Mt Etna, the largest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world, lies south of Taormina. Ustica Villa Rentals You are permitted to climb up to 2900m. Tourist Information office centre Palermo. 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. Panarea Accomodation 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. Tourist Information office centre Acireale 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.  

From early times Sicily has been coveted for its fertile land and today Sicily still has a largely agricultural based economy. Tourist Information office centre Palermo. 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). Tourist Information office centre Palermo A sweet liquid called "manna" is produced in Castelbuono and Pollina. Egadi Islands Accommodation This is collected from a species of Ash tree. It solidifies and is used in cakes and sweets. Tourist Information office centre Palermo. Dairy produce includes a number of cheeses such as Ricotta, Pecorino Siciliano and Caciocavallo Ragusano. Discount accommodation Marsala 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. Cefalu lodging Sulphur mines in Caltanissetta have traditionally played a part in the Sicilian economy. Today chemicals and refined petroleum are modern Sicilian industries. Tourist Information office centre Palermo. The growth of transport companies and the modernisation of Sicily's road system have been essential to Sicily's industrial development. Pozzallo apartments Chief Sicilian ports are Catania, Messina and Palermo.

Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands, lies between southern Italy and North Africa. Cheap hostels in Trapani The island can be seen as a "stepping stone" between Europe and Africa. Tourist Information office centre Palermo. 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. Tourist Information office centre Palermo 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. Tourist Information office centre Palermo. The island is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. Caltanissetta Car Hire Throughout history islands have been invaded by foreign powers. Cheap accommodation in Lipari 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.

Tourist Information office centre Palermo