What to Buy

Trinacria is the symbol of Sicily, which appears on the island's flag and you can find in many handicrafts and souvenirs. It consists of the head of the Gorgone, with snake hair intertwined with ears of wheat, and three folded legs that refer to the ancient name of Sicily: it was called Trinacria due to the three promontories that mark the ends of the island.

This tweed cap with a small visor is particularly widespread in the Sicilian, Calabrian and Sardinian areas. Although often associated with mafia, it is primarily a symbol of the popular class and of the Sicilian culture itself.

These famous desserts, made up of a crispy dough wrap filled with ricotta cream, have an uncertain origin. The strong taste ingredients remind Arab culinary tradition, but it is said that the cloistered nuns of Caltanissetta invented them. In any case, if you visit Catania you have to taste cannoli!

The tradition of ceramics in Caltagirone dates back to the Neolithic era and was enriched by the contribution of the different peoples who settled on the island, such as Arabs and Greeks. You can buy vases, mugs and crèches in ceramics.

The name 'pistachio' dates back to the colonization of Sicily by Greeks, who used it as an aphrodisiac and as a cure against the bites of poisonous animals. Cultivated near Mount Etna, it is rich in "good" fats and antioxidant substances.

It seems that the Spaniards imported into Sicily this particular variety of dark-black chocolate with a grainy and crumbly consistency. In the small town of Modica, cold process is still practiced, following the ancient Aztec tradition.

The best known are Marsala in different varieties, Nero d'Avola (the most exported Sicilian red), Nerello Mascalese, the Etna DOC and finally the Passito di Pantelleria, sweet and aromatic, exclusive product of the homonymous island.

Pupi, the Sicilian puppets, are distinguished from other puppets by their particular mechanics, as they are used to represent duels and knights stories. The catanese type differs from the palermitan one due to the larger size of the marionettes and the wider repertoire.