Sicily is situated between Italy and North Africa with copious ground and coasts that are adequate for fishing.

Its central location and natural resources ensured that it was often the object of conquest at one time or another by most civilizations in and around the Mediterranean, and in some cases, well beyond.

At times the island has been at the heart of great civilizations, at other times it has been nothing more than a colonial backwater. Its fortunes have often waxed and waned depending on events out of its control, in earlier times a magnet for immigrants, in later times a land of emigrants.

Sicilys economy is based on the cultivation of lemons, almonds, olives, vegetables, wine (esp. Marsala), wheat and beans. Furthermore the economy is based on mining, fishing, and the breeding of sheep and goats.

Sicilys capital is Palermo, which is a rich and vivid city. Lots of meantionable architecture (esp. Baroque) can be found in Palermo.

The most interesting buildings are, among other things, the Martorana, Santa Maria dei Gesu, the churches of San Cataldo, the Cathedral and the Palazzo dei Normanni.

The catacomb in the monastery Cappucino is endued with more than thousand mummified bodies.

East of Sicily there is the city of Syracuse. Some people think it has the best and most natural harbor in Italy. The old city is located on a little island next to the coast.Archimedes lived and died here.

Catania is the second largest city of Sicily and is the capital of the province which bears its name. It was founded in the 18th century and had to be reconstructed several times since it was destroyed by many earthquakes.

Mount Etna, which is the biggest active volcano in Europe, is located near Catania. The continuing eruptions attract many tourists.

Taormina  has been a very popular destination with tourists since the 19th century. It has beautiful beaches (accessible via a Funicular) by the Ionian sea and is built on an extremely hilly coast. It is approximately a forty-five minute drive away from Mount Etna.

The remains of the Greek Theatre, the cathedral, and the castle are absolutely worth seeing.

Messina is the third largest city on the island of Sicily and is located near the North-East corner of Sicily, at the Strait of Messina, just in front to Villa San Giovanni and north to Reggio Calabria. The main economical resource of the city is the port, both commercial and military, with several shipyards. Agriculture include cultivations of lemons, oranges, mandarin oranges and other fruit, vegetables and wine.

The 12th century Cathedral contains the remains of Conrad, king of Germany and Sicily in the 13th century. After the quake of 1908, the cathedral was almost entirely rebuilt in 1919/1920; after a fire in 1943 it had to be rebuilt again. The original Norman structure can be seen in the apsidal area. The façade has three late Gothic portals, the central one probably dating from the early 15th century, with noteworthy decorations.

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impressive sights in Sicily