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Sicily
The region of Sicily in Italy is the biggest island on the Mediterrenean sea board, an autonomous region in the south of the country.
Its warm sunny climate makes it perfect for an island escape either in the main island of Sicily or in any on eof the nearby smattering of isles of Pantelleria, Pelagie, Eolie, Ustica and Egadi. Other islands like Stromboli and Vulcano are home to fiery active volcanoes, the highest of which in continental Europe is located in the heart of Sicily called Etna.
With is stunning climate it is no surprise that oranges, olives, wine and grains are local produce in Sicily since ancient civilization. While the mineral rich landscape give birth to the mines of the Enna and Caltanissetta area to produce sulfur in the 19th century.
Art and cuisine form the bedrock to the culture here. Famous Italian writers born in the region also grew to inspire the standards of poetry such as Luigi Pirandelo.
Noto, Ragusa and particularly Acireale contain some of Italy's best examples of Baroque architecture, carved in the local red sandstone. The town of Caltagirone is renowned for its decorative ceramics, while the center of the region, Palermo is also a major center of Italian opera, whose Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in Italy and the third largest in the world.
The exotic Sicilian cusine springs from the unique olive cultivated in the area called the “saracena” alongside its spices complimenting the fresh seafood along the coasts as well as the people’s love for sweets. Cannoli (pastries with sweet ricota cheeses), granitas (ices with real crushed fruit), cassata (an arabic inspired cake) and pine nut and almond cookies.
Wines are also a staple on Sicilian tables with fruitier white wines produced in one of Italy's most progressive wine industries.
