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It's more than an island! Discover Sicily and discover the
world. The world's first multicultural society, Sicily is
Italy's (and Europe's) most historically cosmopolitan
region, having been ruled by Asians, Africans and Europeans.
Sicily is black and white and a million shades of gray.
There's no other place on Earth like Sicily. Our island is a
unique place full of art, archeology, history, folklore and
Read about nature in Sicily.breathtaking scenery. And, of
course, great food. Sicily is almost a nation unto itself.
The enchanting land where Archimedes taught and Saint Paul
preached was a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab
emirate and a Norman kingdom. The Phoenicians,
Carthaginians, Swabians, Angevins and Aragonese made Sicily
their own, leaving behind an eclectic history that you can
still touch today. And Sicily will touch you. Sicily is
Europe, Africa and Asia on one island. Greek tyrants, Arab
emirs, Norman knights, Byzantine bishops and Holy Roman
Emperors made Sicily the place it is. Experience their
legacy in Phoenician settlements, Punic cities, Greek
temples, Roman amphitheatres, Norman Arab castles and
Aragonese churches. Thirty centuries of history expressed in
the Classical, the Romanesque, the Gothic, the Baroque...
Sikania to its most ancient peoples, Sicily was Sikelia,
Plato's utopian society, to the ancient Greeks. Later, the
sonnet was created at the Court of Frederick II, and Sicily
found her place in the literature of Dante and Boccaccio.
Sunny Sicily is Punic Palermo, towering Taormina, ancient
Agrigento, splendid Siracusa, and medieval Monreale and
Cefalù.
And God created Sicily. The place where the mountains meet
the sea. Sicilia, the island in the sun, Read about nature
in Sicily.is home to Heavenly beaches, majestic mountains
and Europe's greatest natural wonder, Mount Etna. Sicily's
coasts are gold with orange and lemon orchards. In
northeastern Sicily you'll find lush forests. In the central
regions you'll encounter rugged land and rolling hills.
Dignified vineyards, ancient olive groves, hardy almond
orchards and endless wheat fields complete the picture.
Summer is amber land under a sky of blue. Winter finds palm
trees dusted with snow in a surreal symphony. Spring is a
rainbow of wild flowers set against greenest fields...
Sicily is considered by many as heart of the entire Italy
and one of the best travel destinations of Mediterranean
Sea. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea
(see the map of Sicily), is an autonomous region of Italy,
on west of the southern end of the Italian peninsula, being
separated from the mainland by Strait of Messina. An island
of great natural beauty, it is a great trip destination for
tourists of all ages! Just a few reasons to travel to Sicily
and to spend there great beach holidays are the excellent
accommodations in apartments, luxury 5 star hotels (in the
peak season booking a hotel room even in one of many 4 and 5
star hotels can be sometimes a problem due to the large
number of holiday makers!), villas & vacation home rentals,
the water sports amenities, the beautiful beaches, the
natural beauty, and the friendly people.
A trip to Sicily is something unique. The beauty of this
island and what makes it an ideal place for holidays is a
combination of climate, beach resorts, vacation attractions,
history, deep culture, and specific art. Tourists can climb
on the Etna volcano and enjoy the black snow (black due to
the color given by black lava) and on the same day they can
relax on the sunny beaches. Between this points of interests
there are also many picturesque villages and beach resorts
dotted with luxury 5 star hotels and villas where tourists
can spend many relaxing moments.
Some of the major tourist attractions of the island include
its capital city Palermo, Augusta (a town at north of
Syracuse), Cefalu (Sicily's main beach resort), Eraclea
Minoa (with Greek ruins located above to an attractive
beach), Gole dell'Alcantara (a deep impressive gorge),
Milazzo (gateway to the Aeolian Islands), Monreale (located
near Palermo and featuring an impressive cathedral), Mount
Etna (an mpressive 3323m high active volcano), Ragusa (with
impressive baroque architecture), Segesta (with greek temple
and ruins), Sciacca (a quite port on the southern coast) and
Selinunte (with impressive Greek temples) - see this travel
destinations on the map of Sicily, Italy. |
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Agrigento |
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Sicily is perhaps the most intriguing destination in
Italy and Mediterranean Sea. It's a blend of ancient
culture, interesting traditions and cordial
hospitality. The mild and sunny Mediterranean
climate makes a trip to Sicily pleasant all year
round. Even in winter tourists can enjoy different
outdoor activities, from sightseeing to sun bathing
on golden beaches! This island is comprised of
breathtaking coasts, lush fields, rich cultures,
fallen empires and ancient myths.
Agrigento (Girgenti in Sicilian language) is a
picturesque town on the southern coast of Sicily and
capital of the province of Agrigento. The city was
established around 582-580 BC and by the Greek
colonists from Gela, who named it Akragas. Akragas
grew very fast, becoming one of the richest and most
important of the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia. It
was conquered by the Carthaginians in 406 BC and
after that it became prosperous under Roman rule,
when its inhabitants received full Roman citizenship
following the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BC.
Nowadays, Agrigento is one of the major vacation
resorts of Sicily due to its extraordinarily rich
archaeological legacy. |
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It also serves as an agricultural center for the whole
surrounding province. Still, it's one of the poorest towns
in Italy and it's renowned for the organized crime,
particularly involving Mafia.
Agrigento is a town of Italy with modern architecture,
having a few good hotels and villas for rent, but it still
has a number of medieval and Baroque buildings. These
include the cathedral from the 14 century and the church
from the 13 century called Santa Maria dei Greci ("Our Lady
of the Greeks"), standing on the site of an ancient Greek
temple. The town also has a notable archaeological museum
displaying finds from the ancient city. |
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Catania |
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Catania is the second-largest city of Sicily,
Italy, and is the capital of the province with the
same name. Catania is located on the eastern coast
of the island, halfway between Messina and Syracuse.
Also, it is located at the foot of the active Etna
volcano.
The city has also Greek roots. The exact date of its
foundation is not recorded, but it appears from
Thucydides to have founded shortly after city of
Lentini, that he places in 730 BCE. The most
important event of its ancient history which has
been transmitted to us is the legislation of
Charondas, but even this date is wholly uncertain.
Its position at the foot of Etna volcano was the
source, as Strabo remarks, both of benefits and
evils to the city. The violent outbursts of the
volcano from time to time destroyed great parts of
its territory, but the volcanic ashes produced a
soil of great fertility, adapted especially for the
growth of vines.
One of the most serious calamities was the eruption
from 121 BCE, when great part of its territory was
overwhelmed by streams of lava, and the hot ashes
fell in such quantities in the city itself that it
destroyed the roofs of the houses. Catania was in
consequence exempted for 10 years from its usual
contributions to the Roman state. |
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The port of Catania, which was in great part filled up by
the eruption of 1669, appears to have been in ancient times
very frequented and was the main place of export for the
corn of the rich neighboring plains. |
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Cefalu |
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Cefalu is a city in the province of Palermo, located on the
northern coast of Sicily, Italy, on the coast of Tyrrhenian
Sea, about 185 km west of Messina. Cefalu is nowadays one of
the major vacation resorts of the region and there go every
year a large number of tourists seeking to spend relaxing
moments on its excellent beaches and great accommodation in
its luxurious hotels. As many other towns of Sicily, Cefalu
has been founded by Greeks and has a rich history.
One of the major attractions of the city is the cathedral.
The building begun in 1131 in a style of Norman
architecture, more accurately called "Sicilian Romanesque".
The exterior is very well preserved and is largely decorated
with interlacing pointed arches. On each side is a massive
tower. The round-headed Norman portal is particularly
interesting. A semi-circular apse is set into the east end
wall. The groined vaulting of the roof is visible in the
choir and the right transept, while the rest of the church
has a wooden roof.
Some remains of the ancient city are visible today. The most
interesting monument remaining from the ancient city is an
edifice consisting of various apartments and having the
appearance of a palace, but constructed from large irregular
limestone blocks, in the style called polygonal. |
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On promontory are extensive remains of a Saracenic castle.
The town's fortifications formerly extended to the shore, in
the form of two long walls protecting the port. There are
remains of a wall at the modern "Porta Garibaldi". |
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Corleone |
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Corleone is a small town located in the province of
Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Its known worldwide as the
birthplace of several Mafia bosses. Mafia has
dominated the local community for decades.
In medieval times the town was dominated by Arabs,
who gave it the name Qurlayun; later the Normands
conquered and ruled it.
Corleone has, beside a few hotels that offer
vacation packages, a few interesting churches, which
attracts each year many holiday makers. Chiesa Madre
(Mother Church), dedicated to St. Martin, was
started in the late 14th century. Its appearance has
been influenced by numerous changes and renovations.
Worth to a visit is also Chiesa dell'Addolorata,
which is a church from the 18th century dedicated to
the Basilian abbot and patron saint San Leoluca.
Chiesa di Santa Rosalia and the small Sant'Andrea,
both from the 17th century, with important frescoes
and paintings, are notable attractions too.
Santuario della Madonna del Rosario di Tagliavia, a
religious building from the 19 century, is a
renowned destination for pilgrims on Ascension Day.
Corleone, the "City of One Hundred Churches", is a
small town encircled by cliffs that time has modeled
in shape of fortifications |
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and towers, with a charming landscape dominated by the
"Twin Rocks". The city was once dominated by the Arabs, who
brought about a remarkable economic and political growth,
and then the Normans. In the past it was surrounded by
defensive walls connecting the Castello Soprano and Castello
Sottano, the latter today transformed into a Franciscan
monastery. The name of the town is well known because it was
also used as the surname of the main character in Mario
Puzo's book "The Godfather". Al Pacino's maternal
grandparents immigrated to the United States from Corleone.
Corleone was known as "Courageous Civitas" from its position
on the front line in all wars fought in Sicily. Midpoint
between Palermo and Agrigento, the city controlled one of
the main arteries and was, therefore, one of the most
strategic locations of the island. It became a royal
property around the end of the 14th century and later passed
into the feudal holdings of Federico Ventimiglia |
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Messina |
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Messina is the third largest city on the island
Sicily, Italy, and the capital of the Messina
province. It's located near the northeastern corner
of Sicily, at the Strait of Messina.
Also founded by Greeks in the 8 century BC, Messina
was originally called Zancle. After the fall of the
Roman Empire, the city was successively conquered by
the Goths, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by
the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers
Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard (later count
Roger I of Sicily). In 1189 the English King Richard
I stopped at Messina in his travel to the Holy Land
and occupied the city.
The city was almost entirely destroyed by an
earthquake and a tsunami on the morning of December
28, 1908. The city was largely rebuilt in the
following year, according to a more modern and
rational plan. Further damages were added in the
second World War by the Allied air bombardments from
1943.
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Messina is a place for some of the best beach holidays in
Italy, but it offers also other interesting tourist
attractions such as: the cathedral from the 12 century,
which contains the remains of Conrad, king of Germany and
Sicily in the 13 century, the church "Annunziata dei
Catalani", dating from the late Norman period, and the
church "Santa Maria degli Alemanni" (from the 13 century),
which belonged to the Knights of Malta; other places worth
to a visit are "Palazzo Calapaj", "Fountain of Orion" and
"Fountain of Neptune", and the "San Ranieri" lighthouse. |
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Palermo |
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Palermo is the capital of Sicily, Italy and its
largest city. Originally a Phoenician, then a
Carthaginian colony, this remarkable city was long
considered a prize worth capturing. After the first
Punic war it was passed from the Carthaginian hands
to the Romans and later became a Roman colony under
the reign of Augustus.
Under the Arab domination it becames an emirate and
for this reson it has around 300 mosques. Finally,
Palermo became Norman in 1072, after the conquest of
the city by Ruggero d'Altavilla. Ruggero II made it
capital of the island and Federico II Houhenstaufen
made it "Capital of the Mediterranean Culture",
creating the first Sicilian school. In that times
Palermo became the greatest city not just in Sicily,
but also one of the most important in Italy and
Europe!
In the hands of the French the city gone through a
phase of decline, due to the transfer of the reign's
capital to Naples. The population revolts and in
1282 began the "War of the Vespers". In its history,
Palermo always fought for independence. In 1860
Garibaldi freed the city and added the entire Sicily
to the Kingdom of Italy. |
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Palermo is nowadays a great and exciting city, dotted with
luxury hotels. The mix of Arabic and Viking influences is
one of the strangest and unexpected surprises that the city
has to offer. Buildings dating from the 11 and 12 century
and the buildings from Medieval Sicily are great tourist
attractions. During holidays in Palermo an absolute
attraction is "Palazzo dei Normanni". Other interesting
sights include "Quattro Canti" (a nice example of Baroque
architecture) and the catacombs, where local noblemen were
mummified. Very impressive for holiday makers are Monastery
and Cathedral of Monreale, settled not far away. |
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Syracuse |
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Syracuse (Siracusa in Italian) is a city on the
eastern coast of Sicily, Italy and the capital of
the Syracuse province. Described by Cicero as the
"greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them
all", the ancient center of Syracuse is on the
UNESCO World Heritage List.
Syracuse was founded in 734 or 733 BC by Greek
colonists from Corinth and Tenea, lwho called it
Sirako. The nucleus of the ancient city was the
small island Ortygia. Later, though declining slowly
by the years, Syracuse maintained the status of
capital of the Roman government of Sicily and seat
of the praetor. After a period of Vandal rule,
Syracuse and the island was recovered by Belisarius
for the Byzantine Empire. From 663 to 668 Syracuse
was the seat of Emperor Constans II, as well as
center of the whole Sicilian Church.
In the following centuries the city was destroyed by
two earthquakes, in 1542 and 1693, and, in 1729, by
a plague. This destructions changed forever the
appearance of Syracuse, which was rebuilt along the
typical lines of Sicilian Baroque, considered one of
the most typical expressions of art from Italy.After
the unification of Italy from 1865, Syracuse
regained its status of provincial capital. In 1870
the walls were demolished and a bridge connecting
the mainland to Ortygia island was built. In the
following year a railway |
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link was constructed. The main tourist attractions include:
Temple of Apollo, adapted to a church in Byzantine times and
to a mosque under Arab rule, Fountain of Arethusa, located
on island Ortygia, the Roman amphitheatre, the Tomb of
Archimede, the Cathedral, built in the 7 century over the
great Temple of Athens, "Basilica of Santa Lucia extra
Moenia", a Byzantine church built in the same place of the
martyrdom of the saint in 303 AD, "Castello Maniace",
constructed between 1232 and 1240, which is an example of
the military architecture of Frederick II, the
Archaeological Museum, with collections including findings
from the mid-Bronze Age to 5th century BC, and the Castle of
Euryalos, built nine kilometres outside the city and which
was one of the most powerful fortresses of ancient times. |
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Taormina |
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Taormina is a small town on the eastern coast of
island Sicily, Italy, in the province of Messina, about
midway between Messina and Catania. Taormina belonged to the
luxury vacation resorts since the 19 century. It has very
popular beaches, accessible via an aerial tramway, on the
Ionian sea.
Taormina's coastal location, facing Greece, between cities
Syracuse and Catania to the south, and Messina to the north,
determined much of its history. Is no doubt that Tauromenium
(the ancient name of Taormina) was a part of the kingdom of
Syracuse till the death of Hieron. After that, the city was
ruled by the Roman Empire when the whole island Sicily was
reduced to a Roman province. This city has also a rich
medieval history, like all other towns from Sicily.
The modern Taormina, that offers accommodation in luxury 5
star hotels, occupies the ancient site, about 300 m above
the sea, while a very steep and almost isolated rock,
crowned by a Saracen castle, rises about 150 m higher.
Portions of the ancient walls can be seen at intervals all
round the hill. Numerous fragments of ancient buildings are
scattered over its whole surface. |
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Trapani |
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Trapani is a city on the western coast of island
Sicily, Italy, and is the capital of the province
with the same name. Founded by ancient Greeks, the
city is an important fishing port even now and the
main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.
Being a town settled on the coast, much of its
economy depends on sea. Fishing and canning are an
important local industries, with fishermen catching
tuna. Coral is also an important export product,
along with salt, marble and a special wine named
marsala. Trapani is also an important ferry port,
with links to Egadi Islands, Pantelleria, Sardinia
and Tunisia.
Trapani is also one of the renowned vacation resorts
of Italy and place for relaxing beach holidays spent
in a few really luxurious hotels. Some of the most
important tourist attractions to see there are:
church of "Sant'Agostino", from the 14 century,
church of "Santa Maria di Gesu", basilica "Sanctuary
of Maria Santissima Annunziata" (also called
"Madonna di Trapani"), built between 1315-1332 and
rebuilt in 1760, "Palazzo della Giudecca", and the
Cathedral, built in 1635. |
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The city is also renowned for its Easter procession,
when the town's guilds parade a groups of sculpted
religious statues through the streets in a
procession lasting 16 hours on Good Friday and Holy
Saturday. |
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