surviving European document is preserved in a museum in Palermo, Sicily. It was written in 1109.
6. Medusa, the mythological monster from ancient legends, was said to dwell here. Other legendary creatures, Scylla and Charybdis, were believed to live in the strait between Sicily and the neighboring island of Calabria.
7. The opera house in Palermo is the largest in all of Italy.
8. Sicilian poet Giacomo Lentini invented the sonnet, which later became one of the most widely used poetic forms in the world.
9. For a long time, Sicily was an independent state.
10. In the 10th-11th centuries, Sicily, then home to about 2,000,000 people, was the most densely populated place on Earth.
11. Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, is located here. It formed due to the junction of tectonic plates beneath Sicily.
12. Giuseppe Balsamo, the infamous adventurer who posed as Count Cagliostro, was indeed a real person. He was born in Palermo, Sicily.
13. The concept of the Mafia, both as an idea and a criminal organization, originated here, though it has since spread worldwide.
14. The tradition of blood feuds is still strong in Sicily.
15. The island is home to ruins of many ancient cities. Sicily was once a central hub of ancient Greek civilization.
16. The famous inventor and scientist Archimedes was also a native of this island.
17. Sicily was under Austrian rule for 15 years.
18. The commune of Casteltermini in Sicily houses the oldest wooden crucifix in the world, created during the early days of Christianity. It is over two millennia old.
19. Sicily’s land area is larger than that of countries like El Salvador, Israel, and Slovenia. It is roughly the size of North Macedonia.
20. Despite its rich history, Sicily cannot be considered an economically prosperous region. The standard of living here is almost half the average of Italy.