| Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and | | | | cus (couscous). Stop for a coffee anywhere in |
| it's more than a simple Italian island; Sicily is a | | | | Sicily, even along the coastal road, and you'll be |
| unique place full of art, archaeology, history, | | | | overwhelmed by an embarrassment of little |
| folklore and Mediterranean breathtaking scenery. | | | | riches, like fried sweet or savory dough pockets |
| Having been ruled by Asians, Africans and | | | | stuffed with ricotta. Every town has its own |
| Europeans, this wonderful island is a cosmopolitan | | | | trademark snack, but they all have arancini, |
| place with a multicultural society. Imagine this: Sicily | | | | literally "little oranges," which are actually |
| have been a Greek colony, a Roman province, an | | | | deep-fried risotto balls, one of Sicily's trademark |
| Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom. The | | | | snack foods. Driving around the most famous |
| Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Swabians, Angevins and | | | | localities you can taste many specific and local |
| Aragonese made Sicily their own, leaving behind | | | | cuisines. Also snacks are in rare form in Sicily. |
| an eclectic history that you can still touch today! | | | | Catania is famous for sweets: pasta di mandorla, |
| Knowing this is easy to understand why this land | | | | a soft cookie made from almonds and honey, is a |
| is so complex, and why it's a land like no other. | | | | delicious showcase for the famous Sicilian bitter |
| WHAT TO DO THERE | | | | almond. Going to Siracusa don't miss the |
| Just because the great natural beauty of the land | | | | spectacularly chaotic and wonderful fish market in |
| (Sicily is an island in the sun, with heavenly | | | | the center of the city: fresh pesce spada |
| beaches, majestic mountains and Europe's | | | | (swordfish) and ricci (raw sea urchin) are a must! |
| greatest vulcan, Mount Etna) and the incredible | | | | Marsala is a sleepy town with an ancient Punic |
| complexity of it's history, there is really very | | | | warship in its archaeological museum and an |
| much to do there! | | | | amazing wine tradition that spans hundreds of |
| Basically, you can group your activities in Sicily into | | | | years. You may encounter marsala wine more |
| five main categories: | | | | often in a dish of sauteed chicken or veal than |
| Swimming. The island's rocky coastline makes it | | | | you do as a after-dinner drink, but here, this |
| an ideal diving platforms; snorkellers and scuba | | | | fortified wine is taken very seriously. |
| divers will appreciate the variety of marine life in | | | | Palermo is the place where you can have the |
| its waters. | | | | chance to sample the island's most traditional |
| There are also plenty of beaches to choose from, | | | | home-cooked specialties. Pasta con le sarde (an |
| particularly at Taormina in the north-east, which is | | | | emblematic dish that goes back to the Saracen |
| part of a huge nature reserve, and Mondello, near | | | | conquerors, with fresh sardines, olive oil, raisins, |
| the town of Palermo, one of the island's most | | | | pine nuts, and wild fennel) is different at every |
| popular sandy beaches. | | | | restaurant. Firm white fish such as orata (sea |
| Climbing and Trekking. The Romans thought the | | | | bream), simply grilled and served with lemon and |
| 3,323-metre Mount Etna - which last erupted in | | | | olive oil, are reliable staples as secondi piatti almost |
| 2001 - was the forge of Vulcan, the god of fire. | | | | anywhere in town. And nothing is more famous in |
| Local authorities monitor its activity closely, and | | | | Palermo, or in Sicily as a whole, than spaghetti alla |
| visitors can take a day trip up to its lava dunes | | | | Norma (with a sauce of tomato, fried eggplant, |
| and moon-like surface. If you don't fancy the hike, | | | | ricotta, and basil). |
| the 70-mile Circumetnea railway runs around the | | | | TRAVELLING TO SICILY |
| base from Catania to Giarre Riposto. A round trip | | | | If you plan to bring your own car or have hired a |
| takes around five hours. | | | | car in a different part of Italy, at some point you |
| Driving. One of the best ways to explore the | | | | will need to take a ferry. The same goes for if |
| island is driving all around it, to explore the many | | | | you are arriving by train. |
| historical and archaeological places. The Old | | | | There are many option to get there with your |
| Palermo (In just a few hours on foot you can | | | | car: you can book your ferry from many ports |
| explore some of Sicily's most famous monuments | | | | (Naples, Genova, Villa S. Giovanni, and Cagliari), and |
| and charming squares, such as the Piazza | | | | you can choose four different Ferry Companies |
| Pretoria), the Valley of Temples in Agrigento (The | | | | (Tirrenia, SNAV, Grandi Navi Veloc,i Caronte) |
| largest collection of classical Greek ruins in the | | | | You can also book hydrofoils, but in this case you |
| world, with many well preserved temples, | | | | can't bring your car with you. |
| monuments and other buildings which create a | | | | Getting to Sicily by Ferry, there are a few things |
| truly surreal atmosphere), the Greek | | | | you should take into consideration, like the |
| Amphitheater in Taormina (The view of Mount | | | | frequency of the Ferry services, booking rules, |
| Etna and the sea beyond is absolutely superb at | | | | and places where buy tickets... |
| Taormina's 10,000-seat ancient Greek | | | | Although passenger and car ferries do operate |
| amphitheater, which was erected in the third | | | | throughout the year, Car ferries to and from |
| century BC and expanded by the Romans), | | | | Sicilia get extremely busy during the summer and |
| Siracusa (with it's dense archaeological zone, with | | | | it is advisable to book your ticket well in advance. |
| theatres ancient churches, Greek temples, | | | | This can be done at the various ticket offices |
| Norman battlements, baroque façade and | | | | located in travel agencies, but what we strongly |
| much more), Monreale Duomo (A jewel of | | | | recommend is to get in touch with a professional |
| Norman architecture, well known for its | | | | agency, to get all you need in one simple stop. |
| magnificent series of mosaics adorning the whole | | | | That's what Traghetti Sicilia can do for you! |
| interior), and many many other attractive places | | | | General information's, timetables, tickets, travel |
| around this beautiful land. | | | | assistance and much more, to help you booking |
| Eating. Sicilian cuisine is one of the oldest in | | | | with ease your ferry tickets from Naples, |
| existence, and Sicilians even have a reasonable | | | | Genova, Villa S. Giovanni, and Cagliari ports. |
| claim to the invention of pasta. Their cuisine | | | | Traghetti Sicilia Agency is now open 24/24 and |
| represents Sicily's unique cultural mix, imaginatively | | | | this will speed up and simplify the whole process |
| combining fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts with | | | | for you. |
| Arab and North African ingredients such as cus | | | | |