Sicily (island)

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and an autonomous region of Italy, occupying a strategic position at the centre of Mediterranean maritime routes. The island combines significant archaeological sites, active volcanism and a long recorded history of Mediterranean civilizations.

Natural and cultural highlights include Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, coastal resorts and extensive classical-era ruins such as the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento. Sicily’s urban centres - including Palermo, Catania, Syracuse and Taormina - preserve layers of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Norman architecture.

Sicily’s recorded history spans Greek colonization in the 8th century BC, Roman rule, Byzantine and Arab periods, Norman conquest in the 11th century and later integration into the Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century. These successive eras have left a dense archaeological and architectural legacy.

The island sits off the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, separated by the Strait of Messina, and is surrounded by the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Mediterranean seas; its varied interior includes coastal plains, rolling hills and volcanic highlands.

• Scale: Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with a diverse coastline of beaches, cliffs and volcanic shores.
• Volcanic activity: Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano that dominates eastern Sicily and affects local landscapes and agriculture with frequent eruptions.

What to See #

• Mount Etna: Mount Etna on the east coast, Europe's largest active volcano and a dominant natural landmark of the island.
• Valley of the Temples: The Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, a large archaeological park of Greek Doric temples dating mainly to the 5th century BC.
• Major cities and towns: Historic urban centres such as Palermo, Catania, Syracuse and Taormina, each with distinctive architectural and archaeological sites.