The
top destinations to visit in 2020? According to Forbes
magazine, which has compiled a top twenty ranking, in second place is
Palermo in Sicily: an exceptional destination “due to its
authenticity, a feature which nowadays has largely disappeared from
many other areas of the world,” writes the American publication.
What makes Palermo so special is mainly its architectural and
cultural heritage, much of which has been passed down from generation
to generation by the aristocratic families that have played a central
role in the island’s history.
While noble titles were
abolished in Italy in 1948, the Sicilian aristocracy still retains
the ancient intrigue described by Tomasi di Lampedusa in his novel
The
Leopard,
which was later made into a film directed by Luchino Visconti and
starring Alain Delon, Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale. Set
during the Italian Risorgimento, at the dawning of the Kingdom of
Italy (1861), the story follows the events of the family of Tomasi di
Lampedusa and the slow decline of an entire social class.
But
what remains today of this ancient and powerful Sicilian aristocracy?
There is the Palermo aristocrat who has shrugged off the dusty 19th
century image of the overprivileged overlord to become a successful
businessman, while maintaining a certain style and taste for
transgression. Others have transformed their family estate into a
business producing wine and olive oil, planting ancient grains and
agricultural produce for use in cosmetics. Others have turned their
historical residences into stunning boutique hotels, opening up their
precious art collections to visitors. As Palermo’s aristocrats love
to repeat, “today nobility doesn’t always coincide with wealth.”
