Homeland

by Desire Del chiaro (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown Italy

My travel story is about my homeland. The term homeland comes from the Latin " terram Patria" which means "land of the ancestors" because the holland owns and retains all the culture, history and traditions of our ancestors. Homeland means family, it's that place where everybody feels at home, where we are safe. The homeland in which everybody born, grows and lives, affects the personality and character of the person. Sometimes when you grow up you decide to stay and build a life in your homeland, while others decide to leave it to go to and explore new countries and cultures. But the land of origin is not forgotten, even if far away to it with the body, it always remains inside the heart and soul of each person. The land where I was born, raised and where I want to take you is called Sicily, in Italy. Sicily is an island southern Italy located in the middle of the Mediterranean and always has been the port that has welcomed different peoples from different parts of the world. All those peoples who have conquered it, they were always fascinated by his infinite beauty, and they tried to the enrichment it with their own culture, customs, and traditions. By leaving a part of themself in this land. The Greeks, for example, conquered and created their cities in the orient part in Sicily. They built majestic temples, theaters, amphitheaters, and palaces, which can still be visited today. Walking between these marvels you can still perceive the strength, beauty, and greatness of that civilization that was the "cradle" of ancient culture. Peoples as Phoenicians, Arabs, and Normans, instead conquered and dominated the western part of Sicily, where they built the gorgeous palace and churches. In these buildings the architecture Arabic and Normann blend in a perfect balance between arcs, circles and designs and colors. Then arrived the Romans and Byzantine who built many churches. Some are simple, others instead are enriched with wonderful frescoes, columns, and mosaic where it reflects the light that penetrates through the windows decorated with an elegant glass. The Sicily is not the only land where cultures, languages, and traditions meet and by mix, but it is a land that has many naturalistic beauties where the sky, sea and mountains, and the fire is in charge down a perfect balance. The landscapes , colors, scents change and transform in every different part of it. The sea surrounds it and embraces it with a thousand different colors: emerald, light green, blue and light blue. Its beaches are different and change in different parts of Sicily. Some are soft and delicate because they are formed by fine and delicate sand, others are hard and rocky. Even the beach changes color. Some are white due to the presence of Marl, others are black near the volcano. In fact, in Sicily, there is the highest volcano in Europe, Etna that with lava, lapilli, and kelp expresses all the power and energy that there is inside the heart of the earth. Furthermore, due to its temperate climate, fresh air is a fertile land with many trees and fruits: grapes, prickly pears, oranges, lemons, and olive trees, which give life to different colors and scents. Also, every city in Sicily has costumes, dances, food, and dialect different because each city retains the culture and traditions of the peoples they conquered. Sicily is one of the few places in south Italy where you may still stroll to the town square, and recognize everyone on your way. Walking through the narrow streets of the city you immerse yourself in all the culture and art that transport a king from the buildings, the people, the smells, scents, and sounds. It is like being immersed in another dimension where time and space stop. During this trip, I took you into my homeland Sicily. Through its streets, roads, landscapes, different smells and scents. Inside the majesty of its churches, palaces, theaters, squares and temples , where the past and present come together in infinite beauty.