Ciao Sicily!

A Sicilian cliff filled with 5,000 ancient graves

Blood orange orchards, bike rides to ancient graves, and the backing the bus up onto the freeway... Sicily has been an adventure only Econ 315 can offer. Since arriving we have worked our way across eastern Sicily, walking or driving through the towns dispersed between the hills and orchards.

Sicily has a history that is impossible to compare with any other area of the world. This Mediterranean island has been invaded and inhabited by the Greeks, Romans, Nordics, Byzantines, and Arabs – which has created an environment, history and culture unique from anywhere else on earth. Each culture has influenced Sicilian heritage, to create a truly unique place.

Management of this unique architecture and history offered by Sicily is highly centralized. Nine “Soprantendzas” each have rule over the heritage economy in their province of Sicily. In their highly centralized system, the museum workers and all heritage site workers are all considered bureaucrats. This makes them very difficult to fire (and less knowledgeable) but also makes policy making more effective. Decisions regarding cultural heritage preservation or conservation can be made more efficiently. 

Sicily’s entire culture is very autonomous.  The island’s governments generally had very short life spans, which may explain why their cultural heritage bureaucracy is so strongly centralized. A large portion of Sicily’s economy is tourism, and tourism doesn’t happen without heritage sites that are properly preserved, restored, and accessible.

I think I speak for the most of the group when I say that this Italy trip was the coolest thing we have ever done. We are currently enjoying our couple last days in Europe by walking through Paris! Only in Econ 315!

Econ 315 in Noto