The exhibition offers a Sicilian journey of discovery, following a sensory path created by the sounds, smells, colours and textures of Sicily’s products.
The visitor is invited to enter through a rural landscape: green fields, grapes and pomegranates lead them into the exhibition space. Wooden seating offers a moment for rest and contemplation before and after the visit, while on the floor, a traditional Sicilian flower petal mosaic, an Infiorata, draws the attention of passers-by.
The idea of the exhibition is to render accessible the complexity of a very extensive region through its distinctive qualities. This is why the space begins with an exploration of geology and materials, the determining factors for the social, architectural and cultural development of the island: the volcanic lava of Catania, Siracusa’s limestone, Marsala’s “tufo” and Ragusa’s pitchstone bring to life, like sculptures along the pathway, the diversity of Sicily’s soils.
To the left, a wall of interactive games enables the visitor to get to know Sicily’s products, and brings them closer to the fragrances and sounds of our land. The sensory play area is made up of three activities: the first involves guessing fruits and vegetables using only touch; the second highlights our marine fauna using the outlines of fish and shellfish as a puzzle; the third uses odours and sounds for aural and olfactory stimulation.
The accompanying large information library is divided thematically: a selection of artisanal products; then quality products based on the Mediterranean diet, wine, and traditional sweets; and finally one side dedicated to culture, promoting the Strada degli Scrittori (“Writers’ Road”), the festival at the ancient amphitheatre, and various local popular festivals.
Screens are streaming films of natural and man-made landscapes, which highlight our UNESCO Heritage sites, video-recipes and natural products.
In front of the interactive games, on a sloping table, a grand composition of 54 ceramic tiles by Renata Emmolo is arranged, showing the map drawn by Giambattista Ghisi in 1779 for Russia’s Catherine II to show off the island and its beauty. The last room is dedicated to innovation and the future of the region. Here, start-ups describe their innovative idea using video and/or objects while the big central video wall shows a cycle of films promoting tourism.
“Feeling Sicily exploring the senses” is a space which wants to make you discover Sicily in an unconventional way, a place where tradition meets innovation, where emotions and suggestions stimulate those who visit it and which delivers a fresh and true perspective on our marvellous island.
