Get to know the Sicilians: Interview 3 – Salvatore
Get to know more Sicilians. In their shoes: Sicily speaks with Salvatore, a laundry worker from Catania
Salvatore | 29 | Laundry worker | Catania
What does your work involve?
I work in an industrial laundry, the company mainly deals with the washing, ironing and delivery of hospital and hotel linen. Personally I take care of the linen ironing phase. Periodically, I also take care of the logistics of the company and the preparation of linen replenishments for our customers, according to their needs.
What are the things, in your opinion, that make Sicily special?
Sicily offers many particular attractions, certainly in terms of landscapes, such as the mountains and the sea only a few kilometres away, but above all in the agricultural sector, there are genuine products at KM Zero.
According to you are there things that Sicily is missing?
No, I firmly believe that Sicily has excellent potential in all sectors. Sicily boasts many great tourist destinations. I believe that this region, based on it’s potential, would be capable of self-sustainability.
Have you traveled all over Sicily? How much of Sicily have you seen? What would you still like to see?
I have visited a few places in Sicily. Firstly, I’ve had the opportunity to thoroughly visit my native city, Catania, admiring many characteristic monuments, such as the Roman amphitheatre, the Odeon, the Ursino Castle (commissioned by Frederick II the Holy Roman Emperor) and finally admire many monuments and buildings in Baroque style (Palazzo Biscari, the Cathedral of Saint Agatha, etc.).
Many designed by the architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini, as a sign of the city’s rebirth after the 1693 earthquake. Other places I’ve visited are Lentini, Caltagirone (the city of ceramics), Scicli, Ragusa Ibla and Modica. Unfortunately, I still have yet to visit many places in Sicily, and what’s more, in this region we have a mix of cultures that have intertwined over the centuries.
What are some of the places that every visitor in Sicily MUST SEE?
As mentioned in the previous answer, I am convinced that Sicily should be visited at 360 degrees. Many of our cities (but also those of Central and Southern Italy) were founded by the Greeks (Magna Graecia). Over the centuries, Sicily was colonized by many kingdoms and empires, by the Romans, Aragonese, Normans, Arabs, etc., therefore, it offers a truly varied culture, both monumentally and artistically. Being a history buff, it seems only right for me to talk about what the roots of our island are.
Is Sicily a dangerous place?
I don’t think our region is dangerous, but it is also true that unfortunately we cannot hide the fact that Sicily has a medium-high crime rate. This “cancer” should be eradicated, also because it damages the image of our beautiful Sicily.
What do you think of living so close to an active volcano, Mt. Etna?
Honestly, I am not very afraid, perhaps because since I was a child I have always had the opportunity to observe our volcano every day. I believe that you immediately acquire a completely natural adaptation and coexistence with it. I do not hide that however, whenever an earthquake occurs, the natural instinct leads me to have a little fear.
Do you have a strong Sicilian food memory from childhood?
I have fond memories as a child of various typical Sicilian dishes, especially Pasta alla Norma, perhaps because my Nonna made it for me almost every Sunday. Other typical dishes that were often not lacking at the Sunday lunch were: Parmigiana, pasta with sardines and Falsomagro (Sicilian stuffed meat rolls).
Finally, to conclude the lunch, for dessert we had the Sicilian Cassata or the Cassatelle from Agira. I also remember when my parents took me around the city centre, where we often appreciated the various dishes offered by our street food vendors, such as grilled horse meat, often consumed in a spartan way on outdoor tables, or even standing! Sometimes we chose to enjoy the “Tavola Calda”, very assorted, even if I prefered (and I still do) the arancino.
Which time of year in Sicily do you like the best and why?
I prefer winter, as I like the mountain full of snow, it has its charm. It is good to go to the mountains to observe the wonderful landscape.
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