Palermo was founded by Phoenicians who sailed there from their native Carthage. Catania weather forecast The Greeks colonized the whole island, leaving some of the most beautiful and best-preserved temples they ever built at Agrigento, Selinunte and Segesta. Hotels Sicily. Around those glorious sites they planted Sicily's first olive trees and grape vines. Trapani Holiday Accommodation 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. Hotels Sicily. In Palermo, these groups were known as mafia. Diving Centres Dive Sites and Schools Noto  

'To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not having seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the key to everything.' So said Goethe. Hotels Sicily. Tuscany might want a look in, and Rome might beg to differ, but Sicily, with a history of foreign occupation across the centuries, is certainly fascinating, with a real pot-pourri of culture, cuisine and architecture. Plus the odd volcano. Palermo Agriturismo

Mt Etna, the largest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world, lies south of Taormina. Tourist Information office centre Sciacca You are permitted to climb up to 2900m. Hotels Sicily. A rope marks the spot where the volcano’s unpredictability makes it unsafe to go any further. Further south, the town of Syracuse was once a very powerful Greek city. Car Hire Giarre Check out the medieval buildings on the island of Ortigia which lies in the centre of town. Don’t miss the 5th century Teatro Greco – a masterpiece hewn out of rock with a seating capacity for 16,000 people. Discount cheap lodging Solunto The five Doric temples in the town of Agrigento are also well worth a visit. They are the most well preserved of Sicily’s Greek ruins and are truly spectacular.

Hotels Sicily