'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. Solunto Map. 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. Messina Accomodation 

The little known Aeolian Islands just of the northern coast of Sicily are an undiscovered delight, particularly if you're looking for peace and quiet surrounded by the pleasures of nature. Solunto Map The sea is deep blue, warm and clear, ideal for underwater swimming and fishing, accompanied by flying-fish, swordfish, turtles, sea-horses and hammerfish. Solunto Map. The islands are bathed in a limpid clear light, setting off the black volcanic pumice stone. Pozzallo villas Vines are cultivated on the coastal strips and around the towns. Cheap flats in Solunto On the island of Vulcano bathe in its warm sea-water, heated by underground volcanic springs. Solunto Map. The active volcano on Stromboli offers a spectacular opportunity to observe lava flows and frequent noisy minor eruptions. Cheap guesthouses Trapani

Sicily was chosen by the Gods of Olympus as the scene of their stories of love and hatred, of passion and revenge, of sudden wrath and deep compassion. Camping and Caravan sites in Lampedusa And today it's still a land of fire and passion. Solunto Map. It's also a land of great beauty and contrast, not least the contrast between what the local politicians say they'll do with the money, and what eventually ends up getting built/maintained/improved. Solunto Map. In ancient times, Sicily was covered with extremely rich farmland, whose copious wheat harvests fed virtually the entire western part of the Roman Empire. Solunto Map Its thick forests were renowned, but the Romans plundered them to build their great naval fleets and the myriad wooden homes that fueled Nero's infamous fire. Sciacca Holiday Accommodation Like much of southern Italy, Sicily has been the ground upon which the boots of Western civilization have trod. Hotels Catania

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