Is it safe to go to Sicily?
That's a very good question. In view of world events, and a new war against terrorism, travelers are understandably concerned about their personal safety, particularly in places like the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. On the ground and in the air. Firstly, the editors of Best of Sicily wish to express our support for the victims of terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, and our support of the families and friends of victims of such attacks. (The World Trade Center tragedy, terrible as it was, is just one example of a form of violence which claims innocent lives in many countries every day.) More specifically, we wish to address some practical issues associated with travel to Sicily. These are merely general observations. Only you can decide whether you feel that a possible risk associated with air travel is worth canceling your vacation in Sicily.

Italy is a NATO member nation with close ties to the United States (in Europe only the United Kingdom is closer to the United States politically and economically), but it has traditionally been rather isolated from most of the wars and terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa. Even the effects of several Balkan wars and certain Libyan activities have had relatively little effect on Italy considering this nation's proximity to such trouble spots. Given the world's changing realities, any nation is a potential terrorist target, but airport security in Italy is quite high compared to what you'll encounter in most nations.

Terrorism is not unknown in Italy; both the Red Brigade (of the 1970s) and the Mafia have made use of terrorist tactics, and an infamous attack at the Rome airport in the 1980s killed several people. But such incidents have involved few ordinary citizens or visitors. Tourists in Italy are generally undisturbed. Even purse snatchings are actually quite rare.

There are Muslim and Arab communities throughout Italy. In Sicily, there are several mosques. Most of the Muslim Arabs in Sicily are hard-working, family-oriented Tunisians and Moroccans of the Sunni sect. They certainly are not extremists or terrorists, and pose no threat to foreigners. The Sicilians themselves are descended, in large part, from Arabs (medieval Saracens and Moors). Superficially, many Sicilians physically resemble Mediterranean Arabs to the extent that, when traveling abroad, they could easily be mistaken for Saudi Arabians or Egyptians if they didn't speak Italian!

"Anti-globalization" and labor protests are held in Italian cities occasionally, and may block traffic for an hour or so, but these are essentially localized affairs. The non-violent protesters in cities like Palermo and Catania usually plan their impromptu "revolutions" to end in time for lunch or dinner. Mamma's pasta is far more important to them than the inconvenience of an entire day spent promoting seething social change, and they rarely disturb business activity. The last popular revolution in Sicily was the War of the Vespers in the thirteenth century, and we don't predict another one any time soon.

In planning your trip, check out your country's guidelines for travel abroad, and consult any travel advisories issued by your foreign ministry (or, for Americans, the U.S. State Department). Most have websites. In our changing world, prudence and a low profile are good policy for any traveler. Enjoy your trip.