L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano Baroque towns I f t h e t e r m " b a r o q u e " cues images of 3-foot-tall powdered wigs and swirly ornate embellishments, it probably doesn't include a scene set in Sicily. Hold that thought! A powerful earth- quake in 1693 essentially destroyed a swath of south- eastern Sicily, all but level- ing towns such as Catania and Ragusa. Determined and optimistic, locals com- b i n e d e f f o r t s t o r e b u i l d . B a r o q u e s t y l e w a s h i g h E u r o p e a n f a s h i o n a t t h e time…why not emulate it? T h u s , a S i c i l i a n v e r s i o n emerged, resulting in excep- tional and unique architec- t u r e t h a t n o w h o l d s U N E S C O W o r l d Heritage privileges in eight of the area's towns. Out of great tragedy arose captivat- i n g s t r u c t u r e s f r a m e d i n ornate carvings, grotesque m a s k s , a n d s t a t u a r y t h a t w o u l d m a k e a n a n c i e n t Greek jealous. Si mangia bene Let's be honest — food is her own specialties to share. There are the well-knowns we can thank Sicily for — arancini, those beautifully fried orbs of risotto or ricot- ta; caponata, a harmonious appetizer blending eggplant, pine nuts, raisins and vine- gar; and of course, cannoli and granita. But did you know it's normal to eat ice cream for breakfast? A puffy a big part of the draw for a n y l o c a t i o n c h o s e n t o explore. Obvious necessity aside, it really is one of life's g r e a t e s t p l e a s u r e s … a n d Sicily, like all of Italy, has b r i o c h e b u r s t i n g w i t h a c r e a m y m o u n d o f g e l a t o a l o n g s i d e y o u r m o r n i n g espresso – of course! When noontime hunger sets in, seek out a street vendor for a classic Pani ca Meusa, the equivalent of a Sicilian Big Mac. Steaming layers of c o w s p l e e n o n a f r e s h sesame seed bun make for a p e r e n n i a l s t r e e t f o o d favorite. Naples invented pizza…Sicilians personalized i t . K n o w n a s s f i n c i o n e (sponge), tomato sauce and anchovies snuggled atop a thick rectangular pallet of bread provide a chewy feast. W o u l d y o u b e l i e v e Spaghetti-O's originated in Sicily? Okay…possibly fake n e w s , b u t A n e l l e t t i a l F o r n o , a s p e c i a l t y f r o m Palermo, very possibly could have spurred Chef Boy-Ar- D e e ' s i m a g i n a t i o n . S m a l l r i n g s o f p a s t a k n o w n a s anelletti combined with a ragù style sauce, peas, and a v a r i e t y o f c h e e s e s , t h e n baked to savory perfection are a Sicilian comfort food favorite. There is much to discover within captivating Sicily. A confluence of Greek, Arab, Spanish, and Norman influ- ences, Sicilian culture is full of mystique surrounded in rugged beauty. Her people reflect this heritage, as well, i n a b e a u t i f u l m i x t u r e o f appearances. Proud, vibrant, and ready they await, eager to reveal a few more of the m y s t e r i e s o f t h e i r i s l a n d home. Beautiful Ragusa, in Sicily (Photo: Libux77) Continued from page 26 LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE Stromboli, one of the active volcanos in Sicily (Photo: Serjio74/Dreamstime)

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