Tourism is an important earner of foreign currency. Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands. 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. Cheap guesthouses Siracusa Syracuse Tours are available to visit Sicily's active volcanoes: Mount Etna, Europe's tallest volcano, and Stromboli, one of the Aeolian Islands. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Messina 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. Booking Hotels Taormina  

Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands, lies between southern Italy and North Africa. Booking Hotels Pozzallo The island can be seen as a "stepping stone" between Europe and Africa. Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands. 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. Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands 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. Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands. The island is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. Self catering accommodation Agrigento Throughout history islands have been invaded by foreign powers. Ustica 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.

From early times Sicily has been coveted for its fertile land and today Sicily still has a largely agricultural based economy. Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands. 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). Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands A sweet liquid called "manna" is produced in Castelbuono and Pollina. Booking Hotels Catania This is collected from a species of Ash tree. It solidifies and is used in cakes and sweets. Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands. Dairy produce includes a number of cheeses such as Ricotta, Pecorino Siciliano and Caciocavallo Ragusano. Messina weather forecast 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. Cheap guesthouses Solunto Sulphur mines in Caltanissetta have traditionally played a part in the Sicilian economy. Today chemicals and refined petroleum are modern Sicilian industries. Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands. The growth of transport companies and the modernisation of Sicily's road system have been essential to Sicily's industrial development. Calendar of events in Ustica Chief Sicilian ports are Catania, Messina and Palermo.

Hotel Reservations Egadi Islands