Sicily in the Telegraph

"Sicily is poor, scruffy and slightly sinister – but John Gimlette is captivated by its magnificence."Poor - at times unfortunately yes - a lot. Scruffy - most certainly (and part of the charm)But sinister?The 4-year old Sicilian in me said - "Sicily is not sinister!" But then when you think about it a bit more I guess it actually is a sinister - but absolutely not in the way the author of the article intends it. The death notices he mentions are all over Sicily - but after the initial culture shock of being reminded daily that someone else is dead you realise that they are a very civil way to notify the community and allow everyone to pay a small sign of respect by just driving slowly next to the notices, reading them and nodding their head. That is not sinister at all.I don't think a brief visit in Sicily will unearth anything particularly sinister. A few years in Sicily, however, will allow you to see the things that are really sinister. The politicians and bosses - that look like perfectly enjoyable and friendly characters but suck the blood out of the island.He did get his description of Siracusa correct though "or my last few days, I travelled south to Syracuse. It was like a journey through a very old painting, rich with grandeur and decay." that is just the feeling I get as well.

The death notices are posted everywhere in Italy, not only Sicily. Doesn't seem sinister to me- no more than an obituary.

I agree. I suppose he had to find something to hang his hat on. I read Midnight in Sicily by Peter Robb before I went to Sicily and expected a much more different environment. However as you say Ronald I think that you need quite a few years before you get under the surface.Siracusa is for me spectacular. What a beautiful place.

...stereotypes destroy the culture...not only the sicilian one...

Can't say I recognised his Sicily - far too keen to use his new thesaurus if you ask me.    its as if he wrote this article 20 years ago and its only now been published.