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Offering a different sort of romance than one finds
in Venice, Sicilia (or Sicily in English) is the home
of dramatic vistas, many thousands of years of history,
a colourful modern history and seafood to die for.
The island region is divided into nine provinces with
only Enna landlocked. Nearly 5 million people call Sicilia
home.
Most inhabitants speak three languages: Italian in
public, Greek at church and their local Sicilian dialect
at home.
The population is made up of many nationalities, having
been conquered so many times in the last 4,000 years.
The central part of the island is known for its sulphur
mines, while Sicily, as a whole, is famous for its agricultural
produce.
Common crops include warm season tree fruits such as
almonds, citrus and olives.
A multitude of vineyards also grow right up the sides
volcanic mountains responsible for forming the island
in the first place.
Mount Etna is the tallest and most active volcano in
Europe, and it dominates the island.
While Syracuse of ancient Greek fame was the most important
city of antiquity, the capital city of Palermo is the
largest city today.
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