Sicily ..
… the largest island in the Mediterranean, it is a fascinating land rich in history, traditions, and scenery. Originally inhabited by the Phoenicians and Sicilians, it was invaded in the seventh century B.C. by Greeks and then by the Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs. Sicily is situated in an excellent position in the lower Mediterranean Sea, between the tip of the Italian boot and the Cape Bon of Tunisia. The three points of Sicily, the three Seas, and its three mountain ranges are symbolized in the emblem of Sicily that has three bent legs. The climate is lovely, especially on the coasts.
The northern coast between Messina and Taormina is characterized by white cliffs overlooking the sea, interspersed with large inlets of sand and gravel, as found at Giardini Naxos and Taormina. Further south, the city of Catania lies at the foot of Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Along the north coast, starting at Messina “the door to Sicily” because of its position on the strait that has the same name, at the foot of a beautiful backdrop of sea and green mountains, one finds the fishing villages of Ganzirri and Torre Faro with natural lakes that produce shellfish of all kinds, and Acqualadroni and S. Saba renowned for their mountains of sand between the rocks, and numerous beaches of sand and gravel. The south coast is characterized by a succession of high cliffs, headlands, bays, and beaches of white pebbles. In this scenery one finds the city of Agrigento with its Valley of the Temples, the most brilliant example of Greek architecture. One of the most fascinating aspects of Sicily is the Aeolian Island archipelago: seven islands of volcanic origin covering an arch of 90 km of sea, this archipelago is the most beautiful in Italy. The name is derived from Aeolus, the god of wind, considered by the ancients to live in the Islands. The islands have a rich history: born from underwater volcanoes, they were populated since 4000 BC and their fertile slopes have hosted Sicilians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Etruscans, Romans, Normans, Swabians, and Aragonese. The islands are similar, yet each one is unique in its beautiful scenery and variety of volcanic phenomena. Grapes vines are grown on nearly all the islands, which produce an exceptional wine called “Malvasia”. However, the greater resource for the islands is the Sea where fish are abundant in the crystal clear waters. The archipelago also includes seven small, uninhabited islands.
Cuisine occupies an important place among the attractions of the Islands, and one cannot miss the famous, delicious and seductive desserts: cassate, granite, cannoli and ice cream.
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Sicily 
