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LOCATION AND TERRITORY

Sicily is the southernmost region of Italy and it is largest island of the Mediterranean Sea. It has a vaguely triangular shape and is surrounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the North and the Ionic Sea on the East. The Canal of Sicily on the southwest is about 86 miles from the African continent. The straight of Messina (1.86 miles) divides the island from the mainland, Italy, on the Northeast.

Sicily is home to Heavenly beaches, majestic mountains and Europe's greatest natural wonder, Mount Etna that is not only the highest mountain in Sicily, but also the highest active volcano in Europe.

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.

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. There's no other place on Earth like Sicily. It is a unique place full of art, archeology, history, folklore and breathtaking scenery. Sicily is almost a nation unto itself. It 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...

ACTIVITIES

Biking. You can cycle along quiet minor roads without encountering towns or villages; you might come across a Greek temple, a Baroque town, an archaeological site or the remains of an ancient city.

Skiing. From November through April, you can ski on the slopes of Mount Etna, only an hour drive from Catania or Taormina. You can also ski in the Madonie Regional Park in Piano Battaglia, an hour drive from Palermo.

Rock climbing. The Nebrodi Mountains are not only ideal for Alpine skiing during the wintertime, but also rock climbing on these 220 million year-old peaks and cliffs.

Water skiing. Major seaside cities like Catania, Palermo, Messina, Trapani and Syracuse have centers to start and/or practice water skiing off the bays and beaches. There are also small lakes, such as Lake Arancio on the Palermo-Sciacca road, and Lake Pergusa in Central Sicily where fresh water skiing can be practiced from early spring throughout the end of the fall.

Caving. Sicily is full of caves, tunnels, passages and canyons that represent a highly interesting attraction for those interested in caving.

Canoeing & Kayaking. In the rainiest periods of the year, you can ride the rapids in the canyons and descend along the river Simeto, also famous for its papyrus groves. From May through September, the Gole dell’Alcantara near Taormina offers canoeing activities.

Scuba diving. The shrines of scuba diving are located in the smaller islands around Sicily like the Aeolian Islands and Aegadian Isalnds. At the beach resorts on the Tyrrhenian coast, like San Vito Lo Capo, Scopello and Cefalu’, specialized clubs offer diving activities for beginners and experts.

Horseback riding. Across the island, great feudal estates are home to excellent riding stables. Many hotels on the southern coast, provide horses for rides along the beaches.

Windsurfing and Sailing. Sicily’s waters offer wonderful windsurfing thanks to the twists and turns of the wind. Small and large boats can be rented to sail by the bays, gulfs, ports and islands.

Golf. Golfers can practice their favorite sport on the hills of Mount Etna, at the golf course Picciolo in Campofelice among ancient olive trees.

WHAT TO VISIT

Catania
Catania is an ancient, medieval and then finally Baroque city. It has been damaged by lava flows and earthquakes on several occasions.
The city has two Roman amphitheaters. The smaller one, off Via Vittorio Emanuele near Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi, was built upon an earlier Greek Theater and is open to the public. A larger amphitheatre, closer to the commercial center in Piazza Stesicoro at the intersection of Via Etnea and Corso Sicilia, is a completely Roman structure built in the second century AD.
Piazza Duomo is the heart of Catania, with the city’s symbol monument: the fountain with the Elephant. The Elephant, symbol of the city of Catania since 1200, is a lava-stone statue that dates back to the Roman era, mounted on a more modern structure by Vaccarini from the eighteenth century.
The city’s cathedral with the Chapel of Sant’Agata looks out onto this square, where precious treasures are kept. There is also Palazzo degli Elephant that is the City Hall. One of Catania’s most interesting roads starts from Piazza Duomo - Via Etnea, where there are splendid Baroque buildings with lava dust façades and a multitude of shops and confectioners.



Palermo
A city that contains centuries of different kinds of culture: Arabs, Normans, the French, Spanish and the Byzantines have all left their permanent mark on the place.
The Baroque crossroads of the Quattro Canti mark the heart of the inner city of Palermo. Not far from here is Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Cassa di Risparmio and the church of La Martorana. Here is a good starting point for a stroll through the history of Palermo. Going southwest you will pass some nice churches and reach San Giovanni degli Eremiti.
From there it is just a few paces north to the Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cappella Palatina. On the far side of Corso V. Emmanuele, one of the city’s main roads, you can see the Cathedral, dating from 1185 with a neoclassical interior.

Agrigento
It is famous for its Greek Valley of Temples, that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest legacies of ancient Greece. This parade of well-preserved Doric temples, just outside town, dates back to the fifth century BC and are what remains of the Greek city of Akragas.
The temples are spread along a rocky ridge a short way to the south of the medieval town centre, in a designated archaeological park. You can walk there, or catch a bus from the railway station. Food options are limited so you might wish to take a picnic lunch.

Taormina
Taormina stands 200 meters above sea level and looks down onto the Ionian Sea like a terrace, the prettiest you have ever seen. Over the centuries, this place has fascinated wretched poets and writers and restless painters who decided to put down roots here.
An emotion that takes your breath away is what comes to everyone when they see the Greek-Roman Theater, this unbelievable work by mankind that stands on the mountain and from where one’s gaze drops down to the deep blue sea and to Etna, an unsettling presence that manages to stay in harmony with the landscape.

Aeolian Islands
The Aeolian Islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily.
The largest island is Lipari, and tourism marketing often names the entire archipelago the Lipari Islands because of the ease of pronouncing Lipari compared to Aeolian.
The main locality, called Lipari, is a charming town that boasts a largely reconstructed Norman-era church and a fine archeological museum nearby, though the archeological park is more interesting.
The oldest part of the castle was built in Greek times, but the thirteenth-century walls that dominate the structure are naturally more evident. Following the assault of the Turks, the larger walls were built, and these constitute the fortress's present appearance.
There are remains of several towers and other medieval structures on Lipari, and also some Greek and Roman ruins visible in the Diana District Archeological Park. The large Ponente Beach is the island's greatest natural attraction today.
The other islands include Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, and Panarea.

Pantelleria
Pantelleria is entirely of volcanic origin. Hot mineral springs and ebullitions of steam still testify to the presence of volcanic activity.
It is the wild beauty, the dramatic coastline, the incredibly pristine water, and the abundance of caves, coves, grottos and inlets that draw a small but intensely loyal group of visitors to this quiet outpost.

FOOD SPECIALTIES

Cannoli. They are sweet tubes of ricotta.

Cassata. It’s a rich, sugary cake filled with the same delicious filling.

Granita. It’s sweetened crushed ice made in summer and flavored with lemons or strawberries.

Caponata. It is a tasty salad made with eggplant, olives, capers and celery, makes a great appetizer. There is also an artichoke-based version of this traditional dish.

Pasta with sardines (con le sarde). It’s a local typical dish.
Marsala. It’s a dessert wine.

Zibibbo. It’s a grape variety of Pantelleria Island.

Vino alla mandorla. It’s a specialty of the eastern coast and it is made with almonds.

CLIMATE AND TRAVEL SEASON

The climate is typically Mediterranean. When steals the wind from Africa, says scirocco, the heat lifts the temperature until to oppress. In the central part the climate is continental.
August is hot and crowded, and beaches are clogged with vacationers.
Come in September or October and you'll find gentle, warm weather and acres of beach space. Reserve rooms well in advance for Easter, Christmas, New Year's, Agrigento's almond festival in February, and the Carnival in Acireale.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Festival of Sant’Agata – February – Catania.
Catania celebrates Sant’Agata, the city’s patron saint, each year with three days of festivities: 3, 4 and 5 February. The celebrations start on 3 February with a long and solemn midday procession, followed by an international cross-country race. In the evening Piazza Duomo is lit up by a fantastic fireworks display.
On 4-5 February an effigy of the saint is carried through the streets on a silver cart, crossing the city without interruption through the night, so many people get no sleep at all.

Carnival of Acireale. February – Acireale.
The Carnival of Acireale, is popularly known as the most exciting, beautiful, and fun carnival in all of Sicily.  It is one of the most involving and historical festivities of the island.
The Allegorical Floats
 depict celebrities, politicians, animals and fantasy creatures.  These floats are brought to life by mechanical movements and arms. 
They are built on mobile platforms and internally illuminate, making them extremely unique in the world for such achievements and beauty.
The Flower-Decorated Floats catch-the-eye with tens of thousands of flowers, which compose specific figures, also animated and lightened.
An endless amount of dancers, originating from Italy and throughout the world, masked performers, and playful marching bands create music with everyday kitchen utensils.
The largest component of the whole Carnival is the crowd that embodies it, and is left completely free to roam the circuit without being enclosed behind barriers. 
It is customary for on lookers to be par take in the paper confetti and silly string fun.

Festival di Morgana. November – Palermo
Each year in Palermo since 1985, the Festival di Morgana has been organized, a celebration of the art of the pupi. The Festival is made up of a run of shows in which the historical Sicilian “Pupari” families appear.
The “pupi” are the characteristic Sicilian marionettes that the “pupari”, the master puppet show experts, use to put on shows of the medieval knights actions.
“Pupi” are puppets that UNESCO has declared to be “masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity”.
The historical “pupari” families in Palermo have been passing on this art to each new generation. If you walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you will see the Cuticchio, Mancuso and Greco family craftsmen’s workshops and if you are lucky, you may see a marionette being created by true artists, who are part carpenters, part blacksmiths, part painters but, most importantly, actors.
The Palermo pupi are 80 cm high, they weigh about 15 kg and wear sparkling armor on a wooden and clay body and their faces are painted with very strong expression, to emphasize their role in the shows.

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