Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands, lies between southern Italy and North Africa. Enna Accomodation The island can be seen as a "stepping stone" between Europe and Africa. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa. 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. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa 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. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa. The island is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. Giardini Naxos Holiday Flats Throughout history islands have been invaded by foreign powers. Catania Car Hire 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.  

The little known Aeolian Islands just of the northern coast of Sicily are an undiscovered delight, particularly if you're looking for peace and quiet surrounded by the pleasures of nature. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa The sea is deep blue, warm and clear, ideal for underwater swimming and fishing, accompanied by flying-fish, swordfish, turtles, sea-horses and hammerfish. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa. The islands are bathed in a limpid clear light, setting off the black volcanic pumice stone. Trapani Holiday Flats Vines are cultivated on the coastal strips and around the towns. Hotels Licata On the island of Vulcano bathe in its warm sea-water, heated by underground volcanic springs. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa. The active volcano on Stromboli offers a spectacular opportunity to observe lava flows and frequent noisy minor eruptions. Flats in Egadi Islands

As elsewhere in the Roman Empire, the Romans were replaced by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths, who demolished far more than they built (one rare example is the villa of Piazza Armerina) and were swept away by the Byzantines. Discount cheap lodging Sant Agata Militello The Arabs who followed them moved the capitol from Siracusa to Palermo, renamed most of the existing towns, and planted the first carobs, date-palms, citrus trees, jasmines and melons. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa. The Normans took over in 1061. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa They tore down almost all signs of Arab culture. Cheap Acitrezza Hotels They brought the island to a new level of prosperity and planted a different kind of seed, still visible today in the blonde and red tresses of many Sicilians. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa. It is to the Normans that we owe the most spectacular of Sicily's architectural treasures. Flats in Nebrodi From the cathedrals of Cefalù, Messina and Monreale to Palermo's Zisa and Cuba, the churches of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, San Cataldo and the Martorana. Under the realm of Frederick II, the Swabian king, Sicily became one of the centers of the Western world, and perhaps it is not surprising that the principal architectural endeavors of this era. These lasted only from 1220 to 1250, were of a military nature, such as the castles in Siracusa, Catania and Salemi. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa. When Frederick died in 1250, his successor Manfred was murdered by the ruthless Charles of Anjou, whose French allies streamed into the island and established a new aristocracy so despised that it led to the popular uprising called the Sicilian Vespers. Discount cheap lodging Giardini Naxos Eventually, in 1302, the French gave way to the Aragonese (part of the same dynasty which sponsored Christopher Columbus), who dominated until 1734. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ragusa. The aristocracy created during this realm left their magnificent homes, such as Palermo's Palazzo Sclafani and Palazzo Chiaramonte, scattered all over the island. Hotels Solunto The Aragonese clergy, while wielding the heavy arm of the Inquisition, effectively conspired to keep almost all artistic traces of the Renaissance out of the island.

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