When most people hear the name Sicily, their minds instantly jump to the mafia, the infamous Cosa Nostra, and a handful of Hollywood clichés. While organized crime does cast a long shadow, the island is a treasure chest of wonders that most travelers never even suspect. In this roundup we’ll reveal 10 amazing things you can discover about Sicily, from eerie paranormal events to culinary delights, ancient poetry, and monumental history. Buckle up and prepare to see the island in a whole new light.
10 Amazing Things to Explore in Sicily
10 Poltergeists
In the summer of 2004, the sleepy hamlet of Canneto di Caronia became the stage for a baffling phenomenon that locals later dubbed “the fires of Canneto.” It all began when ordinary household appliances—toasters, radios, you name it—ignited on their own, with no plug in sight and no obvious electrical fault. Within weeks, the inexplicable blaze spread to non‑electrical objects: armchairs, mattresses, even a passing van caught fire for no discernible reason.
The panic was palpable. Authorities cut power to the whole village, evacuated families, and summoned scientists from across the globe. Theories swirled: static electricity from a nearby railway, magnetic disturbances from Mount Etna, secret U.S. military experiments, or even extraterrestrials. Yet, despite intensive study, no definitive explanation emerged. After several months, the flames abruptly ceased, and Canneto slipped back into its tranquil routine, leaving behind a mystery that still sparks debate among researchers.
9 Cagliostro
Giuseppe Balsamo, born in a modest Palermo neighborhood in 1743, would later reinvent himself as the flamboyant Alessandro Cagliostro. After a daring escape from Sicily, he set up shop in Rome, mastering pharmacy and the art of forgery. His uncanny skill set caught the eye of the powerful Cardinal Orsini, landing him a lucrative position that blended science, mysticism, and intrigue.
Cagliostro’s reputation soon crossed borders. He joined the Freemasons in London, then drifted to Paris, where the charismatic Cardinal de Rohan welcomed him. Accused—perhaps unjustly—of the infamous “affair of the necklace,” a plot to swindle the French crown, he endured nine months in the Bastille before being acquitted. Later, the Inquisition in Rome condemned him as a Freemason, sentencing him to life imprisonment where he died in 1795.
Even in his lifetime, his fame was legendary. Benjamin Franklin was reportedly recommended as his physician during a Parisian visit, and the notorious Giacomo Casanova penned accounts of their encounter. Goethe, during his Italian travels, is said to have identified Balsamo as the man behind the Cagliostro myth, cementing his place in European folklore.
8 Sea Monsters
The narrow Strait of Messina, separating Sicily from Calabria, has long been feared as the domain of two terrifying sea monsters—Scylla and Charybdis. Their legend gave birth to the phrase “between Scylla and Charybdis,” a classic metaphor for being caught between two equally perilous choices. Homer first described them in The Odyssey, portraying them as once‑beautiful nymphs transformed into monstrous guardians.
According to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the sea god Glaucus fell hopelessly in love with Scylla, only to be rejected because of his fish‑tail. Seeking a love potion, he turned to the sorceress Circe, who, spurned by Glaucus herself, poisoned the waters and turned Scylla into a six‑headed terror—each head with a long neck, four eyes, and rows of razor‑sharp teeth, ready to devour any sailor unlucky enough to cross her path.
Charybdis, on the opposite side, was originally a gluttonous woman punished by Zeus for stealing divine cattle. Transformed into a massive whirlpool, she endlessly gulped huge volumes of seawater and then vomited it back out, creating a deadly vortex capable of swallowing entire vessels. While strong currents do exist in the strait, no credible eyewitness accounts confirm the existence of these mythic beasts.
7 The Sonnet
The sonnet—fourteen lines of iambic pentameter arranged in a sophisticated rhyme scheme—originated not in Florence or London, but in Sicily. In the early 13th century, poet Giacomo da Lentini, a member of the Sicilian School, crafted the first true sonnet, giving birth to a form that would soon travel northward and become a cornerstone of Italian, French, and English poetry.
From Sicily, the sonnet was embraced by the Tuscan masters Petrarch and Dante, who helped spread its fame across Europe. Later, William Shakespeare and countless others would wield the sonnet to explore love, mortality, and the human condition. Even today, despite the rise of free verse, the sonnet remains a staple in classrooms worldwide—much to the chagrin of many high‑school students tasked with mastering its strict structure.
6 Street Food
Palermo, Sicily’s vibrant capital, recently earned the title of European Capital of Street Food. A Forbes ranking placed the city among the top five street‑food destinations worldwide, and the undisputed champion in Europe. Here, vendors serve up iconic bites like arancini—golden rice balls stuffed with meat, cheese, or ragù—and pannele, crisp squares of fried chickpeas and herbs enjoyed with fresh bread.
For the adventurous palate, there’s the notorious panino con la milza (or pane ca meusa), a sandwich packed with boiled then fried veal lung and spleen, and stigghiola, skewered sheep intestines grilled to perfection. To finish on a sweet note, a glass of granita—a semi‑frozen, icy dessert flavored with lemon, almond, or coffee—offers a refreshing conclusion to any street‑food feast.
5 The Tallest Active Volcano In Europe
Rising over 3,000 meters (about 10,000 feet) on Sicily’s eastern flank, Mount Etna proudly claims the title of Europe’s tallest active volcano. Its activity is practically constant—while the last major lava eruption wrapped up in November 2013, the mountain has displayed signs of unrest nearly every year.
Etna’s frequent eruptions have shaped local life. Despite a tragic incident that claimed 77 lives—including two tourists who dared to summit too close to the crater—the surrounding communities have learned to coexist with the fiery giant. Its volcanic soils are exceptionally fertile, nurturing vineyards that produce some of Italy’s most celebrated wines, and supporting a rich agricultural tapestry across the island.
4 It Was Once Richer Than The North Of Italy
Before Italy’s unification in 1861, Sicily enjoyed a period of remarkable prosperity. From 1814 to 1860, the island formed part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies—a realm that, according to economist‑turned‑Prime Minister Francesco Saverio Nitti, generated 443.3 million golden lire, accounting for 65.7 % of all circulating money on the peninsula. In other words, the southern kingdom out‑earned every other Italian state of the era.
However, this wealth rested heavily on agriculture, and the region lagged behind the industrial surge that propelled the north forward. The unification process dealt a severe blow, and subsequent catastrophes—such as the 1908 Messina earthquake that claimed 123,000 lives and the massive wave of emigration to the Americas—further eroded Sicily’s economic standing. Today, while the island remains autonomous and far from being Italy’s poorest region, it certainly does not sit atop the nation’s wealth chart.
3 The Largest Opera House In Italy
It’s no secret that Italians adore opera, but if size ever mattered, Sicily would win hands‑down. Palermo’s Teatro Massimo, officially known as Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, boasts the title of Italy’s largest theater and opera house. Construction began in 1874 and, after more than two decades of work, the grand doors finally opened in 1897.
The theater’s design was overseen by architect Giovan Battista Filippo Basile, who sadly did not live to see its completion. His son, Ernesto Basile, carried the torch and finished the project. The opulent venue later featured prominently in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part Three, where a sweeping opera scene showcased its breathtaking interior.
2 The Allied Invasion
While D‑Day in Normandy often steals the spotlight, the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily—codenamed Operation Husky—proved to be a pivotal turning point in World War II. Over 38 days, Allied forces secured a decisive victory, gaining control of the Mediterranean and forcing German troops to retreat northward, setting the stage for the later Normandy landings.
The successful campaign also precipitated the downfall of Benito Mussolini, who was arrested by King Victor Emanuel III (though later rescued by German forces). Interestingly, many Sicilians displayed little nationalist fervor for the Axis, often aiding the Allies in their struggle against German occupation.
1 It May Have Better Greek Ruins Than Greece
Sicily’s ancient Greek heritage rivals, and perhaps even surpasses, that of modern Greece. The Greeks colonized the island centuries ago, establishing powerful city‑states such as Syracuse, the birthplace of the legendary mathematician Archimedes. Today, visitors can explore remarkably preserved sites in Syracuse, Taormina, and the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, a spectacular collection of seven classical temples.
During the Roman siege of Syracuse (214–212 BC), Archimedes famously deployed ingenious war machines—including the “Archimedes claw,” a crane capable of lifting and sinking enemy ships, and massive mirrors that concentrated sunlight to ignite Roman sails. Despite his brilliance, Archimedes met a tragic end when a Roman soldier, ignoring his plea to “don’t disturb my circles,” killed him while he was sketching geometric figures in the sand.
These ancient marvels have inspired countless travelers and scholars. Tom Creus, a writer, teacher, and filmmaker, has visited Sicily multiple times—most recently in December 2013—and continues to share his experiences through his personal blog.