锡拉库萨的日落，西西里岛，意大利 Syracuse at sunset, Sicily, Italy (© Balate Dorin/Getty Images)

百代镌刻之城 A city written in centuries

锡拉库萨，西西里岛，意大利

意大利锡拉库萨（Syracuse）位于西西里岛，由来自科林斯的希腊移民于公元前 734 年左右建立。它曾发展成为古地中海最伟大的强权之一，现已被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录——“锡拉库萨和潘塔立克石墓群”。这座城市永远与阿基米德（Archimedes）联系在一起，他的天才至今仍在塑造着城市的身份；同时也与柏拉图（Plato）紧密相连，他曾满怀着哲学可能重塑政治生活的希望来到此处。这种层叠的历史在马尼亚切城堡（Castello Maniace）中依然清晰可感，这座 13 世纪为神圣罗马帝国皇帝腓特烈二世建造的海滨要塞，至今仍令世人赞叹。

2009年，这座城堡成为了《锡拉库萨宣言》（Carta di Siracusa）的签署地，该文件聚焦于生物多样性以及自然、文化与发展之间的关系。锡拉库萨也为电影人提供了一个天然的舞台，从马塞洛·马斯楚安尼主演的《卡萨诺瓦70》到《夺宝奇兵：命运转盘》均在此取景。在这里，意大利不仅仅代表着阳光、美酒和佳肴：它更是依然在当下跳动着的鲜活历史。

Syracuse, Sicily, Italy

Founded by Greek settlers from Corinth around 734 BCE, the Italian city of Syracuse, on the island of Sicily, grew into one of the ancient Mediterranean's great powers and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 'Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica.' It is forever linked to Archimedes, whose genius still shapes its identity, and to Plato, who came to Syracuse hoping philosophy might shape political life. That layered past still feels tangible at Castello Maniace, a seafront fortress built for Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century, which can still be admired today.

In 2009, the castle provided the setting for the 'Carta di Siracusa,' a document centered on biodiversity and the relationship between nature, culture, and development. The city has also offered filmmakers a ready-made stage, from 'Casanova '70,' starring Marcello Mastroianni, to 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.' Here, Italy is more than sunshine, wine, and good food: it is history still conjugated in the present.

巴勒莫暮色下的天际线，西西里岛，意大利 Palermo skyline at dusk, Sicily, Italy (© Sean Pavone/Getty Images)

历史的况味 Flavors of history

巴勒莫，西西里岛，意大利

巴勒莫（Palermo）坐落于意大利南部，是西西里岛的首府。这是一座历史、艺术与文化交织的城市，呈现出一种生动且带有几分繁杂之美的和谐。它由腓尼基人始建，后历经罗马人、阿拉伯人、诺曼人及西班牙人的雕琢，承载了地中海沿岸诸多文明迁移的印记。这种厚重的历史底蕴在建筑中清晰可见：从被联合国教科文组织（UNESCO）列入名录的阿拉伯-诺曼式宫殿与教堂，到勾勒出历史街区轮廓的巴洛克式立面，无不昭示着往昔的辉煌。

在巴勒莫，艺术与传统自然地融入了日常生活，在巴拉罗（Ballarò）和武奇里亚（Vucciria）等熙攘的集市中表现尤为显著——斑斓的色彩、叫卖声与香气交织出一种令人难忘的氛围。巴勒莫亦是一座“风味之城”，以其独特的街头饮食文化闻名遐迩。从炸饭团（arancine）、鹰嘴豆饼（panelle）到甜美的奶油甜馅煎饼卷（cannoli），每一道珍馐都折射出数世纪以来的文化融合。城市依山傍海，历史并非禁锢于博物馆墙内，而是鲜活地流淌在街道、饮食以及居民的血脉之中。

甘吉，西西里岛，意大利 Gangi, Sicily, Italy (© Andrea Caruso/Amazing Aerial Agency)

你是81亿人口中的一员 You are one in 8.1 billion

世界人口日

1987年，世界人口达到50亿大关，这是一个意义非凡的里程碑，由此产生了一个国际性的纪念日：五十亿人口日。伴随着急速增长的人口，一些相关的问题也亟待解决。因此，在1989年，联合国设立了世界人口日。如今，这不仅仅是一个纪念日，更是一个行动的呼吁。人口过剩导致地球的资源越来越少，敦促人类去正视那些紧迫的问题，如计划生育、垃圾和污染的增加、基础设施的缺失等等。当大都市里的人在和“过度拥挤”做斗争时，小地方的人口却在不断流失，导致人口分布失衡。一个典型的案例就是意大利西西里岛的甘吉镇，即今天图片展示的地方。在20世纪50年代，这个村庄大约有1.6万居民，如今，其人口只有6000多一点。为了振兴小镇，吸引人们的关注，甘吉镇将废弃的房屋赠送给那些有需要且愿意修复房屋的人。

World Population Day

In 1987, sometime around July 11, the world population reached the 5-billion mark. The United Nations recognized the need to address issues like family planning, infrastructure, waste, and pollution and established World Population Day in 1989. It is estimated that we hit 8 billion people in November 2022 and the UN expects the world to reach 9.7 billion people in 2050. But not everywhere faces the same challenges. While some areas struggle with overcrowding, others grapple with decreasing populations. The Italian town of Gangi, Sicily, seen in today's image, had about 16,000 residents in the 1950s. Today, it is home to little more than 6,000. Keen on revitalization, Gangi attracts new residents by giving away abandoned houses, on the condition that the properties are then restored.

莫迪卡，西西里岛，意大利 Modica, Sicily, Italy (© Sandro Bisaro/Getty Images)

西西里岛的风光 A slice of Sicily

莫迪卡，西西里岛，意大利

提起意大利，米兰、罗马和威尼斯等标志性城市往往会成为人们关注的焦点。然而，在西西里岛上却有一个名气不大的宝地，名叫莫迪卡。这座城市从1693年的一场地震的废墟中崛起，成为巴洛克风格建筑的奇观。这座被联合国教科文组织认定的世遗之城，其居民人口不到6万，鹅卵石铺就的小巷里留存着史前部落、古希腊人、罗马人、中世纪阿拉伯人和诺曼人的足迹。圣乔治大教堂和圣彼得教堂等地标性建筑的宏伟气势令游客叹为观止，而莫迪卡公认的巧克力则以阿兹特克人传统工艺制作而成，诱惑着众多美食爱好者的味蕾。所以，下次意大利向你招手时，选择去莫迪卡走一走人迹罕至的小路吧！

Modica, Sicily, Italy

When Italy comes to mind, iconic cities like Milan, Rome, and Venice often steal the spotlight. However, on the island of Sicily lies a less famous gem—Modica. It's a city that rose from the rubble of an earthquake in 1693 to become an architectural wonderland of Baroque-style buildings. With fewer than 60,000 inhabitants, this UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts cobbled lanes, echoing with powerful footprints—from prehistoric tribes to the ancient Greeks and Romans to the medieval Arabs and Normans. Landmarks like the San Giorgio Cathedral and San Pietro Church awe visitors with their grandeur, and Modica's famous chocolate, crafted with Aztec-inspired techniques, tempts the palates of food enthusiasts. So, the next time Italy beckons, how about taking the road less traveled to Modica?

四月九日广场，陶尔米纳，西西里岛，意大利 Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina, Sicily, Italy (© rudi1976/Alamy)

发光的矩形广场 A glowing square of squares

四月九日广场，陶尔米纳，意大利

陶尔米纳，一颗镶嵌在西西里岛上的美丽明珠，毗邻古希腊殖民地纳克索斯，被爱奥尼亚海和风景如画的伊索拉贝拉岛所环绕。自19世纪以来，这个美丽的小镇一直是旅游胜地。
陶尔米纳的中心便是四月九日广场，广场四周布满各种风格的咖啡馆、小酒吧以及正在为游客画像的浪漫艺术家。你可以坐下来喝杯卡布奇诺，享受陶尔米纳的轻松度假氛围，也可以站在阳台上可以远眺埃特纳山、陶尔米纳古剧场遗址和纳克索斯湾的壮丽景色。

Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina, Sicily, Italy

Welcome to Taormina, an historic Italian resort built into a hillside high above the Ionian Sea on the coast of Sicily. From here you can take in panoramic views of the coast of Calabria, on the Italian mainland, the city of Syracuse, and Mount Etna, roughly 20 miles away.

Our homepage image shows the town's main square, the Piazza IX Aprile, with a Baroque church and bell tower, the Chiesa di San Giuseppe, and an historic clock tower. The square is seen as an elegant 'public living room' with many outdoor bars and artists waiting to paint your portrait.

塞利努斯的神庙，西西里岛，意大利 (© Antonino Bartuccio/eStock)

伟大的遗迹

塞利努斯的神庙，西西里岛，意大利

这座神庙建于公元前6世纪，得名于其所在地——当时的希腊殖民地塞利农特。即使今天，希腊建的卫城的遗迹依然可见，以其宏伟的气势镇守着西西里海岸的这一片土地。这座神庙属于两种建筑风格之间的过渡时期，即多立克柱式和古典柱式。柱子的檐口上有各种主题的精美浮雕，如宙斯和赫拉、阿尔忒弥斯和阿克泰翁。

意大利西西里岛康科迪亚神庙前的一棵橄榄树 An olive tree in front of the Temple of Concordia on the island of Sicily, Italy (© Alfio Finocchiaro/Shutterstock)

和平的象征 A symbol of peace

世界橄榄树日

虽然不是每个人都会认为这是一棵橄榄树，但我们大多数人都理解“伸出橄榄枝”这句话的含义，这句话长期以来被称为和平与友谊的象征。这种同情、和谐和智慧的情感是联合国教科文组织于2019年设立的世界橄榄树日的核心，该日每年11月26日举行。该日的目的是让人们关注世界范围内冲突的解决以及橄榄树本身的保护，就像这棵站在意大利阿格里真托康科德亚神庙前的橄榄树。这座保存完好的希腊多立克神庙建于公元前440年左右的西西里岛南岸。橄榄树原产于地中海沿岸地区，如今在气候相似的地方种植，如加利福尼亚和以色列的部分地区。大约90%的收获橄榄被用来制作橄榄油，这是地中海烹饪的精华成分。

橄榄的种植与人类文明本身一样古老，一些树木本身也是如此。虽然橄榄树长得不高，通常不超过30英尺，但它们的寿命很长。葡萄牙是世界上已知最古老的树木之一，据信树龄为3350年。许多人活了几千年，树干长得又粗又多节，树枝一个世纪又一个世纪地结出果实。随着周围文明的兴衰，这些耐寒的树木依然顽强顽强。

World Olive Tree Day

While not everyone would recognize this as an olive tree, most of us understand the meaning of the phrase, 'extending an olive branch,' long known as a gesture of peace and friendship. That sentiment of compassion, harmony and wisdom is at the heart of UNESCO's World Olive Tree Day, created in 2019 and observed every November 26. The intent of the day is to bring attention to the resolution of conflict worldwide and to the preservation of the olive tree itself, like this one standing in front of the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento, Italy. The well-preserved, Greek Doric temple was built on what is now the south shore of Sicily, around 440 BCE. Olive trees are native to the coastal regions of the Mediterranean and are cultivated today in places with similar climates, like parts of California and Israel. About 90 percent of harvested olives are used to make olive oil, the quintessential ingredient in Mediterranean cooking.

The cultivation of olives is about as old as human civilization itself, as are some of the trees themselves. Although olive trees do not grow very tall, usually no more than 30 feet, they live a very long time. One of the oldest known trees in the world, in Portugal, is believed to be 3,350 years old. Many live for millennia, their trunks growing thick and gnarled, and their branches bearing fruit century after century. As civilizations rise and fall around them, these hardy trees remain resilient and steadfast.

陶尔米纳古剧院，意大利西西里岛 Ancient theatre of Taormina in Sicily, Italy (© Antonino Bartuccio/eStock Photo)

戏剧演出 The play's the thing

Theatre of Taormina in Sicily

What better place to celebrate World Theatre Day than the Ancient theatre of Taormina, an amphitheater built in the Hellenistic style of the Greeks in the third century BCE. The venue was later expanded by the Romans and is one of the signature sights in the Sicilian town of Taormina. And if you look in the upper-right corner of the photo, that's Mount Etna giving a performance of its own, spewing a little ash and smoke.

The theater is still in use, hosting operas, theatrical productions, and concerts. The beauty of this town, built into a steep hill overlooking the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, is said to have inspired writers and thinkers both ancient and modern, from Plato to D.H. Lawrence and Truman Capote.

Since 1962 World Theatre Day has been celebrated every March 27th by theatre professionals, organizations, universities and theatre lovers across the continents. Each year a speaker is selected to deliver a message about the importance of theatre and its value to humanity.

西西里岛陶尔米纳剧院

还有什么比陶尔米纳古剧场更好的地方来庆祝世界戏剧日呢？陶尔米纳古剧场是一座建于公元前三世纪的希腊式圆形剧场。后来，罗马人扩建了场地，这是西西里岛陶尔米纳镇的标志性景点之一。如果你看这张照片的右上角，那就是埃特纳山自己的表演，喷出一点灰烬和烟雾。

该剧院仍在使用，举办歌剧、戏剧演出和音乐会。这个小镇建在一座陡峭的小山上，俯瞰爱奥尼亚海和埃特纳山，据说它的美丽给古代和现代的作家和思想家带来了灵感，从柏拉图到D.H.劳伦斯和杜鲁门·卡波特。

自1962年以来，各大洲的戏剧专业人士、组织、大学和戏剧爱好者每年3月27日都庆祝世界戏剧日。每年都会选出一位演讲者来传达戏剧的重要性及其对人类的价值。

蒙塔尔巴诺埃利科纳，意大利西西里岛 Montalbano Elicona, Messina, Sicily, Italy (© Antonino Bartuccio/SOPA Collection/Offset by Shutterstock)

In Sicily, history is everywhere

Today we're in Montalbano Elicona on the island of Sicily. It's known for the very old castle at the crest of the hill, as well as the quaint medieval village below. It's no wonder that Montalbano Elicona has been called one of the most beautiful towns in all of Italy. The castle itself is believed to have been built in the 13th century by medieval power broker Frederick II of Swabia. He wore many hats, including King of Sicily, Holy Roman Emperor, and—as far-fetched as it sounds—the King of Jerusalem, a title he claimed after conquering that city during the Sixth Crusade. The castle was originally designed as a fortress, but it also served as a summer residence for Frederick and other rulers who followed him.

Surrounding the castle are several other interesting historical sites, including the Church of St. Catherine, known for its Romanesque portal built in the 14th century, its mix of Catalan and renaissance architecture, marble statues of St. Catherine and St. Nicholas Bishop, and a representation of the Last Supper by artist Guido Reni. Also of note is the nearby Argimusco plateau, where an array of large oblong stones, including one which is said to resemble an eagle, have long prompted speculation that they were placed there by members of a prehistoric island culture. However, scientists now believe that these so-called megaliths of Argimusco, sometimes referred to as the Stonehenge of Sicily, are actually of natural origin, and the unique boulder shapes are simply the result of centuries of wind erosion.

在西西里，历史无处不在

今天我们在西西里岛上的蒙塔尔巴诺埃利科纳。它以山顶上非常古老的城堡以及下面古色古香的中世纪村庄而闻名。难怪蒙塔尔巴诺·艾利科纳被称为意大利最美丽的城镇之一。城堡本身被认为是建于13世纪的中世纪权力掮客弗雷德里克二世的斯瓦比亚。他戴着许多帽子，包括神圣罗马皇帝西西里国王，以及听起来很牵强的耶路撒冷国王，这是他在第六次十字军东征中征服耶路撒冷后获得的头衔。这座城堡最初是作为要塞设计的，但它也作为弗雷德里克和其他跟随他的统治者的避暑住所。

城堡周围还有其他一些有趣的历史遗迹，包括圣凯瑟琳教堂（Church of St.Catherine），因其建于14世纪的罗马式大门而闻名，它融合了加泰罗尼亚和文艺复兴时期的建筑，圣凯瑟琳和圣尼古拉斯主教的大理石雕像，以及艺术家吉多·雷尼（Guido Reni）对《最后的晚餐》的描绘。同样值得注意的是附近的阿尔吉穆斯科高原，那里有一排长方形的大石头，其中一块据说像鹰，长期以来一直有人猜测它们是史前岛屿文化的成员放在那里的。然而，科学家们现在认为，这些所谓的阿吉姆斯科巨石，有时被称为西西里巨石阵，实际上是自然起源的，这些独特的巨石形状只是几个世纪风蚀的结果。

2013年正在喷发的埃特纳火山，意大利西西里岛 Mount Etna erupting in 2013, Sicily, Italy (© Wead/Alamy Live News)

A sizzling summit hides in the clouds

Seen here with its explosive summit socked away in the clouds, Mount Etna towers over the Italian isle of Sicily as the tallest volcano in Europe—and maybe the crankiest, given its near-constant eruptions. The island peak has been highly active for perhaps half a million years and can still be counted on for a spectacular eruption every few years. This photograph shows Etna erupting in 2013.

云层中隐藏着一座炙热的山峰

埃特纳火山在意大利西西里岛上空耸立，是欧洲最高的火山，可能是最古怪的火山，因为它几乎一直在喷发。岛上的山峰已经高度活跃了大约50万年，仍然可以指望每隔几年就有一次壮观的喷发。这张照片显示埃特纳火山在2013年喷发。