| If you are looking for a European tourist | | | | are worth visiting. |
| destination, consider the island of Sicily, a region of | | | | Taormina has been discovered by tourists. What |
| southern Italy. Depending on your interests, this | | | | a beautiful view, especially from the funivia |
| beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You | | | | (gondola). The Greek theater runs in the summer |
| can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with | | | | and Taormina boasts two top-of-the-line hotels. |
| fine local wine. And parts of Sicily haven't yet | | | | Mount Etna is Europe's largest and highest volcano. |
| been discovered by tourists. This short article | | | | It is still active. Depending on the weather report |
| presents eastern Sicily. A companion article | | | | you may climb part of it or take the train that |
| presents western Sicily; another presents the | | | | runs around the mountain base. The Hotel Villa |
| capital Palermo. | | | | Paradiso Dell'Etna started as a bohemian hangout |
| Messina is Sicily's third largest city. Founded by the | | | | and is now quite pricey. |
| Ancient Greeks it often changed hands over the | | | | Catania at the foot of Mount Etna is Sicily's |
| centuries. The University of Messina started out | | | | second largest city. Its volcanic soil is great for |
| as the world's first Jesuit College, founded by St. | | | | agriculture, particularly wine. Catania was buried in |
| Ignatius himself. In 1908 the city was virtually | | | | lava seven times; many of its buildings are |
| destroyed by an earthquake and the ensuing | | | | constructed from lava. Visit its cathedral. |
| tsunami. Make sure to see the cathedral, the | | | | Siracusa (Syracuse) was founded by Greek |
| Calapaj Palace, and the Sixteenth Century | | | | colonists. Its theater was built for 15,000 |
| lighthouse. | | | | spectators and produces Greek tragedies in May |
| The walled village of Castelmola with its ancient | | | | and June. Make sure not to miss the Papyrus |
| streets and spectacular view is only a few miles | | | | Museum, the Archeological Museum, historic |
| from the coast. Don't miss it. Go to the ruins of | | | | churches and palaces, and the neighboring Ortygia |
| the Thirteenth Century Castello Normanno | | | | Island, known as Citta Vecchia (Old City) with its |
| (Norman Castle). It's more than a kilometer above | | | | own cathedral. |
| sea level and you'll have to climb the path from | | | | Sicilian ices are famous even if they no longer |
| the parking lot below. Actually there are two | | | | contain snow from Mount Etna. See our |
| paths with two different views. If you are able | | | | companion article I Love Touring Italy - Eastern |
| you should explore both, one up and one down | | | | Sicily for a sample menu and more information on |
| the mountain. What's to see when you get to the | | | | local wines as well as an in-depth examination of |
| top - the city of Taormina and the Ionian Sea are | | | | its tourist attractions. Sicily is Italy's largest wine |
| to the east, the Tyrrhenian Sea is to the north, | | | | producer. An independent Sicily would be the |
| and Mount Etna is to the west. Castelmola also | | | | world's seventh largest wine producer. |
| boasts a Cathedral and several old churches that | | | | |