Living the GOOD LIFE for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!
YOUR MOVE TO SICILY!
Any move to Italy should take into account the spectacular island of Sicily. Located off the southern tip of “the boot” Sicily connects to the mainland of Italy by ferry or boat. But the small strip of water known as the Strait of Messina that cuts the island from the mainland may just as well be the size of an ocean, given the history, the languages spoken, the food eaten, and the lifestyle lived in Sicily.
Europe once dominated Sicily. Asia commandeered Sicily. Africa extended its continental reach to include Sicily. The greatest civilizations have all been captivated by Sicily and its bounty, not to mention location, for centuries. Yet today, Sicily remains an autonomous region of Italy.
Boasting a topography that includes a trembling volcano that visitors use for occasional ski excursions, to a splendid coastline stretching 360 degrees around the island, to inland hills and limestone planes, Sicily teems with sights, sounds and tastes. Add to those elements a year-round climate that is temperate and property prices that still remain affordable, food that is exquisite and as varied as the Sicilian history, and you have a land that simply grabs your attention when searching for your personal Change of Lifestyle.
Messina boasts forests, Catania features citrus groves, and Caltanissetta is awash in wheat fields. Stopping your drive to let a heard of sheep pass is not uncommon, and the winding roads pass through not only towns, but history. Monasteries, Baroque or Gothic churches, ancient Greek temples all dot the hillsides of Sicily, and all are there for you to explore.
Accessing Sicily isn’t difficult, in spite of the fact that it is an island. Ferries cross the Strait frequently and two major airports service the population. The Strait of Messina bridge has been talked about for over 100 years, and was given a boost in March, 2009 by the Italian president, who pledged to have construction started. Stay tuned. In the meantime, a new 800-boat marina in Ragusa, on the southern coast of Sicily, makes inbound and outbound access simple.
If you are a history buff, there is enough history in Sicily to occupy you for years.
Ruins from Hellenic antiquity, to the Middle Ages and the inventiveness and artistry of the Renaissance dot the land, and welcome you to visit.
Archimedes taught in Sicily. Saint Paul preached in Sicily. Holy roman Emperors lived in Sicily. Three thousand years of active history dominate today’s Sicily!
The food of Sicily incorporates all the influences from its past. Dry wine to sweet marsala are produced there. The sweet smell of citrus wafts across the planes, farms are bursting with local produce, olive groves yield their abundant fruit and wheat turns into a variety of pasta almost overnight. The seas teem with fish and seafood. Most is purchased at freshmarkets for the most economically minded!
Best of Sicily Online Magazine, an English-language magazine, now boasts that nearly nine million readers have reviewed their pages! Could it be that an influx of expats to Sicily is in the making?
In 1968, Sicily was rocked by a major earthquake, putting many of its villages in peril. The town of Salemi in Southwest Sicily and its mayor came up with a clever idea: sell the abandoned houses for one Euro! The catch is that the repairs must be completed within two years! You will have to estimate that putting one of these homes back into a habitable shape will cost over $100,000US, but the result will be a contribution to the restoration of a village, and a home that is designed to your taste! For those who aren’t into restoration, homes and apartments are available throughout Sicily for prices that will please any expat who considers Sicily for A Change of Lifestyle!
While the Catholic feasts, with their simple and colorful processions and musical accompaniment are celebrated in hilltowns and villages throughout Sicily, there are other enjoyments to be had. Picture yourself in a true Greek amphitheater watching the performance of a Greek Classical play. Or visit an ornate opera house for a vocal performance or symphonic presentation. Cultural events abound and are part of the fabric of Sicily, just as the evening’s stroll (passeggiata) through a village, with a stop at a pastry shop, are a part of Sicilian life. Family life, and life in general is important to the Sicilian, and to be welcomed into Sicilian society is an honor for any person choosing to live in Sicily.