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Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands, lies between southern Italy and North Africa. Cheap guesthouses Acireale The island can be seen as a "stepping stone" between Europe and Africa. Holidays Sicily. 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. Holidays Sicily 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. Holidays Sicily. The island is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. Messina Map Throughout history islands have been invaded by foreign powers. Car Hire Campo Bello di Mazara 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. Holidays Sicily. 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). Holidays Sicily A sweet liquid called "manna" is produced in Castelbuono and Pollina. Discount hotels Sciacca This is collected from a species of Ash tree. It solidifies and is used in cakes and sweets. Holidays Sicily. Dairy produce includes a number of cheeses such as Ricotta, Pecorino Siciliano and Caciocavallo Ragusano. Cefalu Holiday Flats 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. Giarre Holiday Accommodation Sulphur mines in Caltanissetta have traditionally played a part in the Sicilian economy. Today chemicals and refined petroleum are modern Sicilian industries. Holidays Sicily. The growth of transport companies and the modernisation of Sicily's road system have been essential to Sicily's industrial development. Flats in Segesta Chief Sicilian ports are Catania, Messina and Palermo.

Palermo was founded by Phoenicians who sailed there from their native Carthage. Sciacca Bed and Breakfast The Greeks colonized the whole island, leaving some of the most beautiful and best-preserved temples they ever built at Agrigento, Selinunte and Segesta. Holidays Sicily. Around those glorious sites they planted Sicily's first olive trees and grape vines. Agrigento Holiday Flats Traces of the Roman period in Sicily can be found in the amphitheatres at Taormina and Siracusa, as well as in that city's Christian catacombs. But perhaps Rome's most lasting (and infamous) contribution to the island came in fostering the great land ownerships which eventually impoverished the peasantry and led, many centuries later, to the founding of secret societies aimed at destroying the fabulously wealthy landlords. Holidays Sicily. In Palermo, these groups were known as mafia. Cheap Lipari Hotels

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