Italy's Beauty There is so much beauty for which art lovers and people like you and me turn to Italy for the models, that we sometimes loose sight of the universality of Italian artistic production. There is scarcely a department of art work in which Italy did not excel the world in history.

Sicily

Among the outlying islands of Italy, Sicily is the largest in the country and all across the Mediterranean Sea. It can easily be located in the map due to its triangular shape earning it the citation as Trinacria. Early in its history, Sicily has been the melting pot of several cultures and settlers from Asia, Africa, and the rest of Europe. Because of this cultural diversity, historians also note that the region is the world's first multicultural society. Today, it is one of the world's top destinations when we talk about unique artistry, archaeology, culture and folklore, history, and the best sceneries. Variety of foods should not also miss our list. Sicily is strategically located; it is considered one of the gateways to Europe by Africans and Asians, and, vice-versa by Europeans to the neighboring countries and continents.

Short historical facts

There were three original tribes who settled in Sicily, the original Sicani who were cave dwellers way back in around 8,000 BC, Elymians from the Aegean Sea, and the Sicels, mainland Italy dwellers who moved into the region by 1,200 BC. Due to its strategic location, Sicily has been the foremost target of several colonizers like Greece in 750BC. Among the Greek inspired heritage include the adoption of Greek politics, religion, and a fair share of its culture. The Greek temple Selinunte (Temple of Hera) located in the southern coast of Sicily is one of ancient Greek's living marks in Sicily.

After the Greeks, came the Romans who benefited mostly by making Sicily one of its main sources of food. Religion (Christianity) is also one of the most important contributions of the Roman Empire aside from the numerous coliseums and amphitheaters built like Syracuse. Along the course of its history, Sicily has never been excluded as targets of the Arab, Norman, and other colonizers and settlers.

Geography, climate, and biodiversity

Currently, the entire Sicily region is divided into nine provinces which contain nine cities. The island is relatively hilly and home to some of the most beautiful mountains and volcanoes in the Mediterranean; one of the most famous and active volcanoes is Mt. Etna located in the region's eastern coast. The region's climate is very much ideal for biodiversity and travelers; rainy and wet yet mild winters, and, scorching hot clear summers.

Since the onset of Roman colonization, Sicily has been subjected to massive deforestation, converting majority of the land area into agricultural fields. But notwithstanding, recent government leaders and concerned organizations have managed to preserved and keep the rest of plant and animal treasures intact and protected.

People, culture, and community ties

Sicilians are very friendly. They value family just like the rest of Italians do. Family members live close together, often, in nearby or adjacent communities. Festivities and celebrations are extravagant and lavish. All cultural traditions were mostly intact. Religion is also of par importance to daily living.

Sicily has long been a center for the arts. Famous architects, poets, painters, intellectuals, scientists, and philosophers have been raced from here. Among the notable figures include the philosophers Archimedes, Georgias, and Empedocles; poets and writers Luigi Piandello, Antonio Veneziano, Salvatore Quasimodo, and Giovanni Verga, and many more.

Other places and areas of interest

Sicily has a couple of UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Valle dei Templi (the Valley of Temples), the Catania gate to Mount Etna, several unique baroque structures, the remains of the old Greek town Siracusa, the Aeolian Islands, and a number of parks and natural wildlife attractions.