Sicily

Sicily is the largest island  in the Mediterranean Sea. It constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Siciliana.

Country Italy

Capital Palermo

Area 25,711 km2

Population 5,043,480 (April 2012)

LocationSicily is located in the central Mediterranean. It extends from the tip of the Apennine peninsula from which it is separated only by the narrow Strait of Messina, towards the North African coast.

Administrative divisionsAdministratively Sicily is divided into nine provinces.

•Province of Agrigento•Province of Caltanissetta•Province of Catania•Province of Enna•Province of Messina•Province of Palermo•Province of Ragusa•Province of Syracuse•Province of Trapani

Palermo

Agrigento

Caltanissetta

Catania

Enna

Messina

Ragusa

Syracuse

Trapani

Sicily has a typical Mediterranean climate with mild and wet winters and hot, dry summers. Sicily is an often-quoted example of man-made deforestation , which was practiced since Roman times, when the island was made an agricultural region. This gradually dampened the climate, leading to decline of rainfall and drying of rivers.

Sicily has long been noted for its fertile soil due to the volcanic eruptions in the past and present. The local agriculture is also helped by the pleasant climate of the island.

Etna Etna the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world.  It is the highest mountain in Italy south of the Alps.

CuisineSicily is different from the rest of Italy, especially in terms of the standard of service and cuisine. Perhaps the most well-known part of Sicilian cuisine is the rich sweet dishes including ice creams and pastries.

Although Sicilian cuisine is commonly associated with sea food, meat dishes, including goose, lamb, goat, rabbit and turkey , are also found in Sicily.