“The centuries of rule by the Spanish could be looked upon as the most peaceful in our long history,” Vito said over a bottle of Nero d’Avola that evening.
“Peaceful?” I asked, “or uneventful?”
Vito smiled. Perhaps I had hit just the right note.
“Both, I suppose. There were fewer wars. Although the kings who ruled during that period took resources from my country – men, grain, money from taxes – to fight their wars, few were waged on our shores. I guess that’s a plus. And, yes, the Spanish period was relatively uneventful.”
“Despite the occasional eruption at Etna,” I added.
“Even the Spaniards couldn’t prevent that,” he offered. “You know, that thing that happened in 1669,” and he paused to laugh. “The king outlawed it after that experience.”
“Outlawed eruptions?” I said but I could
