Il Mezzogiorno Italiano

Southern Italy or Mezzogiorno (literally, "midday") is the traditional term for the southern regions of Italy, encompassing the southern section of the continental Italian peninsula, the island of Sicily, and depends on who you talk to, the island of Sardinia. The Mezzogiorno, however, is much more than historic ruins, whimsical coastlines, and old palazzi. Its true protagonists are the southern Italians, whose strong sense of identity and character is a result of a long history of dominance and segregation. To understand southern Italians means to understand the complexities and contradictions that have shaped Italy’s most misunderstood half.