Sicily: An Island of History

Sicily has emerged on the Mediterranean travel scene as a major destination. Is it about the still burning volcano? Or is it about the carefully preserved rich culture that attracts historians and tourists, many of whom travel more than once to this magnificent Mediterranean island?

As a travel destination, Sicily has become one of the most popular cities to visit when touring Europe. A trip to Europe is not complete without experiencing Italy, and Sicily represents all the rich cultural heritage of the entire country. The Greeks left many marks on the city, as well as on Rome and the rest of Italy. The remains and artifacts of the era of Greek control are so abundant that you simply can’t miss them. The Roman artifacts are rich, and continue to enthrall curious historians and vacationing tourists.

Sicily attracts more visitors than any other city in Italy. The city has much more to offer beyond the ruins of history. But history is treasured in this culturally charged city. The exploits of the second Great War have been preserved, amongst ancient historical facts. Sicily has captured many significant moments in world history, about the ancient centuries in many ways. The city has its own aura, an aura of composition, much like its language, which is a mixture of languages of nearby locations. Sicily offers one of the most important aspects of the Mediterranean culture: its cuisine. Sicily has many beautiful lavish restaurants to help maintain the aura.

Sicily’s history is about constant changes, due to the exploits of whatever dynasty conquered and gained control. Sicily’s geographic location is misleading, and infers that it is a part of Italy, under Italian rule. It is so, now, but the island has its own origin, history, and indigenous population. The land and location, with Palermo as a major port, were attractive to conquering empires, all of whom gained control of the island at one time or another. The Carthage, the Greeks, and the Normans constantly battled for control, and the people endured too many changes to their governed land. The final victor was Rome, and Rome ruled in Sicily for many years. In the late 19th century, Italy gained possession of the island. Unfortunately, Sicily has the dubious honor of being the birthplace of the Mafia, and to this day, the influential Mafia still owns large parts of land.

Part of the aura of Sicily, is the architecture. All around the city, the Greek and Roman influences in the structures are stunningly evident, particularly on the enormous cathedrals and platforms. Many movies have been filmed here, because the beauty of surroundings is charming and appealing. The port of Palermo is picturesque, the majestic buildings tower in their glory, and Sicily treasures its ruins and artifacts.

Sicily is also home to the tallest volcano in Europe, smoldering Mount Etna. People travel to Sicily just to see one of the world’s live and active volcanoes, smoldering Mount Etna. Tourists are surprised by the added beauty of the thick forest ground cover surrounding Mount Etna, and most of the Etna region. The city seldom has traffic incidents, and, aside from unavoidable flight delays, the city of Sicily provides a wealth of experiences for the traveler.

Sicily is often a stop on eastern and southern European tour groups, and the solo traveler as well. From the romantic notions about the Mafia to the port of Palermo, to nature in all her glory, many have found Sicily their travel destination, again and again.