Sicily is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Sicily was colonized by Phoenicians and Punic settlers from Carthage and by Greeks, starting in the 8th century BC. The most important colony was established at Syracuse in 734 BC. Other important Greek colonies were Gela, Acragas, Selinunte, Himera, and Zancle or Messene. These city states were an important part of classical Greek civilization, which included Sicily as part of Magna Graecia - both Empedocles and Archimedes were from Sicily. Sicilian politics was intertwined with politics in Greece itself, leading Athens, for example, to mount the disastrous Sicilian Expedition during the Peloponnesian War. The volcano Etna, situated close to Catania is 10,900 ft high, making it the tallest volcano in Europe. It is also one of the world's most active volcanoes. The Aeolian islands to the north are administratively a part of Sicily, as are the Aegadian Islands and Pantelleria Island to the west, Ustica Island to the north-west, and the Pelagian Islands to the south-west.
By Car: Most of Sicily's motorways (autostrade) run through the north of the region - the most important ones being A19 Palermo - Catania, A20 Palermo - Messina, A29 Palermo - Mazara del Vallo and the toll road A18 Messina - Catania. Much of the motorway network is raised on columns due to the mountainous terrain. The road network in the south of the country consists largely of well maintained, yet not motorway-class roads. Traffic drives on the right
By Bus: Buses are generally quicker though more expensive than trains. There's no single bus company - SAIS and AST are the main two - but the local tourist office can point out where to catch what. Pick up timetables wherever you go and, despite the assertions to the contrary, expect there to be little (if any) service anywhere on a Sunday.
By Rail: Sicily is connected to the Italian peninsula by the national railway company, Trenitalia, though trains are loaded onto ferries for the crossing from the mainland. Officially, the Stretto di Messina, S.p.A. is scheduled commence construction of the the world's longest suspension bridge, the Strait of Messina Bridge Project, in the second half of 2006. If and when completed, it will mark the first time in history that Sicily has been connected by a land link to Italy.
By Ferry: Palermo is the gateway for ferries between Sicily, mainland Italy and Tunisia with services operating to Tunis, Salerno, Civitavecchia, Napoli and Genoa. Trapani ferry port operates services to Tunis and Sousse in Tunisia.
By Air: Sicily is served by national and international flights (mainly European) to and from Palermo International Airport in the region's capital, and the substantially busier Catania-Fontanarossa Airport.
Most points of interest are on the coast. The interior of the island is often mountainous, always sparsely populated and relatively inaccessible. The capital Palermo is a memorable first stop, a bustling, noisy city with an unrivalled display of Norman art and architecture and Baroque churches, combined with a warren of medieval streets and markets. From modern and earthquake-ravaged Messina, the most obvious trips are to the chic resort of Taormina and the lava-built second city of Catania. A skirt around the foothills, and even up to the craters of Mount Etna, shouldn't be missed on any visit to the island; while to the south sit Siracusa, once the most important city of the Greek world, and a Baroque group of towns centring on Ragusa. The south coast's greatest draw is the Greek temples at Agrigento, while inland, Enna is typical of the mountain towns that provided defence for a succession of the island's rulers. Close by is Piazza Armerina and its Roman mosaics, and to the west, most of Sicily's fishing industry - and much of the continuing Mafia activity - focuses on the area around Trápani.
Main Attractions
Palazzo dei Normanni e Cappella Palatina
The Palazzo, which used to be the royal residence in Norman times, is now the seat of the Regional Parliament. Founded by King Roger II in 1130, the Cappella Palatina is a jewel of Norman art with splendid Arab honeycomb wooden ceiling and exquisite Byzantine mosaics in shades of gold and blue.
Basilica-Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata
The Basilica-Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata houses a marble statue of the Madonna of Trapani, which is said to be the work of Nino Pisano.
Palazzo Abatellis
The Palazzo Abatellis, with the Regional Gallery was built at the end of the 15th century for the prefect of the city, Francesco Abatellis. It is a lassive though elegant construction, in typical Catalan Gothic style
Cathedral of Messina
The 12th century Cathedral of Messina contains the remains of Conrad, king of Germany and Sicily in the 13th century.
