Top Attractions - Italy

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Sicily, Italy

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and occupies a strategic position at the toe of Italy. The island has long been a magnet for invaders - all of whom have left their mark in the form of Greek temples, Roman ruins, Norman castles and Byzantine domes. Visiting these relics of the past, swimming off the island’s beautiful golden beaches, marvelling at Mt Etna – Europe’s largest live volcano – and sampling first-rate seafood are all part of the Sicilian experience.

Begin your Sicilian odyssey in its capital city - Palermo. Spectacularly situated along a wide sweep of bay at the foot of Monte Pellegrino, Palermo was the wealthiest and most magnificent city in Europe in the 12th century. Today Palermo has an air of faded grandeur and an unrivalled display of Norman art and architecture and Baroque churches. Stroll along the Via Roma and Via Maqueda in the heart of the old town and get a sense of what Palermo is all about. Don’t miss the magnificent 12th century Norman cathedral at Monreale, 8 kilometres southwest of the city. The inside of the cathedral is covered in breathtakingly glittering mosaics. The Aeolian Islands off the coast at Milazzo are well worth a visit. Mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey and thought to be the home of Aeolus (the god of the wind) by the ancient Greeks, they offer spectacular volcanic scenery and fine beaches. The island of Lipari is the most developed. Sample some of the island’s sweet white Malvasia wine while here.

Spectacular volcanic scenery...

Back on the mainland, head for Taormina – Sicily’s most picturesque town. Its magnificent setting on a terrace of Monte Tauro overlooking the sea and its views of Mt Etna have long made it a top tourist destination. The town was an important centre for trade and art through successive Roman, Norman, Spanish and French rules. Mt Etna, the largest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world, lies south of Taormina. You are permitted to climb up to 2900m. A rope marks the spot where the volcano’s unpredictability makes it unsafe to go any further. Further south, the town of Syracuse was once a very powerful Greek city. Check out the medieval buildings on the island of Ortigia which lies in the centre of town. Don’t miss the 5th century Teatro Greco – a masterpiece hewn out of rock with a seating capacity for 16,000 people. The five Doric temples in the town of Agrigento are also well worth a visit. They are the most well preserved of Sicily’s Greek ruins and are truly spectacular.

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