SICILY

Sicily (Sicilia) is the largest island (25,710 sqkm) in the Mediterranean Sea, it lies in the center of the Mediterranean, to the south-west the Canale di Sicilia divided it from Africa (Tunisia), while the Strait of Messina saparate it from Calabria to the east, the island is bounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north, the Ionian to the east and the Sicilian Sea to the south-west. Around Sicily are a number of archipelagos which administratively belong to the island: the Aeolian island, Ustica, the Egadi and Pantelleria, and the Pelagie. The mountain system consists of a part of Apennines, Peloritanians, Nebrodians, Erei and Iblei. On the south-east stands Etna (3,323 m), the greatest active volcano in Europe. The capital city of the island is Palermo (675,000), the island population is about 5,100,000 inhabitants.

Sicily is one of the Mediterranean's most intriguing destinations, with a coastline of some thousand kilometres, Sicily offers to the visitor the greatest imaginable variety of land and marine environments: wide sandy beaches, sheer cliffs, remote tiny beaches, fantastic historical cities, Baroque treasures, rugged volcanoes, world famous resorts, an interior enriched by the remains of ancient civilizations and the survival of centuries-old traditions.  Nature has given Sicily Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, a dramatic coastline and a fertile soil.  It's a land of breathtaking coasts and lush tropical greenery, of layered cultures, fallen empires, and ancient myths. There are massive Romanesque cathedrals, the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, Roman amphitheatres and magnificent Baroque palaces.

Sicily main attractions: The tourism industry is a growing activity, favorite from the presence on the territory of numerous archaeological areas (Morgantina, Agrigento (Valle dei Templi), Selinunte, Segesta, Tindari, Piazza Armerina (Villa Romana del Casale), Siracusa, Pantaliaca etc), splendid Norman period cathedrals (Cefalù, Palermo, Monreale), fine Sicilian Baroque churches (Noto, Scicli, Modica, Ragusa Ibla etc), well-known localities, as Taormina, Caltagirone, Acireale, Siracusa, Palermo, Monreale, Cefalù. Those interested in scenery can choose from among the natures reserves of the Etna, Madonie and Nebrodi regional parks, the volcanic island of Pantelleria, and the archipelagoes of the islands Pelagian (Pelagie), Aeolian (Eolie) and Aegadian (Egadi).

Sicily is home of 5 UNESCO World-Heritage sites: Archaeological Area of Agrigento (1997); Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily) (2002); Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica (2005); Villa Romana del Casale (1997); Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands) (2000). While others 3 localities have been submitted on the Tentative List of Unesco: Palermo and Monreale Cathedral, Taormina and Isola Bella, Mothia Island and Lilibeo: The Phoenician-Punic Civilization in Italy.  

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Airports and Flights: There are three main airports in Sicily: Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport, Catania-Fontanarossa Airport and Trapani-Birgi Airport. There are also minor national airports in the small islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa.

Catania-Fontanarossa International Airport (CTA) has the following Domestic and International flights: Air Berlin (AB) has International flights to Germany (Catania-Nurnberg). Air Malta (KM) has International flights to Malta (Catania-Malta) and to UK (Catania-London Gatwich). Air One (AP) has Domestic flights to (Catania-Pisa, Catania-Genova, Catania-Milano Linate, Catania-Roma Fiumicino) and International flights to Denmark (Catania-Copenhagen (with stop at Roma-Fiumicino)). Alitalia (AZ) has Domestic flights to (Catania-Milano Linate, Catania-Roma Fiumicino, Catania-Milano Malpensa. Alpi Eagles (E8) has Domestic flights to (Catania-Napoli, Catania-Venezia). British Airways (BA) has International flights to UK (Catania-London Gatwich). TUIFly (X3) has International flights to Germany (Catania-Koln (Cologne), Catania-Stuttgart, Catania-Hannover, Catania-Hamburg, Catania-Dusseldorf, Catania-Frankfurt, Catania-Munchen). Helvetic (2L) has International flights to Switzerland (Catania-Zurich). Jetairfly (TB) in Summer season (from April to October) has International flights to Belgium (Catania- Brussels, Catania-Liegi). LTU (LT) has International flights to Germany (Catania-Dusseldorf), only in Summera, from April to October are flights (Catania-Frankfurt e Catania-Munchen). Lufthansa (LH) has International flights to Germany (Catania-Munchen). Meridiana (IG) has Domestic flights to (Catania-Lampedusa, Catania-Firenze, Catania-Olbia, Catania-Bologna, Catania-Verona, Catania-Milano Linate, Catania-Torino) and International flights to France (Catania-Paris CDG), while with a stop in Firenze are reachable Madrid, Barcelona, London-Gatwich, Prague and Budapest. Myair (8I) has Domestic flights to (Catania-Bergamo Orio al Serio, Catania-Bologna) and International flights to Romania (Catania-Bucarest Baneasa). Turkish Airlines (TK) has International flights to Turkey (Catania-Istanbul). Virgin Express (TV) has International flights to Belgium (Catania-Brussel Zavantem). Volareweb (VE) has Domestic flights to (Catania-Milano Linate). Wind Jet (IV) has Domestic flights to (Catania-Verona, Catania-Pisa, Catania-Roma Fiumicino, Catania-Forli, Catania-Milano Linate, Catania-Bergamo Orio al Serio, Catania-Venezia) and International flights to Spain (Catania-Madrid Barajas, Catania-Barcelona el Prat), to France (Catania-Parigi CDG), to Russia (Catania-Moscow Domodedovo, Catania-San Petersburg), and to Romania (Catania-Bucarest Otopeni (con scalo a Forli)).

Palermo International Airport "Falcone e Borsellino" (Punta Raisi) (PMO) has the following Domestic and International flights: Air One (AP) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Genova, Palermo-Milano Linate, Palermo-Roma Fiumicino, Palermo-Torino) and International flights to Austria (Vienna). Alitalia (AZ) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Milano Linate, Palermo-Milano Malpensa, Palermo-Roma Fiumicino). Alitalia Express (XM) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Milano Linate). Alpi Eagles (E8) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Napoli, Palermo-Venezia). Blu-express.com (BV) has International flights to France (Palermo-Nice, Palermo-Grenoble Lion). Easy Jet (U2) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Milano Malpensa). TUIFly (X3) has International flights to Germany (Palermo-Berlin, Palermo-Koln (Cologne), Palermo-Hannover, Palermo-Munchen, Palermo-Stuttgart). Helvetic (2L) has International flights to Switzerland (Palermo-Zurich). Meridiana (IG) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Bologna, Palermo-Cagliari, Palermo-Firenze, Palermo-Lampedusa, Palermo-Milano Linate, Palermo-Olbia, Palermo-Pantelleria, Palermo-Verona) and International flights to France (Palermo-Paris CDG), and to Spain (Palermo-Madrid (with stop in Firenze)). Myair (8I) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Bergamo Orio al Serio). Ryanair (FR) has International flights to UK (Palermo-London Stansted). Tunisair (TU) has International flights to Tunisia (Palermo-Tunisi). Virgin Express (TV) has International flights to Belgium (Palermo-Brussel Zavantem). Volareweb (VE) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Milano Linate). Wind Jet (IV) has Domestic flights to (Palermo-Forli, Palermo-Milano Linate, Palermo-Roma Fiumicino, Palermo-Venezia, Palermo-Verona) e International flights to Spain (Palermo-Barcelona el Prat) and France (Palermo-Paris CDG).  

Trapani "Vincenzo Florio" (Birgi) Airport (TPS) has the following Domestic and International flights: Air One (AP) has Domestic flights to (Trapani-Bari, Trapani-Catania, Trapani-Roma Fiumicino, Trapani-Milano Linate (with stop at Rome), Trapani-Bologna, Trapani-Venezia, Trapani-Trieste (with stop at Rome), Trapani-Pantelleria). Ryanair (FR) has Domestic flights to (Trapani-Pisa), and International flights to Spain (Trapani-Girona Barcelona), Germany (Bremen, Dusseldolf Weeze) and Ireland (Trapani-Dublin).

Marine transport: C & T: from Salerno to Messina. Grandi Navi Veloci: from Genove, Civitavecchia and Tunis to Palermo. Grimaldi Ferries: from Salerno and Tunis to Palermo. Italtrag: from Livorno to Trapani. Ma.Re.Si: from Catania to La Valletta (Malta). Medmar: from Tunis and Sousse to Trapan; from Napoli to the Eolie Island (Stromboli, Salina, Lipari e Vulcano). Siremar: from Palermo to Ustica; from Trapani to Egadi Islands (Levanzo, Marettimo, Favignana); from Trapani to Pantelleria; from Porto Empedocle to Pelagie Islands (Linosa and Lampedusa); from Milazzo to Eolie Islands (Stromboli, Panarea, Lipari, Vulcano, Alicudi, Filicudi, Salina) and Napoli. Snav: from Civitavecchia and Napoli to Palermo. From Napoli to the Eolie Islands (Stromboli, Panarea, Lipari, Vulcano, Alicudi, Filicudi, Salina). Tirrenia: from Cagliari and Napoli to Palermo; from Cagliari to Trapani. TTT Lines: from Napoli to Catania. Ustica Lines: from Trapani to Pantelleria; from Porto Empedocle to Linosa and Lampedusa; from Trapani to Egadi Islands (Levanzo, Marettimo and Favignana); from Napoli to Ustica; from Marsala to Egadi Islands (Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo). Virtu Ferries: from Pozzallo to La Valletta (Malta); from Catania to La Valletta ( Malta).

In the Messina Strait operate the following ferries: Navigazione Generale Italiana: from Messina to Reggio Calabria (Calabria). Tourist Shipping: from Messina to Villa San Giovanni (Calabria). Tourist Ferry-Boat: from Messina to Villa San Giovanni (Calabria). Meridiano Lines: from Messina to Reggio Calabria (Calabria).

Climate in Sicily:

Palermo (Sicily)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall (mm)	71	66	58	43	25	12	5	12	40	99	94	81
Min Temp (°C)	10	10	11	13	16	19	23	23	21	16	14	11
Max Temp (°C)	14	15	16	18	22	27	30	30	26	23	19	16

Sicily has a Mediterranean climate, one of the most agreeable in Europe, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers due to the sirocco, which is a hot, dry wind blowing from North Africa. The summer season is long, as Spring and Autumn offer a continuation of the warm temperatures and long hours of sunlight. Rainfall is mainly confined to the winter months, most notably from October to January. The mild, sunny Mediterranean climate makes traveling in Sicily pleasant all year round, but the best months for sightseeing are April, May, June, and September.