Sicily is the most densely populated island in the Mediterranean. At its centre is the 3323 mt. Mount Etna, Europe's biggest and most active Volcano.
It is against this backdrop that Sicily has played an active role in all the major ancient and medieval civilisation and cultures.
The Greeks, Catheginians, Romans, Arabs and later the Normans have all left their mark on the island. Much has been destroyed though both by constant conflict and devastating earthquakes Messina was destroyed in 1908 and the western part of the Island was rocked by Earthquakes in 1966. The total destruction of the south west of the Island in the late 1600's gave a chance to build new towns and some of the best examples of the Baroque can be found here.
Famed in recent years by the Mafia, this infamous group has shaped the modern legend of Sicily. Sicilians have a united disrespect for laws including any rules of the road. They drive in a state of perpetual motion that ignores red lights and is oblivious of any other drivers. Somehow though they all manage to avoid each other until they reach their destination and double park on the busiest boulevards in rush hour without anyone batting an eye lid.
The Mafia is slowly being dismantled by the authorities and Sicily has its own parliament and president. This is slowly changing years of neglect by central government that led to poverty and the slums of the island.
Our Sicily photo collections have tried to capture all these aspects of the island and Pixel Pigs will soon be available with more detailed stories.
