La "Repubblica della scienza" nella Sicilia borbonica tra mito e realtà

The study conducted by Domenico Ligresti of the Sicilian society between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century provides us a detailed image, quality points mingled with areas of backwardness.It appears that the eighteenth-century Sicily was in keeping with the European cultural reality. Letters, books, newspapers and men circulated in a “republic of science” that exceeded territorial, ideological and religious boundaries. The protection of cultural heritage, creation of a universitysystem, study of medicine and administrative reforms seemed to draw a path to reformist ideal, butin reality was the creation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the harsh repression of revolutionarymovements, the exile of many personalities of culture and sciences, dug a groove of hate and incomprehension,an unbridgeable gap between Neapolitans and Sicilians. Garibaldi and his Red Shirts formed the catalyst that precipitated all the contradictions and tensions contained in the boiling cauldronof the Sicilian reality thus directing it towards the Kingdom of Italy.