Visit My-Sicily.com for Sicily Hotels, Holidays and Car Hire.

Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands, lies between southern Italy and North Africa. Flats in Segesta The island can be seen as a "stepping stone" between Europe and Africa. Sant Agata Militello villas. 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. Sant Agata Militello villas 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. Sant Agata Militello villas. The island is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. Farmhouses in Pozzallo Throughout history islands have been invaded by foreign powers. Palermo weather forecast 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.

Palermo was founded by Phoenicians who sailed there from their native Carthage. Car Hire Siracusa Syracuse The Greeks colonized the whole island, leaving some of the most beautiful and best-preserved temples they ever built at Agrigento, Selinunte and Segesta. Sant Agata Militello villas. Around those glorious sites they planted Sicily's first olive trees and grape vines. Cheap flats in Piazza Armerina 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. Sant Agata Militello villas. In Palermo, these groups were known as mafia. Eolie Aeolian Islands Car Hire

Over the centuries the Sicilians have valued a close family life with all its responsibilities. Sant Agata Militello villas. In turn the Sicilian people have looked to themselves in the face of foreign occupation and imposed government. Hostels in Giarre Partly in response to invasion and colonisation a purely Sicilian hierarchy emerged. Sant Agata Militello villas This became known as the Sicilian Mafia organised upon what can roughly be translated as "respect", "dignity" and "silence".

Places of interest in Solunto
Piazza Armerina Bed and Breakfast
Piazza Armerina Agriturismo
Licata Agriturismo
Marsala photos