SICILY

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea; along with surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Siciliana (Sicilian Region). Sicily is located in the central Mediterranean. It extends from the tip of the Apennine peninsula, from which it is separated only by the narrow Strait of Messina, towards the North African coast. Its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, which is at 3,320 m (10,890 ft) the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. The island has a typical Mediterranean climate. Sicily’s sunny, dry climate, scenery, cuisine, history, and architecture attract many tourists from mainland Italy and abroad. The tourist season peaks in the summer months, although people visit the island all year round. Mount Etna, the beaches, the archeological sites, and major cities such as Palermo, Catania, Syracuse and Ragusa are the favourite tourist destinations, but the old town of Taormina and the neighbouring seaside resort of Giardini Naxos draw visitors from all over the world, as do the Aeolian Islands, Erice, Cefalù, Agrigento, the Pelagie Islands and Capo d’Orlando. The latter features some of the best-preserved temples of the ancient Greek period. Many Mediterranean cruise ships stop in Sicily, and many wine tourists also visit the island. Some scenes of famous Hollywood and Cinecittà films were shot in Sicily. This increased the attraction of Sicily as a tourist destination Capital: Palermo Best time to Visit: 1.April to early June and late September to October are the best times to visit, as the temperatures are not as sweltering as they are in the summer. However, April to June are the months when school buses packed with children visit the most important sites. Easter is considered high season. 2.The real tourist boom picks up in mid-June, when schools are closed. From July to mid-September, the coastal areas are crammed. Unless you plan to spend time at a seaside resort or on an island, avoid August if you can: The heat is unbearable and most establishments in the cities are closed. 3.From late October to mid-December, things are quieter; there are fewer tourists in the cities. 4.High season on most airline routes to Sicily usually stretches from June to the beginning of September and around holiday periods (Christmas and Easter). Shoulder season is from April to May and from early September to October; low season is from November 1 to December 19 and from mid-January to March. Minimum Days required: 4 days Places of Interest: 1.Aeolian Islands 2.Agrigento 3.Cefalù 4.Mount Etna 5.Monreale Climate: 1.Sicily enjoys a relatively mild climate; high temperatures begin in May, often lasting until sometime in October. 2.While the summers can be very hot and dry, the spring and winter months often bring on torrential rains. Surprisingly, even Sicily has its cold waves in winter, with temperatures falling below zero, especially inland. As of late, it’s not been uncommon to see minimal snowfall in Palermo. 3.Although humidity is not stifling, save for the big cities, there is one element that can be brutal: the wind. 4.Being surrounded by three seas Sicily is exposed to all of them, from the scorching sirocco from the Sahara or the blustery north winds that cause trees to uproot and do serious damage. Currency: Euro Things to carry: 1.Carry light colored, cotton clothes for the summer period. Don’t forget your swim wear, suntan lotion, hats and sunglasses. 2.Comfortable footwear. 3.Appropriate clothing while visiting churches. 4.For the winter carry a jacket. How to get there: Air 1.Sicily’s main airports are in Palermo and Catania. 2.Catania (CTA) is the larger/busiest airport, with domestic flights to most parts of Italy, some international routes and many charter flights. 3.Palermo (PMO) is the second aiport, with a good range of domestic flights and international budget flights. 4.Trapani (TPS) is the third airport with a recent increase of traffic thanks to the low-cost Ryanair. 5.Ragusa/Comiso Airport (CIY) is a new airport and should open in near future for low-cost and charter flights. 6.There are also two other smaller airports in Sicily on the minor islands of Pantelleria (PNL) and Lampedusa (LMP) connected to Italy. 7.Palermo-Boccadifalco (LICP) is a military airport open to national civil traffic.