Sicily cannot be compared with any corner of Italy. Sicily is a separate, like nothing else world. An ancient land that has absorbed the great history and cultures of different peoples. Wisdom and greatness of ancient times. Greek and Roman theaters, Arabic mosques, magnificent baroque ensembles, powerful medieval fortresses and castles, ancient cities with labyrinths of narrow streets, squares with fountains and cathedrals, museums with collections of masterpieces of world art. Crystal emerald-turquoise expanse of the sea, bizarre cliffs, beaches with golden and black sand, lush gardens, air filled with the heady aroma of bright flowers, olive and citrus trees. Cozy restaurants serving delicious local dishes and excellent Sicilian wines, boutiques displaying the collections of leading Italian fashion houses, and elegant comfortable hotels, housed in ancient mansions and castles. Magnificent Palermo is the capital of the island, the quintessence of history, traditions and unique flavor of Sicily. Fascinating with the fantastic landscapes of Taormina. The cradle of history is ancient Syracuse, Picturesque Catania, located at the foot of the majestic Mount Etna. All this is Sicily with its dazzling sun, sparkling sea and sincere hospitality of hospitable Sicilians.
Geographical position
Sicily is an administrative region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The area of Sicily is 25,708 km2, the capital is the city of Palermo. The island is washed by the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Mediterranean seas, and is separated from the Apennine peninsula by the Strait of Messina. The length of the coastline of Sicily – rocky in the north and sandy in the south – is about 1000 km. In Sicily, the legendary volcano Etna (Etna or Mongibello) is located, with a height of 3323 m.
Climate
Sicily has a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, sunny summers and mild, short winters. There is very little precipitation, mostly in winter. In summer, the average temperature is +26-28 °C, and in winter – from +10° to +14 °C. The water temperature in summer is +27 °C, in winter it is about +16 °C.
History
Sicily can be called the cradle of civilization. The first human traces on the island date back to the Paleolithic era. Further, the history of Sicily is so rich in changes of peoples and eras that it can be the quintessence of the history of the Mediterranean: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans. In the 8th century BC, Greek settlements and colonies of settlers from Carthage arose here. In 241 BC e. about. Sicily became the first Roman province, and in the medieval era the island was dominated by the Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantium and Arabs. In 1713, Sicily was ceded to the Duchy of Savoy, and in 1720, under the Treaty of London, it was assigned to Austria. From 1735 to 1830 The island was ruled by the Bourbons. In the XIX century, Sicily becomes the center of the revolutionary movement. In 1860, as a result of a popular uprising supported by Garibaldi,
Cuisine of Sicily
Sicilian cuisine reflects the unique culture and 3000 years of history of the island, combined with the richness of its nature. So, the Greeks brought wine and olives to Sicily, thanks to which it is famous for its excellent olive oil, the Romans brought wheat, from which they bake delicious bread sprinkled with sesame seeds, the Spaniards brought potatoes, tomatoes and chocolate, and after the Arabs, citrus groves and plantations appeared on the island. sugarcane, red melons, eggplant and couscous. Sicily is famous for its special cuisine. Traditional Italian pasta is prepared according to their own recipes: pasta alla norma – with a sauce of tomatoes, fried thin slices of eggplant and grated salted ricotta, fennel, sardines, raisins and parmesan are added to Palermo pasta alla palermitana, and pasta con i ricci is cooked with sea urchins. Certainly, Sicily offers a variety of fish and seafood dishes – swordfish and mullet, silver sea bass and sardines, tuna, mussels, squid, shrimp and lobsters. Meat dishes are often served with schnitzels of various meats, involtini alla siciliana – veal rolls stuffed with pine nuts and ham. From vegetables in Sicily they love eggplant, cooked in all forms. Sicilian desserts are simply a delight for gourmets. From almond and pistachio ice cream and cassata cake with candied fruit to the famous local dessert granita – fruit ice with sugar, with the addition of pistachios, almonds, coffee, mint. And in Catania you can try branded chocolate granita. And, of course, Sicily will not leave wine connoisseurs indifferent. Semi-dry, semi-sweet, red and white wines for every taste. The most famous variety is Nero d’Avola,
