Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

A POR TR AIT OF SICIL Y  21

medieval cathedrals, to the paintings of
Antonello da Messina and the music of
Vincenzo Bellini, and from the birth of
Italian literature under Frederick II to the
poets and novelists of the 19th and 20th
centuries. Sadly, this glorious artistic
heritage is not always well cared for and
appreciated, although attitudes are
changing. Noto, near Syracuse, is a prime
example of this. The town, one of the
great achievements of Sicilian Baroque
architecture, was subjected to neglect,
leading to the collapse of the Cathedral
dome in 1996. After repairs, UNESCO
awarded the site World Heritage status
in 2002, a prestigious honour that has
made the inhabitants more aware of their
surroundings. The creation of new nature
reserves, renewed interest in preserving
historic centres, and initiatives such as
The beautiful Baroque façade of the Duomo in Ortygia, Syracuse extended church opening hours have
all followed.
an anti-government movement whose But the arts and culture face severe
leaders have played on old Sicilian feelings competition for resources today, as
of independence and diversity? Is the Sicily is challenged by the arrival of vast
Mafia the tool of the remaining large numbers of refugees – some 4,000 in
estate owners, determined to retain 2014 alone – fleeing war and poverty
power? Whatever the answer may be, in Africa and the Middle East by sea.
eliminating the Mafia is one of Sicily’s Yet another “foreign invasion”, perhaps,
greatest challenges. After the early 1990s, but one that, despite the strain it has
which saw the deaths of several anti-Mafia placed on the island’s finances and
figures, the tide is turning in favour of a infrastructure, has been received by
“Mafia-free” Sicily, but progress is certainly many Sicilians with extraordinary
slow. Although Addiopizzo, sympathy and generosity.
a community of busi-
nessmen who refuse to
pay extortion money,
continues to grow
stronger year by year,
the Mafia still exerts
considerable influence
over the island.
Art and Culture
For more than 3,000
years, Sicily has inspired
the creation of artistic
masterpieces, from the
architecture of Magna
Graecia and the great Renato Guttuso, View of Bagheria (1951)

018-021_EW_Sicily.indd 21 11/3/16 2:06 PM