Sicily, Italy

1. Sicily, Italy Christa Collarini, Samantha Paolucci, Erin Callahan

2. Education

3. Secondary Higher Education • Students must take and pass an exam before moving up to higher secondary school. • Up until this point education is free! In higher secondary education, tuition is NOT free! • The higher secondary schools are voluntary. Students must decide early on which higher secondary school he or she will attend. Each school is broken down by subject matter: • LiceoClassico(Classical High School): This lasts for five years and prepares the student for university level studies. Latin, Greek and Italian literature form an important part of the curriculum. During the last three years philosophy and history of art are also studied. • LiceoScientifico(Scientific High School): Lasts for five years with an emphasis on physics, chemistry and natural sciences. The student also continues to study Latin and one modern language

4. LiceoArtistico(Fine Arts High School): Studies can last four to five years and prepare for university level studies in painting, sculpture or architecture • IstitutoMagistrale(Teacher Training School): Studies last for five years and prepare future primary school teachers. There is also a three year training course for nursery school teachers, but this diploma does not entitle students to then enroll at a university Istitutod'Arte(Artistic Schools): Studies last three years and prepare for work within an artistic field and leading to an arts qualification (diploma di Maestro d'Arte) • IstitutiTecnici(Technical Institutes): Studies last five years and prepare for both university studies and for a vocation. There is a majority of students in technical schools that prepare students to work in a technical or administrative capacity in agriculture, industry or commerce. • IstitutiProfessionali(Professional Institutes): These studies lead, in three or five years, to achievement of a vocational qualification

5. Food • Traditional Italian foods include: • Pasta: act of cooking pasta is an art for Italians, a ritual, almost a religion… Which can be prepared using different types of sauce. Pasta should be cooked al dente! AL dente means that the inner part of the pasta remains uncooked. • Pizza: which can be prepared with fresh produce; herbs and vegetables; cheese and local meat such as Prosciutto which is thin uncooked ham. • Pizza in Italy is considered a "poor food", if we want to go in restaurant but avoid spending a lot, we go to eat pizza because it is cheaper. • Meat: A wide range of different types of meats such as chicken; veal, etc. typically been eaten on festive occasions or used in small amounts as a flavor and texture enhancer. In the northern parts of Italy meat has traditionally been eaten more frequently, but still in moderation

6. Seafood: Seafood and fish are also very popular. Popular varieties of fish include tuna, anchovies, sardines, swordfish, cod, salmon, shrimp, crab, squid, clams and mussels. This fish and shellfish is traditionally added to stews, pasta dishes, bakes, risottos and pizzas, or simply served grilled, baked or lightly fried in olive oil with side dishes. • Bread without butter and salads are also very common. • Desserts:include cannoli; panettone; ricciarelli; amaretti; Fresh fruit and Gelato (Italian ice cream). • Wine has been the most popular alcoholic beverage since ancient times. It's customary in Italy to consume wine with meals, and in moderation. Strong coffee is the most popular non-alcoholic beverage. • Limoncello: after-dinner drink; taken at the end of the meal to, presumably, soothe the stomach

7. Activites • beaches, windsurfing, kite surfing • trekking through national parks (horseback,bikes) • golf (Sicily Open) • the Belpaese (thermal cures, form of natural medicine) spas & wellness centers unwinding and therapeutic spa = Sciacca and Stufedi San Calogero, etc.

8. Activities • –Greek Temples of Selinunte & Syracuse, etc. cathedrals. • –traditions = Acireale. Cinema festival = award ceremony for best films, Celebration of Carnival!! • http://travel.usnews.com/Sicily_Italy/Things_To_Do/ • Mount Etna= volcano ACTIVE, hike it.

9. Climate • Italy is a country of extremely varied landscape and therefore experiences various types of climates • The northern and southern parts of Italy can experience considerable differences in temperature during the winter • The coastal regions typically experience a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot dry summers • The west tends to be rainier while the east tends to be have more and less precipitation. • Inland towns and cities have colder and wetter weather with frequent snow on mountains. • Weather in Sicily since Sicily is a coastal town, it tends to have a Mediterranean climate

11. Art in Sicily • Antonello da Messina • First true European painter • Made Hispano- Netherlandish devotional paintings by using hard lines and the linear effect • Was one of the only painters to show the brilliant light of Sicily, by using brown and gold colors for accent • - Portrait of a Young Man

12. Music in Italy • Opera Italy is home to opera music. It was • Classical Italy has contributed many artists to classical music. One of the most influential classical music contributors was Antonio Vivaldi whose Four Seasons are still heard today • Rock  over the past few decades rock music has become very popular in Italy • Rap recently Italy has began to take many cues from the United States. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFcjXWTmE0k

13. food • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJAalPqBuFo