Sicily

Eternal crossroads of the Mediterranean, Sicily's gorgeous island continues to seduce travelers with its dazzling diversity of landscapes and cultural treasures. Sicily: Do you want to learn about Greece? So come to Sicily. It is a paradox, but only to a certain extent. Sicily's Greek cities (Agrigento, Selinunte, Segesta, and Syracuse, to mention the most important) were among the most beautiful Hellenic world. Nowadays, to visit the Valley of Temples at Agrigento or to watch a summer performance in Syracuse's great Greek Theatre is to plunge yourself into the remote Hellenic past. Sicily is also authentic for many other historical eras and civilizations, from the Spanish to the French. With the sole exception of Arab rule, that has left a short physical testimony. So instead, Sicily is a book of history and art history, a compendium of all time's greatest civilizations and cultures. Sicily is a sunny island whose landscape is rich in contrasts, with a splendid coastline and refined, delicious, and varied cuisine of traditional flavors and exquisite aromas. The quintessence of Mediterranean culture, yet also dense with intellectual complexity and refinement, is so well represented by the literary masterpieces of Luigi Pirandello, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, Leonardo Sciascia, Gesualdo Bufalino, and today, Andrea Camilleri. This guide leads you on a week-long car drive on the Island of Sicily. Starting with Messina, touching the Aeolian Islands, and then Taormina, Acireale, Catania, Syracuse, Caltagirone, Piazza Armerina with its Roman Villa, Agrigento with the Greek Temples, Porto Empedocle, Selinunte, to arrive in Palermo, with a visit to Solunto and Monreale. The guide includes a section on Sicilian food. It includes photos and descriptions of all the localities' attractions and is ideal for use on your smartphone. In addition, it contains links to the websites of many reviews for the best-recommended restaurants at the location described.