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The
hybrid culture comes from Sicily's inimitable history formed by
multiple invasions and an ancient center of "Magna Graecia (the name of
the area in Southern Italy and Sicily colonized by Greek settlers in
the eighth century BC). Most who live in Sicily speak Italian, but
Sicily also has its own dialect, obviously influenced by Italian. The
Sicilian dialect adds a distinct twist to the region reminding the
traveler that each region of Italy has its own brilliant personality.

Palermo, the capital dates from an eighth-century BC Phoenician
settlement and features wonderful Norman buildings and marvelous
attractions like the Cathedral, the Palazzo Abatellis, the Palazzo dei
Normanni and Teatro Massimo. The Tyrrheanian coastline to the north is
home to Cefalu, a popular resort. Inland are the mountains of the
Madonie and Nebrodi that wrap around lovely hill villages. To the east
are the Ionian Coast and Messina, the main arrival point from Calabria
and the mainland. Taormina is known for its seashore and Greco-Roman
amphitheatre. To the south is Sicily's second largest city, Catania,
offering elegant Baroque architecture with Mount Etna as a backdrop.
Siracusa, or Syracuse, is also to the south. It is a grand town with
ancient buildings including the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of
Olympian Zeus. Further along the south coast are Ragusa, Comiso, Modica
and Noto, towns destroyed by the earthquake of 1693 and rebuilt in an
opulent Baroque style.