The 20 Regions of Italy

Abruzzo | Aosta Valley | Apulia | Basilicata | Calabria

Campania | Emilia-Romagna | Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Lazio | Liguria | Lombardy | Marche | Molise | Piedmont

In Sicily, the Mediterranean's largest island, many of us find Italy's most lovely and captivating face. Something truly special permeates the Sicilian air, bidding the visitor to fall in love with its natural wonders, marvelous cuisine, and compelling culture that is manifested in both dynamic metropolis - Palermo - and quaint seaside town - Taromina -with equal virtuosity.  

The Sicilians aren't the only people to consider themselves, and their island, a separate entity.

As the largest island in the Mediterranean, and with a strategic location, Sicily's history is a list of foreign rulers, from the Greeks in the 8th century BC, through a dazzling array of Romans, Arabs, Normans, French and Spanish, to the Bourbons seen off by Garibaldi in 1860.

Substantial relics of these ages remain: temples, theaters and churches are scattered about the whole island. But there are other, more immediate hints of Sicily's unique past.

A hybrid Sicilian language is still widely spoken in the countryside; the food is noticeably different, spicier and with more emphasis on fish and vegetables; even the flora echoes is a little different, with oranges, lemons, olives and palms everywhere.

Most points of interest are on the coast. The capital Palermo is memorable, a bustling, noisy city with an unrivaled display of Norman art and architecture and Baroque churches, combined with a warren of medieval streets and markets.

From Messina, it's an easy trip to Catania; Siracusa, once the most important city of the Greek world; or the chic resort of Taormina, from where you can visit the craters of Mount Etna.