Stefania Auci explores the culinary history of the Florio family

Author Stefania Auci discusses her literary saga regarding the Florio family, which explores the entrepreneurial and human history of Sicily through the lens of Mediterranean cuisine.

The series, published by Nord, includes ‘I leoni di Sicilia’, ‘L’inverno dei leoni’, and the prequel ‘L’alba dei Leoni’. The narrative traces the family's rise from a spice shop in Bagnara Calabra to a major commercial force in Palermo.

Key elements of the Florio success include the transformation of Marsala wine from a basic product used by English soldiers into a high-quality civilian wine through innovative aging processes. The family also played a fundamental role in the tuna trade.