In Palermo they say bread, in Catania they eat it — a classic expression of the rivalry between Sicily's two great cities. Palermitani are elegant talkers and performers; Catanesi are practical doers. Words versus action, style versus substance, west versus east.
The rivalry between Palermo and Catania is one of the most sustained and affectionate quarrels in Italian urban culture. Palermitani are stereotyped — by Catanesi — as theatrical, verbose, and concerned with bella figura; they talk about things at length and with considerable beauty. Catanesi are stereotyped — by themselves — as pragmatic, direct, and action-oriented; they may not dress as elegantly but they get things done. The proverb was almost certainly invented by a Catanese, and every Palermitano has a retort ready. The truth, as with all such rivalries, is that both cities have their own genius: Palermo's baroque magnificence and Arab-Norman culture, Catania's volcanic energy and pragmatic modernity. The proverb endures because it captures something real about the difference in tempo between the two cities.
A classic expression of the Palermo-Catania civic rivalry, almost certainly of Catanese origin. Reflects the genuine cultural differences between Sicily's two largest cities: Palermo's aristocratic and performative culture versus Catania's volcanic pragmatism.
A Catanese teasing a Palermitano colleague
— Abbiamo discusso del progetto per tre ore. — A Palermo si dice pane, a Catania si mangia. Domani lo facciamo, ok?
— We discussed the project for three hours. — In Palermo they say bread, in Catania they eat it. Tomorrow we do it, ok?
A Palermitano hitting back
Sì, a Catania si mangia — ma si mangia in fretta, senza gusto. Noi a Palermo almeno sappiamo come vive si deve vivere.
Yes, in Catania they eat — but they eat fast, without savour. We in Palermo at least know how life should be lived.
A neutral Sicilian from Agrigento observing the rivalry
A Palermo si dice pane, a Catania si mangia — e noi ad Agrigento lo seminiamo. Senza di noi, nessuno dei due avrebbe niente.
In Palermo they say bread, in Catania they eat it — and we in Agrigento sow it. Without us, neither of them would have anything.
Using the proverb in a business context
Ho lavorato con team di Palermo e team di Catania. A Palermo si dice pane, a Catania si mangia — generalizzando, ma c'è qualcosa di vero.
I have worked with Palermo teams and Catania teams. In Palermo they say bread, in Catania they eat it — generalising, but there is something true in it.