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Sicily
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Sicily (Sicilia) is the largest Mediterranean island, and is situated at the foot of Italy near the Northern coast of Africa. It is a volcanic island with Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano near Catania in the north east of the island.
There are hundreds of beautiful beaches where sea of all different shades of blue glisten onto shores of white and volcanic black sands.
Sicily is separated from the Italian peninsula by the strait of Messina. It has important mountain ranges: Peloritani, Nebrodi, Madonie, Iblei. The plains are scanty, with the exception of the area around Catania. The coasts offer a landscape of fascinating beauty almost everywhere; groups of marvellous smaller islands are scattered round the coast (the Eolie or Lipari, Ustica, the Egadi, the island of Pantelleria and the Pelagie). Mount Etna, rising in the center of a volcanic area of Sicily, is the highest active volcano in Europe (3,323 meters). The islands of Stromboli and Vulcano are also active volcanoes.
Cities: Palermo , Messina, Catania, Agrigento, Syracuse, Trapani, Ragusa, Enna, Caltanissetta.
There are many places which are really worth visiting and spending time: Taormina, Cefalu, Mount Etna and the majestic monuments in the Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples) of Agrigento, the Eolian Islands, the Egadi islands and Trapani area and Erice
The west side of the island has beautiful scenery namely the Zingaro Nature Reserve (in the Province of Trapani), and the area of Monte Cofano with its ancient caves in Scurati. Between Trapani and Marsala, in the protected area of Stagnone, is the Via del Sale (The Salt Route) with windmills for processing salt, some of which are still operating, while others are set up as historical museums. An obligatory stop-off is the island of Mozia, once a Phoenician settlement, with the Withaker Archaeological Museum.
On the eastern side of the island is the Baroque architecture, UNESCO heritage site, of Ragusa, Ibla, Noto and Modica. Of extraordinary naturalist interest is the park of Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Traditional puppet theatres in the historic centres of Palermo and Catania are good entertainment for all ages.
Sicilian Specialities
caponata di melanzane (an aubergine dish);
pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines);
pastries such as cannoli alla siciliana and cassata siciliana.
most famous wines
Carricante, Cataratto Bianco, Corinto. Frappato. Gaglioppo. Grecanico Grillo. Inzolia, Malvasia. Nerello. Nero D'Avola. Perricone. Primitivo. Zibibbo and Moscato di Pantelleria
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