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Sicily |
Capital: Palermo
Major airports: Palermo (PMO), Catania (CTA),
Trapani (TPS), and Pantelleria (PNL). |
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Largest of the Mediterranean islands, Sicily is
separated from mainland Italy by both the 4-
km/2.5-mile Strait of Messina and such important
historical, political and cultural differences that it
enjoys a special administrative autonomy. The
geological instability of the Strait area has
prevented the construction of a bridge, and
provides an irresistible metaphor for the island’s
social volatility.
Sicily is a mountainous island, particularly in the
northeastern regions which are dominated by
Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active
volcano. Etna ‘belches’ continuously and erupts
every ten years or so, most recently in the summer
2001 which resulted in no serious damages beyond
the temporary closure of Catania airport due to
heavy ashfall.
Western Sicily is made up of gentle, rolling hills
largely given over to wheat fields. The islands’
thousands of miles of coastline are extraordinarily
varied, ranging from sandy beaches (Taormina,
Golfo di Castellammare) to rocky coves, dramatic
cliffs and hillsides planted with citrus groves
(oranges, lemons and mandarins - of which Sicily is
Italy’s largest producer), orchards and vineyards.
Each of the civilizations which occupied Sicily - the
Greeks in the 5th and 6th centuries BC, followed by
the Romans, Barbarians, Arabs, Normans,
Angevins, Aragons and Bourbons - left architectural
and cultural imprints on the island, evidenced at
every bend in the road and on every restaurant
menu.
In addition to the main island, the province of Sicily
(Sicilia) includes a host of smaller islands and island
groups. The seven Aeolian Islands (Isole Eolie or
Lipari) are essentially extinct - or nearly extinct -
volcanoes with black sand beaches, tiny villages
and wonderful diving. Pantelleria, rich in wildlife
and ruins, is closer to Tunisia than to Italy
physically as well as culturally, and has provided
refuge and inspiration for artists ranging from
Aldous Huxley and Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Sting. |
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