Page 41 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

THE HIST OR Y OF SICIL Y  39

The Revolt of Messina
This print depicts the 1848 insurrection at
Messina. The city was bombarded by Ferdinand,
afterwards known as “Re Bomba”, or “King Bomb”.

The Baroque Period
This stucco work (c.1690) in
an oratorio in Palermo (see
pp60–61) by Giacomo
The Sulphur Mines Serpotta represents the
After the unification of Italy, sulphur Battle of Lepanto and is a
mining began in the Sicilian marvellous example of the
interior. Children were employed style that became known
for their small size and agility. as “Sicilian Baroque”.

Garibaldi Invades Sicily
On 11 May 1860, a thousand volunteers led
by Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807–82) landed in
Marsala to conquer the Kingdom of the
Two Sicilies. They succeeded in this incredible
feat, taking Palermo, then Messina and
lastly Naples by storm.

Composers and Authors
In the 19th century,
cultural life flourished in
Sicily. The leading figures
at this time were writer
Giovanni Verga
(1840–1922)
and composer
Vincenzo Bellini
(1801–35), seen
in this portrait.

1649 Palermo revolt The Sicilian 1759 Sicily taken over by the Kingdom of Naples 1860 Garibaldi’s Red
Parliament Shirts invade in May.
1812 The Sicilian In October the
1674 Revolt Parliament sanctions an people vote to merge
in Messina English-type constitution with Kingdom of Italy
1650 1700 1750 1800 1850
1693 A 1735 The Spanish Bourbons
disastrous become new rulers of Sicily 1848 The Giovanni
earthquake entire island Verga
destroys most 1713 With the Peace of Utrecht, Sicily is 1820 First uprisings hit by revolts,
of eastern Sicily ceded first to Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy especially
and then (1720) to the Habsburgs Messina

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