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Sicily: A Different Part of Italy!

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, sits perched just 2 ½ miles off the coast of Italy, via the Straight of Messina. If you didn't know any better, you might think you stepped into another world, such is the eclectic nature of Sicily. Through the years different regimes have ruled Sicily, and today the island carries this varying heritage with open arms. One can sense a Greek, Arab, Roman, Norman, and many other influences in the architectural ruins that dot the landscape. Sicily is also where those seeking fun in the sun come to play. Beaches dot the landscape, making the tanning hour the most valuable time of day. Excellent food, wonderful museums, scenic vistas encompassing both land and sea are only part of the experience of a Sicilian holiday.

Taormina hugs the Ionian sea and offers visitors wonderful beaches and scenic attractions that will astonish the eye. The best beach in town, Lido Mazzaro, is teeming with beach stalwarts like excellent restaurants and equipment rentals. Visitors usually make a beeline for Corso Umberto, the main thoroughfare filled with intimate piazzas dating between the 14th and 19th centuries. This is prime people watching territory! For a stunning view of the surrounding area, head up hill to the Greek Amphitheatre, Taormina's most visited monument. The ruins in the theatre date to the 2nd century. The view from atop the mountain offers stunning views of both Mt. Etna, one of the world's only active volcanoes, and the nearby coastline.

For an astounding trip back in time, visit Syracuse, south of Taormina on the eastern coast of Sicily. For a time, Syracuse rivaled Athens, Greece for its wealth of antiquities. Archeological buffs will swoon for the Paradise Quarry, used to haul stones that formed the great monuments that resided in Syracuse. A famous cave rests within the quarry walls, and is over 200 feet long. The acoustics inside the cave make the tearing of paper sound like a gunshot. Also in Syracuse, the Roman Amphitheatre was created at the time of Augustus. It ranks among the top five Roman amphitheatres left in Italy by the Romans. Another can't-miss attraction is the Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in southern Italy. The museum surveys the Greek, Roman, and early Christian eras in sculpture and archaeological remains.

Palermo, tucked neatly amid a natural amphitheatre called the "Conca d'Oro" (Golden Shell), is located on the northwest portion of Sicily. The city should be explored rather than visited, as the different architectural styles, including Arabic, Norman, Baroque and Art Nouveau, offer endless opportunities. The Duomo, founded in 1184, displays many of the city's different styles. The exterior is notably Gothic, while the south porch is an excellent example of Catalan style. The apse end is quintessential Norman, but features striking Islamic-inspired overlay. Nowhere is Palermo's Arabic past more prevalent than in the medieval casbah-style market, the Vucciria, that meanders through the Loggia district. In addition to great atmosphere, the market also is a great place for bargain hunters to haggle over hand made crafts, or to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables.

Sicily is a vast symphony of sights and sounds that mirror Italy's eclectic past. Visit the Valley of the Temples to see some of most impressive ruins outside of Greece. Journey to Marsala, a port town on the western coast, to taste the famous wine produced since the 17th century. Take a day trip to the Aeolian Islands for some scuba diving, sport fishing, or tanning time on the black sand beaches. Take a walk among the olive groves or the many grape vines that produce a wonderful bounty. Sicily is a feast for those who want to experience a rich, vibrant culture. How big is your appetite?