Caponata, ruin of Sicily

Abstract

The article reconstructs the meaning of “caponata”, a historical dish of the Sicilian cuisine, starting from its symbolic dimension as a local and community dish, and then analyzing its dictionary definition. The etymology and genealogy of the “caponata” are reconstructed. Starting from the interpretation of the historical transformations of the dish, the article puts forward the hypothesis that the romantic aesthetic of ruin can be traced to the basis of its profound meaning.