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Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands, lies between southern Italy and North Africa. Discount accommodation Egadi Islands The island can be seen as a "stepping stone" between Europe and Africa. Messina photos. 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. Messina photos 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. Messina photos. The island is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. Catania Accommodation Throughout history islands have been invaded by foreign powers. Discount accommodation Solunto 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. Messina photosA source of revenue for the Sicilian economy has been money sent home from migrants. Messina photos Like many Europeans, in the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, a number of Sicilians migrated to countries such as the USA in search of work. Messina photos. Although far from home strong links bound Sicilian migrants to their families and communities in Sicily. Sicily holiday booking In fact, today, some Sicilian Americans are thinking of returning to their roots and small complexes of retirement houses are being constructed for American Sicilians. Camping and Caravan sites in Panarea It is hardly surprising that Sicily should exert its "pull" on its own people as it has done to many others in the past. Milazzo villas
'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. Messina photos. 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. Cheap Capo D Orlando Hotels
Palermo was founded by Phoenicians who sailed there from their native Carthage. Lipari 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. Messina photos. Around those glorious sites they planted Sicily's first olive trees and grape vines. Catania 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. Messina photos. In Palermo, these groups were known as mafia. Cheap hostels in Caltanissetta