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Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands, lies between southern Italy and North Africa. Cheap guesthouses Licata The island can be seen as a "stepping stone" between Europe and Africa. Booking Hotels Licata. A beautiful, mountainous island, Sicily has been occupied by a series of migrants and invaders. These include the Greeks, Cathaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Angevins and Spaniards. In 1861 Sicily became part of Italy when Garibaldi united the Kingdom of Italy and the island. Booking Hotels Licata Eighty-five years later Sicily achieved "relative independence". This means that although Sicily belongs to Italy it is responsible for much of its own local affairs. Booking Hotels Licata. The island is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. Discount cheap lodging Piazza Armerina Throughout history islands have been invaded by foreign powers. Booking Hotels Ragusa However, Sicily's rugged terrain has provided its people with a degree of protection as many of its towns and villages are high in the mountains.

From early times Sicily has been coveted for its fertile land and today Sicily still has a largely agricultural based economy. Booking Hotels Licata. Its main products include wheat (hard wheat from Enna for bread and pasta), barley, corn, peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, potatoes, grapes, figs, pears, peaches, La Ficurinnia or the fig of India (from the West Indies) and citrus fruits and almonds (introduced by the Arabs). Booking Hotels Licata A sweet liquid called "manna" is produced in Castelbuono and Pollina. Hotel Reservations Giarre This is collected from a species of Ash tree. It solidifies and is used in cakes and sweets. Booking Hotels Licata. Dairy produce includes a number of cheeses such as Ricotta, Pecorino Siciliano and Caciocavallo Ragusano. Tourist attractions in Enna The Sicilian fishing industry provides tuna, swordfish, sea bream, sardines, octopus, squid, prawns and mussels. Other industries include wine (for example, Donna Fugata, Regaleali, Malvasia and sweet Marsala), balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, bottled water (from Geraci), salt and other food processing. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Erice Sulphur mines in Caltanissetta have traditionally played a part in the Sicilian economy. Today chemicals and refined petroleum are modern Sicilian industries. Booking Hotels Licata. The growth of transport companies and the modernisation of Sicily's road system have been essential to Sicily's industrial development. Taormina Accomodation Chief Sicilian ports are Catania, Messina and Palermo.

Tourism is an important earner of foreign currency. Booking Hotels Licata. There are many castles and churches in Sicily to attract the tourist and important towns such as Taormina and Cefalu thrive on the tourist industry. Hostels in Messina Tours are available to visit Sicily's active volcanoes: Mount Etna, Europe's tallest volcano, and Stromboli, one of the Aeolian Islands. Tourist Information office centre Taormina Other places of interest are Madonie National Park, the Baroque towns of south-eastern Sicily, the Cathedral of Monreale, the Dorian Temple and Theatre at Segesta, the ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina, the ancient town of Syracuse and the archaeological area of Agrigento. Cheap hostels in Piazza Armerina

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