Begin your Sicilian odyssey in its capital city - Palermo. Farmhouses in Enna Spectacularly situated along a wide sweep of bay at the foot of Monte Pellegrino, Palermo was the wealthiest and most magnificent city in Europe in the 12th century. Giardini Naxos Villa Rentals Today Palermo has an air of faded grandeur and an unrivalled display of Norman art and architecture and Baroque churches. Farmhouses in Enna. Stroll along the Via Roma and Via Maqueda in the heart of the old town and get a sense of what Palermo is all about. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Enna Don’t miss the magnificent 12th century Norman cathedral at Monreale, 8 kilometres southwest of the city. Ustica Holiday Flats The inside of the cathedral is covered in breathtakingly glittering mosaics.  

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. Calendar of events in Milazzo 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. Farmhouses in Enna. The Normans took over in 1061. Farmhouses in Enna They tore down almost all signs of Arab culture. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Ustica 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. Farmhouses in Enna. It is to the Normans that we owe the most spectacular of Sicily's architectural treasures. Noto lodging 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. Farmhouses in Enna. 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. Self catering accommodation Acireale Eventually, in 1302, the French gave way to the Aragonese (part of the same dynasty which sponsored Christopher Columbus), who dominated until 1734. Farmhouses in Enna. The aristocracy created during this realm left their magnificent homes, such as Palermo's Palazzo Sclafani and Palazzo Chiaramonte, scattered all over the island. Palermo Accommodation 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.

From early times Sicily has been coveted for its fertile land and today Sicily still has a largely agricultural based economy. Farmhouses in Enna. 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). Farmhouses in Enna A sweet liquid called "manna" is produced in Castelbuono and Pollina. Cheap hostels in Segesta This is collected from a species of Ash tree. It solidifies and is used in cakes and sweets. Farmhouses in Enna. Dairy produce includes a number of cheeses such as Ricotta, Pecorino Siciliano and Caciocavallo Ragusano. Panarea photos 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. Camping and Caravan sites in Palermo Sulphur mines in Caltanissetta have traditionally played a part in the Sicilian economy. Today chemicals and refined petroleum are modern Sicilian industries. Farmhouses in Enna. The growth of transport companies and the modernisation of Sicily's road system have been essential to Sicily's industrial development. Self catering accommodation Cefalu Chief Sicilian ports are Catania, Messina and Palermo.

Farmhouses in Enna