Things are changing in Sicily and for the better

I feel optimistic. I think that we do not realize it, but things have slowly changed in Sicily and this is helping its perception abroad. I know that there is still a lot to change and fight for, but many signs in the last few years are making me hope for the best.

Ten or fifteen years ago, it would have been unthinkable to have Sicilian wines on a wine list in a renowned restaurant in New York. The work of visionary entrepreneurs has paid off. You find good Sicilian wine very easily. See a list of the best Sicilian wines and wine producers at http://sicilyguide.com/what-to-do/food-wine/sicilian-wines/

Ten or fifteen years ago, a web site that specializes exclusively about Sicilian villas would have been crazy. This web site exists today thanks to Rossella and Huw, who launched Think Sicily in 2002. They thought Sicily has the most impressive mixture of history, culture, gastronomy, climate and natural beauty of anywhere they ever visited. They were right on their bet and paved the way to a different way of thinking about Sicily.

Ten or fifteen years ago, Addiopizzo Travel would have not been possible. Today, this tour company provides ethical tours of Sicily. They take tourists to those businesses who have said “no” to the Mafia’s requests for protection money.

Ten or fifteen years ago, the term Ragusashire did not exist. Now we have foreigners who fall in love with Sicily. They move to the island and start the Ragusashire trend. Some of them blog about its  virtues, as Welshcake Limoncello does on Sicily Scene.  Others build a home there, as the two New York architects William Brockschmidt and Richard Dragisic that I had the pleasure to meet in person a few months ago.

Ten or fifteen years ago, to sell ruined homes for € 1 would have been considered schizophrenic. Vittorio Sgarbi did that for Salemi seizing an unknown publicity for the town. Another town followed this path.

Ten or fifteen years ago, Sicily could have not been voted by Travel + Leisure Magazine among the sexiest destinations in the world, thanks  to new infrastructures such as Kempinski Hotel Giardino di Costanza Sicily and Verdura Golf & Spa Resort.

Ten or fifteen years ago, Antica Dolceria Bonajuto chocolate was not available at my local supermarket in Brooklyn. Now, they air a youtube commercial making fun of American chocolate. The company has been in business since 1880, but only recently it has gained international attention.

Ten or fifteen years ago, the keys of the Sicilian villa where the notorious Mafia godfather Toto “the Beast” Riina spent his final months as a fugitive could not have been handed over to the local branch of the Italian journalists’ guild. Today, they can. See Another punch to the Mafia.

As I said there is still so much to do and work for, but let’s stop the negativity and think for a moment how much we have accomplished in the last decade. I would also like to include SicilyGuide into this honorable list. In the last few years, we have documented these changes and have worked constantly in promoting good aspects of the island without sacrificing objectivity when necessary. We are probably missing many things in this post. There are lots of men and women of goodwill working hard every day.