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General
Located in the center of the Mediterranean, nearer to North Africa than to Rome, Sicily enjoys more sunshine than anywhere else in Europe, intensifying the naturally vibrant colours of the landscape buildings. Sicily is a triangular-shaped island, surrounded by three different seas - the Mediterranean, the Tyrrhenian and the lonian. Golden sandy coastlines alternate with steep craggy cliffs. Rocky headlands and hidden coves create some spectacular panoramas, especially along the northern Mediterranean coast from Messina to Cefalu? and Palermo. Inland you will also find some of Italy’s most dramatic scenery. Magnificently mountainous with deep ravines and, of course, the extraordinary volcanic lava landscapes, particularly around Mount Etna. This is the largest volcano in Europe and provides an enormously permanent and dominant backdrop to much of eastern Sicily. Its awesome crater can be reached by jeep or on foot, passing through fertile slopes of olives, almonds, grapes and citrus fruits along the way - and the view from the summit will take your breath away. Sicily is awash with colour all year round, even in winter, when the peak of Mount Etna is bright white with snow. Below, in Taormina, the weather remains mild and the citrus orchards are ripe for picking, whilst in spring the air is heady with the scent of orange and lemon blossoms. Sicily is Italy’s largest region, and it retains its own sense of identity more than any other. It is formed and shaped by two thousand years of history, with Greeks, Romans, Byzanitnes, Arabs, Normans and Spanish all occupying it an leaving their diverse influences on both the culture and architecture. Archaeologists have a field day here, with superb examples of ancient Greece to be found at Agrigento, Selinunte and Siracusa (the birthplace of Archimedes). Also, the most exceptional Roman mosaics in the world are situated in the Villa del Casale near the town of Piazza Armerina. A trip out to Sicily’s own offshore islands are well worth the effort. The Aeolian Islands are strikingly beautiful volcanic cliffs separated by inlets, whilst the three Pelagie Islands are isolated unspoilt, lying between Sicily and the African coast.
Shopping
The markets in Sicily are even more colourful, chaotic and noisy than their mainland counterparts. Try the lively Mercato della Pescheria in Catania, with its middle eastern flavour, or the wonderfully atmospheric Mercato della Vucciria in Palermo, which switches on a thousand lights every sunset.
Local Food
The mainstays of Sicilian cuisine are the huge variety of deliciously fresh fish available, and the home-grown citrus fruits, capers, olives and dessert of sponge cake, ricotta, chocolate and candied fruit. Other local favourites include: pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines), braciole alla Siciliana (marinated pork chops) and zuppa di pesce which contains bream, squid and shellfish. And for the vegetable-lovers Caponata consists of fried aubergine with a sweet and sour sauce of tomato, pine nuts, celery, olives and capers. Last but not least, the ice cream - which is possibly the best in Italy!
As with the rest of Italy, Sicily has an abundance of delicious local wines to sample. There are products widely available to suit all tastes, including - for those of you with a preference for sweet wine - Passito wine from Pantelleria, Malvasia wine from Lipari and Marsala all’Uovo wine from Marsala. For the dry taste, try red or white Corvo from Salaparuta or Bianco d’Alcamo, and you will find that all the dry reds and whites from the slopes of Mount Etna are of a very fine quality.
Holy week April |