Sicily , the bridge between Europe and Africa, took part in the flourishing of many ancient world civilizations: the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards and French left a rich, cultural tradition and created an interesting mix of customs and traditions in art and cookery.
In the province of Messina we can find Taormina, Sicily's most famous seaside-resort, that offers beautiful beaches and very good restaurants and hotels; visit the Theatre (third century B.C.), Palazzo Corvaia (fifteenth century) and the Cathedral.
In the neighbourhood we must mention the Giardini di Naxos, where you will be able to find modern hotels and residences, famous restaurants, pizzerias, bars, sophisticated discotheques, elegant and rustic resorts, which maintain the traditional components of Sicilian culture. Over the Tyrrhenian slopes and the high Ionian expanse, the coastline is high and rocky, with many cliffs; after Trapani the coastline flattens out and becomes more sandy and typically Mediterranean.
We suggest the seaside-resorts of San Vito Lo Capo (for its wide beach, mild weather and calm sea, defended by the massifs which protect the bay), Scopello (for its beaches and for its very clear waters, which let you admire the beautiful sea depths) and Castellammare del Golfo.
Catania is a starting point for an excursion to Mount Etna : you can either climb up the volcano (3343 metres of altitude), or admire the landscape from the railway. This province includes the seaside-resorts of Aci Castello, Aci Trezza, Santa Maria la Scala, Santa Tecla, Stazzo and Pozzillo.
Siracusa , the birth place of the great scientist Archimedes, is an important city of art: visit the Cathedral, the Greek Theatre (fifth century B.C.), the Temple of Apollo (sixth century B.C.), Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum and the "Fonte Ciane", where wild papyri grow. In the neighbourhood of Siracusa we suggest a visit to Noto (32 km far from Siracusa), the capital of Baroque and Eurialo Castle (in Epipolae, 8 km far from Siracusa).
Archaeology lovers should visit Segesta and Selinunte, famous for their temples and Agrigento with the splendid Valley of Temples (fifth century B.C.). The provincial district of Siracusa pours over an Ionic coastal expanse which goes from the peninsula of Augusta to the promontory of Capo Passero. The seaside-resorts are Lido Arenella, famous for its white sandy beaches, the harbour and the little island in Ognina and Fontane Bianche, which is famous for its limestone white rocks. Another seaside-resort in the province of Siracusa is the sea village of Brucoli, situated near Augusta. The province of Ragusa offers many seaside-resorts, such as Marina di Ragusa, Marina di Modica, Scoglitti, Sampieri and Pozzallo. In the province of Palermo we must mention the seaside-resorts of Terrasini, Capaci, Mondello, Termini Imerese, and Cefalù, situated on a limestone promontory above the sea and famous for its monumental Norman Cathedral, commissioned by the noble Count Roger the Second.
The Sicilian islands:
The Eolie Islands include Panarea, Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli, Alicudi, Filicudi and Salina.
The Islands of Egadi , situated off the shores of Trapani, have strong Arabic traditions. They include Marettimo , the smallest and the most uncontaminated island, Favignana and Levanzo.
Ustica is a volcanic island, situated near the coast of Palermo, and offers its indented volcanic coast, rich in caves and inlets, its very clear seas and its incredible depths. The island is considered a true natural paradise, thanks to its isolation and to the lack of the frenzied rhythms typical of towns.
In the South we can find the Pelagie Islands , with their North African traditions : Lampedusa and Pantelleria, served both by an airport and a ferryboat, and Linosa, served by a ferryboat.

LOCAL CULINARY SPECIALITIES:
Appetizers: "arancini", crushed olives, tomatoes stuffed with olives, Norways lobsters and botargo, "caponata" with vegetable and artichokes sauce, the salami of Brolo.
Main course : pasta with sardines, "pasta alla Norma di Catania" , black risotto with ricotta, chilli and tomato, Siracusa style spaghettis , "picchi pacchiu" pasta of Ragusa.
Second course : Sicilian style tuna, sword fish, fish soup, smoot dogfish roasted in the oven, shell fish, rabbit and kid either grilled or stewed, Sicilian style chicken
Desserts : " cannoli, cassata", ice-creams and fruit "granite" (a kind of water ice), "fruttini of Martorana", almond milk and almond cream, sambuca sweets (a kind of anisette sweets), "biancomangiare", pistachio sweet of Trapani, nougat and "risonero".
Wines : Monreale, Contessa Entellina, Menfi, Sambuca di Sicilia, Santa Margherita di Belice, Sciacca, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, Moscato di Pantelleria, Passito di Pantelleria, Malvasia delle Lipari, Marsala.

Foto: Duomo di Cefalù - Trifirò Rosario.