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