Facts About Sicily
Before your holidays, read this guide with the essential Facts About Sicily. You will find those facts about Sicily helpful to plan the perfect tour at the discovery of the Island.
Facts about Sicily – Size
Sicily covers a total area of around 10.000 square miles. Thanks to its size, is one of the largest region in Italy. The shape of the island is roughly triangular, and the mythological three-legged Trinacria symbolises it.
The capital, Palermo, is home to the first known parliament in the Western World. Sicily is also home to one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mount Etna with a maximum height of 10.890ft.
The 1.9 miles that separate it from the mainland has always been a point of discussion. The long-planned suspension bridge on the Strait of Messina has been in the making but has never come to fruition.
Facts about Sicily – The population
Sicily population is around 5 million, with 97% Sicilian born. Palermo is the capital, and it is big battered and bustling. Palermo counts 720.000 inhabitants. Not a city for everyone’ tastes, Palermo is flamboyant, feisty and full of life. Traffic, poverty and decaying buildings are not for fainthearted.
Facts about Sicily – The position
Sicily’s positioning has made it a strategic point of interest for many centuries. Three Sea surround the Island: the Mediterranean, the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Thanks to its position, Sicily enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Indeed, the region is the first part of Italy to heat up in the Spring an the last to get chilly in Winter.
Due to its African geographical positioning, it suffers from the most extended, hottest summers with July and August being absolute scorchers.
The Airports
Sicily has two main airports: Catania Fontanarossa recently renamed Vincenzo Bellini and Palermo Falcone e Borsellino. Also, if we consider Trapani, there is also the Vincenzo Florio. Another Airport is the one of Comiso, newly opened but with few flights.
Catania Fontanarossa is the busiest one, carrying over 6 million passengers per year, with an array of national and international carriers.
Sicily – The nature
Sicily’s vegetation is rich and varied as are its landscapes. In fact, during your holidays in Sicily, you can experience mild winters, hot summers, fertile soils and different altitude. All these Facts about Sicily create a profusion of trees, plants and flowers unique to the region.
During your vacations in Sicily, you could taste a wide variety of almonds, peaches, oranges and other citrus fruits. During the whole year, citrus and olives are the keys to Sicily’s economy.
As one of the biggest exporters of olive oil around the world, Sicilians treat their olive tree with profound respect. Harvesting takes place between September and November depending on the altitude at which the olives grow. For years, the ritual has been a celebration for locals.
Discover the best places in Sicily
As you noticed from these essential Facts about Sicily, the region is the perfect location for your holidays. Rather you prefer a relaxing and nature holiday or a cultural one, you can find the best tour for your needs.
You can check our Escorted Tours of Sicily, designed for you to experience, for instance, a trekking adventure on the Mount Etna. As an alternative, you can book a Cultural visit at Syracuse, or the Classic Taormina Tour.
