Sicily
is the largest island in the Mediterranean,
separated from Italy by the Strait
of Messina.
Throughout
is history, Sicily has been ruled
by the Greeks, Byzantines, Arabs,
Normans, Swabians and Spanish
- accordingly, it has acted as
a
crossroads in the Mediterranean
becoming an
island of rich contrasts.
Architecture ranges from the
Baroque style in the east to the
Greek
design in the west.
Its landscape is also varied though
dominated by Mount Etna, the tallest
active volcano in Europe. Major
parts of the Island are home to
gentle hillsides, stepped in olive
groves and vineyards. Sicily also
boasts a number of stunning sandy
beaches most notably, Vendicari
Reserve, Pozzallo and Isola Bella,
each with a backdrop of steep cliffs.
The climate in Sicily never drops
below an average of 12 °C (54 °F),
peaking in July and August with
a daytime average of 26 °C
(79 °F).
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