There’s a rich history behind Sicily’s complex character. Nearly 25 centuries of foreign domination have a massive impact on the island’s cultural : the Greeks built elegant structures, while a unique mix of Byzantine artistry and Norman severity endowed Sicily some of the most unusual and beautiful buildings in Europe; in later centuries the Spanish topped this exotic composition with a flourish of baroque.
Sicily also has a natural beauty that’s astounding grapevines stretch from the slopes of Mt Etna to the parched landscapes of the west, and the aquamarine waters off the 1000km coastline are splashed with volcanic islands. The island has often been in the recently, with the explosive violence between rival football fans of Catania and Palermo in February 2007, and the spate of wildfires that scorched the island throughout the summer months of the same year. Etna erupted again in September 2007, and Stromboli barked but had no bite. Further the immigration crisis continued on the southern island of Lampedusa.