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Strategically
situated between Italy and north Africa
and with fertile soil and rich coastal
fishing grounds, Sicily has suffered an
almost continuous round of invasion for
as long as history has been recorded.
The Greeks, Carthaginians,
Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans,
Angevins, Aragonese, Bourbons and, most
recently, the Germans (and the Allies)
during the Second World War – all
have left their mark on this unique
island, the most populous in the
Mediterranean. The economy is based on
the production of citrus fruit,
almonds, olives, vegetables, wine
(including Marsala), wheat and
beans, together with mining, fishing
(anchovies, tuna, cuttlefish and
swordfish) and the raising of sheep and
goats.
The
capital, Palermo, is a splendid
city in a grand style, opulent, vital,
full of remarkable architecture,
particularly Norman and Baroque.
Notable buildings include the Martorana,
Santa Maria di Gesu, San Giuseppe dei
Teatini and San Cataldo churches,
the Cathedral and the Palazzo
dei Normanni. The catacombs at the Capuchin
Monastery contain thousands of
mummified bodies.
Syracuse is said to possess the
best natural harbor in Italy. The old
town stands on a small island just off
the coast and contains many historic
buildings. Archimedes lived and died
here.
Catania is a spacious city dating
mostly from the 18th century, having
been rebuilt following a succession of
earthquakes. Europe’s largest and
most active volcano, Mount Etna,
stands nearby and with its fine beaches
the city attracts many tourists.
Taormina, further up the coast, is
an immensely picturesque resort town.
Perched on a cliff within sight of
Mount Etna, it has fine beaches, a
well-preserved Greek theatre, a castle
and a cathedral.
Messina, a busy port with a deep
natural harbor, was almost entirely
destroyed by an earthquake in 1908. The
Cathedral is an exact replica of
that destroyed in the 1908 calamity,
which was built in the 11th century by
King Roger.
Sicily is littered with the remains of
successive invading cultures and a full
listing of important sites. The
following is a representative selection
of sites and buildings: the Norman Cathedral
at Monreale, containing an
acre and a half of dazzling mosaics;
the numerous Greek remains at Agrigénto,
said to be better preserved than any in
Greece itself; the Greek theatre at Syracuse;
the vast Temple of Apollo at Selinunte;
and the Byzantine cliff dwellings at Cava
d’Ispica near Modica.
Popular seaside resorts include
Cefalů (near Palermo), Mondello,
Acitrezza, Acireale, Taormina (see
above) and Tindari. There are extensive
sandy beaches on the southern coast.
Many attractive small islands surround
Sicily, offering excellent facilities
for underwater fishing.
Accommodation is generally simple
(although there are some excellent
hotels). These islands are the Lipari
Group (Lipari itself,
Vulcano, Panarea and Stromboli),
Ustica, Favignana, Levanzo, Marettimo,
Pantelleria and Lampedusa.
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