Why not Sicily?

[numerouno]

Hiya all.

The Sicilian section on this forum could be described as being 'very lonely' IMHO.

I've been wondering for quite some time now........and as we're going to be in Taormina for a week from Sunday, I thought I'd bring this up.

We've been to Sicily, one of the most beautiful regions, a number of times and I'm just curious to find out your views as to why more people are not interested in buying properties here.

I know the prices ain't cheap but then this hasn't deterred people from buying in other 'expensive' regions of Italy. I'm sure its not the journey either 'cos the flight time is a mere 3 hours from the UK.

I'm sure Ronnie, who I believe is or has renovated a property in Sicily, or you nice people may be able to throw some light on my curiosity.

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[liketheroman]

My wife's truly huge family are mostly from Catania. We get there every so often and have a good time but not because of the place. Most of the family live in the north and we are the only ones whoever visit. We go and members of the family say, 'Oh Bella Cantania' and I say oh no it is not, dirty run down and agressive to boot and I have not experienced such poverty first hand in any other European country.

Taormina is nice, bit of a cliche though and very expensive (only place I could get a nice chilled martini last time I was there even if it was 7 euro).

I also have fond memories of the kids toboganning down Etna. Then there was a Danish guy in a camper who gave someone the finger (I ask you, you come to Catania and give someone the finger!). I honestly thought they were going to kill him, instead they shook him up a bit and sent him on his way.

So why not Sicily? Well maybe like Sardegna, it is an island so accessibility. The really nice stuff is indeed expensive, the rest can be very remote and with new developments there is a bit of form when it comes to abusive building (particularly around Agricento). To top it all if Ronald likes it, thats a good enough reason not to.

[numerouno]

Originally Posted by liketheroman

My wife's truly huge family are mostly from Catania. We get there every so often and have a good time but not because of the place. Most of the family live in the north and we are the only ones whoever visit. We go and members of the family say, 'Oh Bella Cantania' and I say oh no it is not, dirty run down and agressive to boot and I have not experienced such poverty first hand in any other European country.

Taormina is nice, bit of a cliche though and very expensive (only place I could get a nice chilled martini last time I was there even if it was 7 euro).

I also have fond memories of the kids toboganning down Etna. Then there was a Danish guy in a camper who gave someone the finger (I ask you, you come to Catania and give someone the finger!). I honestly thought they were going to kill him, instead they shook him up a bit and sent him on his way.

So why not Sicily? Well maybe like Sardegna, it is an island so accessibility. The really nice stuff is indeed expensive, the rest can be very remote and with new developments there is a bit of form when it comes to abusive building (particularly around Agricento). To top it all if Ronald likes it, thats a good enough reason not to.

Hiya Roman.

Was it stirred or shaken?

Yes Taormina is beautifully picturesque.

I fully agree with your sentiments concerning Catania. Sometimes it reminds me of a refugee camp in Palestine....right in the heart (or foot) of Europe. It's such a shame though.

Well, the Danish guy should consider himself very lucky....not a very clever thing to do.

I'm glad you mentioned Sardinia. They now regret selling a major chunk of the Costa Smeralda to the Aga Khan who had the vision to turn it into what it is today. They thought the Aga was a 'fool' buying all that barren land. It's a billionaires heaven today. I suppose when you've got an deep-sea yatch and a Falcon jet, accessebility does not come into the equation.

So the question still remains....why not Sicily? I'm sure there's more than meets the eye.

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[liketheroman]

Well it cant be because of the people, good natured, generous spirited even if they do bellow all the time and it is very hard to understand them

[NickZ]

I'm sure everybody makes their own list of what they want or don't want.

Mine?

1) Summers a bit warmer then I want.

2) Being an island that much harder to drive away for a week.

I could understand if somebody wanted a cottage to fly into during the winter. But to live in full time? Turn the question around? Why not Puglia instead? Or fill in any of the other southern regions.

[foren83]

I live in Sicily (Catania) and i think that people don't buy properties here for 3 reasons:

1) In the best touristic points prices are more expensive

2) The best touristics points are crowded

3) The best properties are alrady been bought by locals

Personally if you should buy a property i'd suggest you the zone on the Etna (Castiglione, Linguaglossa, Randazzo). Close to Taormina and cheapest

Hope i've understand the question


Best regards
Enrico

[Sebastiano]

Originally Posted by numerouno

Hiya all.

The Sicilian section on this forum could be described as being 'very lonely' IMHO.

I've been wondering for quite some time now........and as we're going to be in Taormina for a week from Sunday, I thought I'd bring this up.

We've been to Sicily, one of the most beautiful regions, a number of times and I'm just curious to find out your views as to why more people are not interested in buying properties here.

I know the prices ain't cheap but then this hasn't deterred people from buying in other 'expensive' regions of Italy. I'm sure its not the journey either 'cos the flight time is a mere 3 hours from the UK.

I'm sure Ronnie, who I believe is or has renovated a property in Sicily, or you nice people may be able to throw some light on my curiosity.

#1

i don't think that it has much to do with property prices,cost of living indexes,or flight times.Indeed Sicily is in fact one of the most beautiful places in this country,lovely people,great food etc.Our own personal considerations ,and my wife is sicilian and my family lived over 100 years in Sicily,is that it can be extremely "difficult" living there even more so if one is working and even more so if lands are involved.There are unfortunate "occult" pressures (that admittedly a retired foreign couple would perhaps NOT encounter)but that does not mean that they are not present.We may consider going there when we are too old to continue our business here but not to live and work there.

[liketheroman]

Originally Posted by foren83

Personally if you should buy a property i'd suggest you the zone on the Etna (Castiglione, Linguaglossa, Randazzo). Close to Taormina and cheapest

Enrico

I know that area on the slopes. It is very rugged, walls everywhere made of black lava. However a little cooler in Summer I suspect.

I am glad you mentioned Linguaglossa. I have distant family there and they have a dialect all of their own that reminds me of those North African women making a shrill sound from waggling their tongue. Not even my kids can understand it, my wife a little

[Scrapspal]

That shrill sound is called "Zagreit" and is made by the women in celebration of an event like a wedding or a birth. There are many different "regional tones" of Zagreit and the women who produce the best sound are highly sought for the Henna party the night before the wedding. You can hear good examples of Zagreit at the very beginning and throughout this wedding party video. (nice video and worth watching for the dancing which may also give you a clue into how the "head and hair twirling" relates to trance - think of Tarantella)
YouTube - Moroccan Wedding Dancing 2005 OFF THE CHAIN 10 minutes

[numerouno]

Originally Posted by liketheroman

I
I am glad you mentioned Linguaglossa. I have distant family there and they have a dialect all of their own that reminds me of those North African women making a shrill sound from waggling their tongue. Not even my kids can understand it, my wife a little

Hiya Roman.

You may already know this, but for those who dont....'glossa' = tongue in Greek. Hence.....Linguaglossa.

Also, some of Sicilain dilaect in that part of the island is very similar to the Cretan & Cypriot dialects and my better half understands 99% of it.

Anyway, got to sign off for a few days....off to Taormina for a week.

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