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Sicily

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and an autonomous region of Italy. It is located off the southwestern lip of the Italian peninsula, separated from the mainland by the narrow Strait of Messina. The region covers about 25,711 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 5 million. Its capital and largest city is Palermo; other major urban centers include Catania, Messina, Syracuse, Trapani, and Ragusa.

Geography and geology: Sicily features a varied landscape of mountains, plains, and coastlines. Mount Etna, Europe’s

History: Sicily has a long and layered history. It was colonized by ancient Greeks and formed part

Culture and economy: Sicily is renowned for its archaeological sites and diverse cuisine, such as arancini,

most
active
volcano,
dominates
the
eastern
part
of
the
island
and
rises
to
about
3,329
meters.
The
island
sits
near
the
boundary
of
the
African
and
Eurasian
tectonic
plates,
contributing
to
its
volcanic
and
seismic
activity.
The
climate
ranges
from
hot,
dry
summers
to
mild,
wet
winters,
with
more
rainfall
in
the
early
spring
and
autumn.
of
Magna
Graecia,
later
becoming
a
Roman
province.
After
a
succession
of
reigns—including
Byzantines,
Arabs,
Normans,
and
Hohenstaufens—the
island
was
a
core
kingdom
of
the
medieval
Kingdom
of
Sicily
and
later
integrated
into
the
Kingdom
of
Italy
in
the
1860s.
The
island
has
been
a
crossroads
of
Mediterranean
cultures,
languages,
and
traditions.
pasta
alla
Norma,
and
cannoli.
It
is
home
to
several
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Sites,
including
the
Valley
of
the
Temples
in
Agrigento
and
the
Villa
Romana
del
Casale,
as
well
as
Etna’s
volcanic
landscape.
The
economy
relies
on
tourism,
agriculture
(citrus
fruits,
olives,
wine),
and
manufacturing.
The
region
preserves
both
the
Sicilian
language
and
Italian,
reflecting
its
deep
historical
roots.