| If you are planning to tour Europe why don't you | | | | Carthaginian base in Sicily during its wars against |
| consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern | | | | Greece and Rome. Today Marsala brings to mind |
| Italy? Depending on your own specific interests, | | | | the wine much loved by the British (and others) |
| this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. | | | | for well over two hundred years. Make sure to |
| You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down | | | | see the Baglio Anselmi Archeological Museum. |
| with fine local wine. And some parts of Sicily | | | | We end our tour of western Sicily at Agrigento, |
| haven't yet been discovered by tourists. This | | | | historic city and site of Valle dei Templi (Valley of |
| short article presents western Sicily. A companion | | | | the Temples) arguably the finest Greek ruins |
| article presents eastern Sicily; another presents | | | | outside of Greece. Each temple in the Valle dei |
| Sicily's capital, Palermo. | | | | Templi is unique. Prepare your trip carefully, |
| Monteale is a city of some thirty thousand | | | | summers in this part of the world are very, very |
| southwest of Palermo. It is best known for its | | | | hot. While you don't want to get sick, you don't |
| Norman Cathedral built between 1174 and 1185, | | | | want to rush through this site containing several |
| arguably the finest example of Norman | | | | buildings worth visiting. |
| architecture in all Sicily. Its interior contains well | | | | Organic food has made major inroads in Sicily. Of |
| over an acre of gold mosaics. | | | | all the Italian regions only the neighboring island of |
| The town of Erice, population under thirty | | | | Sardinia produces more organic food. Make sure |
| thousand, sits approximately half a mile above sea | | | | to see our companion article I Love Touring Italy |
| level. You'll love its two castles, Pepoli Castle which | | | | - Western Sicily for a sample menu and more |
| dates from Saracen (Arabic) times and Venus | | | | information on Sicilian wines as well as an in-depth |
| Castle which dates from Norman times. Capo San | | | | examination of the area's tourist attractions. You |
| Vito is a cape situated about twenty five miles | | | | may be surprised to learn that only slightly more |
| (forty kilometers) northeast of Erice. It claims to | | | | than fifty percent of Sicilian wine is red. There are |
| have the most beautiful beach in all of Italy. | | | | many Sicilian wines that do not carry the DOC |
| The city of Marsala whose population is | | | | classification, sometimes by choice. |
| approximately eighty thousand, was the major | | | | |