Palermo, that was founded by the "Phöniziern" as a branch establishment, was under the Arabian rule not only promoted to the center of Sicily, but to one of the most significant cities of the whole Mediterranean-area.

During this period, there are supposed to had been more mosques than churches nowadays. Palermo’s market was the turntable for exotic fruits and spices on the way to Europe. Under the rule of the "Norman", Palermo could extend its position of importance and became the unique melting point of Arabian, Jewish, "Byzantine" and Latin culture.

Similar to a gigantic newt, the city devours into the environs. She drowns in traffic-noise and suffocates in emissions.

Nevertheless, the visit of Palermo is worth it. The city owns in spite of the cultural overexploitation almost an infinite number of worth seeing churches an palaces. The visit also can be very tiring. Therefore, trips to the almost deserted hinterland of the metropolis are very refreshing. The visit of Monreale (with its Norman dome) is a must.

As in all bigger cities, you also in Palermo should your valuables. Opportunity makes thieves!

Today, Palermo has more than 700'000 inhabitants.

The thermal springs of Termini Imerese are used since the Antic, but nowadays, the place is in first line a tourist and not very attractive industrial location. At the edge of the old town you still can see the rests of a roman Amphitheaters.

The city has 25'000 inhabitants.

After Taormina, Cefalu is the most visited vacation place of Sicily. Unmistakable is the Silhouette of the city seen from West. Over the city, that is towered above by a huge dome, the castle-hill rises as a head – kephalos in Greek.

The incomparable location, the cultural-historic significant Norman-dome as well as a well-cultivated beach are the tourist capital of Cefalu. The old city, that was saved by construction-sins, radiates because of the lively drive on the Corso Ruggero and the majestic Norman-dome a lot of Atmosphere.

Cefalu has 13’500 inhabitants.

From Milazzo, several times a day, boats run to the aeolic islands. The near industrial area doesn’t really have an inviting character, but also Milazzo has its attractions. The long shore-promenade (Lugomare Garibaldi), that connects the modern part on the port with the old one below the "Kastell", is in the evening destination of numerous people.

Milazzo has 30'000 inhabitants.

Messina always has been a lively and strategic important port. The location on the straits (Stretto) and the sickle-shaped natural port were perfect for the foundation of a city.
There are only a few historic-buildings in Messina. A devastating earth- and seaquake on December 28^th 1908 destroyed almost all houses and over 60'000 people were killed by this disaster. It wasn't the first severe earthquake in this area and it won't be the last one either, because destroying forces from the interior of the earth strike here quite often.
Nowadays, Messina is an important trade-center and the third-biggest city of Sicily. A University and the here resident archbishop underline its importance. But it isn't a very quiet city, because "load-traffic" from the continent rolls through the main-streets.

Messina has 280'000 inhabitants.

Taormina has 11'000 inhabitants.

Catania has 400'000 inhabitants.

Siracusa has 120'000 inhabitants.

Agrigento is a three-divided city: There are once the unattractive concrete castles of the post-war period, which adjust the view of the medieval town centre. Anf finally the two kilometers south of it situated temple and foundation of the ancient Akragas. The enormous expansion of the antique district and the splendourful temple systems - no other Greek city is to have possessed more temple - to leave still today the meaning of the ancient city to suspekt. More than 200'000 humans are to have lived in the ancient Agrigento. Despite all antique splendour one should not miss to saunter by the lanes of the medieval city.

Agrigento has 51'000 inhabitant.

Trapanis development is located completely in the character of continuity. Neither large natural catastrophes nor historical important have happened here. Already in the antiquity the city was nothing different than an ambitious small commercial town. The fertile coastal strip, intensive trade relations and the expanded saltworks increased the wealth Trapanis. Today the city is the most important economic center in the west of Sicily.

Trapani has 80'000 inhabitant..

Etna is one of the most active volcano of the earth. Mongibelle, the mountain of the mountains, call the Sicilians the with 3350 m largest volcano of Europe. Its excact height is difficult to determine - it varies as with all active volcanos. It belonged to the large group of volcanos, which promote highly liquid melts, from which the gases can escape easily, that lowers its explosivity strongly. The output of gases and steams belong to the normal continuous activity of the Etna; if the magma column rises more highly in the chimney, additionally magma are drug along, which in the flight cool off to bombs, cinders or ashes.
Etna does not sleep by any means: Between 10 and 20 larger eruptions per century are counted. Etna does not only erupt from the central summit, frequently tears up fissures at the flanks of the mountain. The opening is called Bocche. In the first eruption phase escape the most gases and cinder and ash cones - usually like a string of pearls - are formed. From the lowest opening, usually an inconspicuous hole, the melt withdraws. The lava can, dependent on the violence of the eruption, flow for months and kilometres away into the valley. The largest eruption, which destroyed also sections of Catania, occured 1669.
Human can almost always save themselves, because the maximum speeds exceed rarely 15 kilometers per hour. Sometimes in order to divert the lava river from the localities, one raises with success dams. The old farmhouses and localities are to be almost always found on increased places, since there are safer there before the lava stream.
Into the early summer the summit region is snow-covered. On the way from the sea to the summit one drives through most different vegetation and climate zones. In - owing to the volcanic rock - the extremely fruitful level oranges and lemons, a bit higher are vegetables and wine cultivated, later determine forests of chestnut trees the landscape. In the higher positions still brooms and juniper grow, in the summit region - because of the severe climate - almost exclusively lichens.
From the north - as also from the south side daily jeep excursions up to approximately 2900 m height are offered (per person 50 000 lire). From "Rifugio" Sapienza leads an cable railway up to 2600 m height statin La Montagnola (30 000 lire). To go to the summit without a guide is highly dangerous!