"Sicily - Island of Contrast" Sicilia by tpal

Sicilia Travel Guide: 2,580 reviews and 7,737 photos

Surprising Ancestral Home

The photo is from the Valley of Temples near Agrigento. I choose this picture to introduce my Sicily page because it sums up what I DID NOT expect. I am a second generation Sicilian -American. My grandparents spoke little English so most of my "knowledge" about Sicily was second-hand interpretations from my parents who had never been there. All my grandparents immigrated from the small town of Campobella di Licata and as far as I knew growing up, all of Sicily was olive trees and subsistence farmers. The stories of Greek heritage and spectacular coastal towns such as Taormina were never part of my mental image. Nor was the semi-arid environment with giant agaves, cacti and the ever present brown sandy soil. I would have to reshape what I "knew".

Last visit to Sicilia: Jul 1994
Intro Updated Aug 6, 2004
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Reviews (4)

Chiesa Madre, Campobella di Licata - Sicilia

Campobella di Licata - My Ancestral Home Off The Beaten Path (2)

Campobella di Licata is a small town of about 11,000 people in southern Sicily. It also happens to be the birth place of... more travel advice

Olive Trees and Charred Landscape Favorites (1)

Much of the landscape in the rural parts of southern central Sicily was covered with olive groves and grape vines.... more travel advice

Lost in Favara Off The Beaten Path (2)

Driving through the back roads of Sicily can be an adventure, but that is why you are there. . . isn't it? As we drove... more travel advice

Trains and Ships - All at Once! Transportation (1)

When it was time to leave Sicily it was suggested that we take the train to Rome. The small matter of being on an island... more travel advice

Comments (11)

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TheWanderingCamel Jan 18, 2009 at 2:35 PM

Our first visit to Sicily last year certainly won't be our last - what a marvellous place it is. leyle
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Nemorino Feb 5, 2006 at 7:54 AM

Hi Tom, how've you been? Greetings from Frankfurt am Main -- Don
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deecat Jun 6, 2005 at 8:07 PM

Great transportation tip! How wonderful to see where the ancestors lived! Sicily is a marvelous place to claim "roots". Perceptive writing and vivid photographs.
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easyoar May 9, 2005 at 3:12 PM

I knew you liked Italy Tom, but I didn't realise you were Sicilian! I trust you aren't part of a strong 'family-run empire' back home!
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JLBG Mar 25, 2005 at 8:00 PM

Sicilia is on our wish list but not scheduled yet ! Thank you for sharing !
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MalenaN Nov 30, 2004 at 8:15 AM

Driving the back roads on Sicilia sounds like great adventure! I have never been there but hope to visit one day!
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jamiesno Nov 21, 2004 at 8:55 AM

Everytime I see a page on Sicilia I think of the lady on the "Golden Girls". Great that you got there though Tom. Way to go ! :-)
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Kristina1701 Nov 4, 2004 at 9:55 AM

hehe yeah, italian road signs are hell! ;-) nice little page! .... there are alos lots of sicillians here in germany btw
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utttz Sep 24, 2004 at 1:54 AM

sicily is the place! :-)
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cheekymarieh Sep 18, 2004 at 11:19 AM

I would love to see more of the off the beaten track places on the island.