Island of Sicilia
Sicilia is the largest island of Italy, which is located at the toe of the “Italian boot” and is washed by the waters of three seas – the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian and Ionian. Sicily is known for its architecture, abundance of sunshine, luxurious nature and clear warm sea. Sicily is chaos on the streets and calm beaches, mafia and really cordial people, simple villages and magnificent cities. It seems that the whole of Sicily is made of contradictions. Arabs, Greeks and Spaniards have left here outstanding monuments that must be seen in person.
Video: Sicily
” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen> Contents- Highlights
- Origin of the name
- History of the island of Sicily
Geographical location and climate - Beaches
- Sicily sights
Sicilian Mafia - Holidays and Festivals
- Restaurants
- Transportation
- Souvenirs
Interesting facts about Sicily - Sicily hotel deals
- How to get there
Highlights
The name of the Italian island has ancient roots. The tribes that once inhabited these places called themselves “Sicans” and their lands “Sicania”. As time passed, the name changed to “Sikela” or “Sicily”. In ancient times, the island washed by three seas was also called Trinacria, the island of the “Three Capes,” and its symbol was a maiden’s head surrounded by snakes, wings, and three bent legs.
.History of the island of Sicily
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Geographical location and climate
Sicily and its surrounding small islands lie in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. They are separated from Gibraltar to the west and the Suez Canal to the east by roughly the same distance. The Strait of Messina runs between the mainland and Sicily, and the shortest distance to the island is only 3 kilometers. It takes 20 minutes by ferry. Sicily lies just a few kilometers southwest of the Apennine Peninsula and 140 km from North Africa
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Beaches
Sicily is considered a paradise for lovers of leisurely beach vacations. Almost the entire coast is a long beach zone. The beaches are covered with soft white sand, pebbles and fine black sand, which was formed from the grinding of volcanic lava by the sea. Black sand is especially abundant on the beachfront near Catania.
.Beautiful, wind-sheltered beaches can be found near the Sicilian city of Siracusa. These places are suitable for family vacations with children, as well as popular with fans of diving. Fans of the underwater world are attracted by the variety of marine fauna and deep-sea caves near Syracuse.
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In the Palermo area, Mondello is considered the best coastal resort. It attracts not only foreign tourists. On the local beaches on weekends come a lot of Sicilians themselves. The entrance to the sea is gentle, and around the beaches there are many excellent restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as inexpensive markets.
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Another sought-after beach vacation spot in Sicily is the town of Taormina. It is located on the east coast of the island, halfway between Catania and Messina. Taormina has a stony shore and so clear water that you can easily see small fish, crabs and crustaceans. However, it is unpleasant to enter the water barefoot and you should use shoes. People come to Taormina not only to sunbathe. The coast near this resort is popular among windsurfing enthusiasts.
Sicily Sights
Sicilian Mafia
Sicily is an island known worldwide for its reputation as the “home of the Mafia”. Although Mexican criminal gangs, Colombian cartels, Chinese triads and Japanese yakuza pose a major threat today, it was in Sicily that the Mafia originated. The island became famous thanks to the cult movie “The Godfather”, which was filmed here. Some tourists visit Sicily to plunge into the romantic and dangerous atmosphere of mafiosi, to visit the town of Savoca (in the movie – Corleone), to see Castello dei Schiavi (slave castle), to look at the church of St. Nicholas (where the wedding of Michael and Apollonia took place) and to have a bite to eat in the famous Vitelli bar.
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In February, when it’s a snowy winter in Russia, the people of Agrigento celebrate the merry festival of blossoming almonds. And Catania at this time pays homage to the Christian martyr Saint Agatha, who died in this city during the persecution of Christians (251).
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In mid-June, Palermo celebrates for several days the patron saint of the townspeople, the Christian hermit St. Rosalia (1130-1166). And in Messina, on August 13-14, a procession of rosta dolls is held through the streets of the city. The giant figures on horseback represent the founders of the city, Matu and the Gryphon, and they are carried throughout Messina in a carnival procession.
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Seafood and fish dishes are popular on the island, and one of the delicacies is considered “spada” or swordfish. Compared to mainland Italy, salads in Sicily are not cheap. Among meat dishes you should try sausages “salsiccia”, meatballs “polpette”, rolls “Involtini alla Siciliana” and veal schnitzels “scaloppine”. And as a side dish you can order eggplant ragout “caponata.”
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Transportation
The Italian island has a well-developed rail network and many highways have been built. Trains connect the major cities of Sicily – Messina, Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Catania, Alcamo and Trapani. However, railroad lines are only along the seashore, and it is often more convenient to get from one city to another by bus. Bus stations are located near train stations, and bus tickets can be purchased from drivers, ticket offices, and tobacco and newspaper stands.
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Souvenirs
Some of the original things that remind you of a trip to Sicily are items made from the solidified lava of the Etna volcano. These are pendants, ashtrays, statuettes and even wine in bottles made of lava. Such souvenirs look great and are inexpensive.
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Interesting facts about Sicily
- Beneath Sicily lies the junction between two powerful tectonic plates. On the surface, the place where the Eurasian and African plates “meet” is marked by the largest volcano in Europe – Etna (3329 m). It is characterized by an unruly temperament and regularly erupts. In addition to Etna, there are several other “dormant” volcanoes on the island. The vast area around Etna is declared a state reserve. .
- In 1743 in the Sicilian city of Palermo was born a famous adventurer, alchemist and mystic Alessandro Cagliostro. .
- The Italian island produces excellent quality cold-pressed olive oil. Connoisseurs appreciate its flavor very much.
- The symbol of Sicily is considered to be the trinacria, a sign that unites the sun and the moon. The image of trinacria on the island can be found everywhere: on buildings, posters and souvenirs.
How to get there
Sicily can be reached by plane or by sea. There are two airports open on the island, which are located near the cities of Catania (Fontanarossa) and Palermo (Falcone-Borsellino). There are no direct flights to both Sicilian airports from Moscow, and it is possible to fly only with a change of planes.
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