Scotland in Sicily?

Once nearly clueless about Sicily except for the Godfather movies, now I find references to Sicily and Palermo pop up a lot, some in the most unexpected places. We chanced across a 1953 movie last night, the Master of Ballantrae, with Errol Flynn. Did you know that this Scottish classic by Robert Louis Stevenson was partly filmed in Sicily? Although the story takes the hero to the West Indies, the pirate scenes were filmed near Palermo. I can only imagine the draw of Sicily for a film maker--sun, water, beaches, color, mountains, volcanos, rural life, city life, ancient and medieval temples, pagentry--just about anything a director might want. There were many films shot at least partly in Sicily, from The Leopard with Burt Lancaster to Il Postino, Divorce Italian Style, Malena, etc. So, if you pay attention, what references to Sicily will you come across in your everyday activities? What are your favorite Italian movies?

Corleone - Leo's estate in the Sicilian countryside

At the endAt th e end of book 2, Malice Stalks the Leopard, our heroes and heroines flee Palermo to the countryside to Leo's estate, La Serenita, as the Angevins and the Aragonese desperately fight for the island capital. Ysabella finds that her return to the country gives her peace of mind and for the first time, really enjoys the rhythm of the seasons. Her fear of the violence she experienced in Palermo makes her want to remain in the countryside, while Amodeus feels differently. He wants to return to Palermo and rebuild The Leopard. What will happen to their marriage?

Malice Stalks the Leopard

And of course, the Vespers Trilogy continues in Book #2 - Malice Stalks the Leopard, when our tavern owners again become embroiled in a political secret affecting Palermo, Sicily, and a Mediterranean dynasty.