The concept of memory (memorial site) has gained crucial importance in recent years for the identification of places
(areas) and in the affirmation of local identities. The memorial sites are areas where usually tragic events have occurred
and resulted in a cultural change. In these places there are still signs of these historical events and/or tangible and
intangible indications created by the society such as: monuments, obelisks, marble inscriptions, others. Sicily represents
an ideal area for studying memorial sites; not only because of the number of dominations in the past centuries, but also
for the significance of all places where the mafia has taken its root. These elements have caused several changes in the
culture and in the landscape.
Sicily is the land where \u201cOperation Husky\u201d began, in the summer of 1943. This agreement between the Americans and
the British aimed at occupying Sicily, Italy after World War II. Seventy years after this operation the territory is still
marked by testimonies of those tragic events. The bombing devastated buildings, which we can still acknowledge for
their cultural significance. These memorial areas represent a strong testimony of the past. There are cemeteries,
protecting bodies many of which are unknown; there are bunkers and other military garrisons well preserved throughout
the territory. These signs must be rediscovered, to be replicated because of the contemporary geopolitical situation.
As a result, in this paper we propose to identify the area of eastern Sicily suitable for a tourist itinerary in the cultural
memory of the war of 1943. The idea is to encourage tourism that gives rise to real emotions and thoughts