How to Get
You can reach Sicily by plane, landing at the Falcone e Borsellino International Airport (Palermo), Fontanarossa (Catania), V. Florio (Trapani-Birgi). From Palermo, Catania and Trapani the flights leave to Lampedusa and Pantelleria islands. The main touristic ports for cruises and ferries are in Palermo, Trapani, Messina, Catania, Siracusa, Porto Empedocle, Mazara del Vallo, Milazzo. The daily departures leave from Milazzo to the Aeolian Islands, from Palermo to Ustica island, from Trapani to the Aegads Islands and Pantelleria, from Porto Empedocle to the Pelagie islands. Trenitalia links Sicily with the continent, there are railway stations in the main towns and in the principal places, but the Circumetnea links Catania with the small cities all around the Etna. The suburban bus services are efficient.
How to Travel
The motorway connects Palermo with Catania(A 19) Palermo with Messina (A 20) Messina with Catania (A 18) and Palermo with Mazara del Vallo and Trapani (A 29). The remaining roadway is efficient. It’s divided into: express way, provincial and state road, the best for better enjoying the view.
Services, International Calls and Useful Numbers
Bank Timetable
Banks are open from 8.15 a.m. to 13.20 p.m. and from 14.45 p.m. to 16.00 p.m. every day except for saturdays and holydays.
Shops Timetable
Shops are open from 9 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 16 p.m. to 19.30 pm with small variations. In general all the shops are closed on sunday, variations may occur in connection with different categories of shops. Some stores do not close during lunchtime.
Postal Offices Timetable
Postal offices are open from 8.30 a.m. to 13.15 p.m. Sturdays and the last day of the month from 8.30 a.m. 11.20 a.m. Postal offices are closed on sundays. The following postal offices are open during the afternoon in Palermo:
corso Pisani 246;
piazza Verdi 7;
via Danimarca 54;
via Roma (Palazzo Poste);
piazza Unità d’Italia;
via Alcide de Gasperi.
Messina:
via Garibaldi 190;
via XXVII luglio 5;
piazza Antonello.
Catania:
viale Africa;
corso Italia 33/35;
viale Rapisardi 82.
Documents and Exchange
The identity card for the UE area people and the passport for others countries. The Euro is the current exchange.
What to Buy
Sicilian handicraft is very varied, and each area has its peculiarities. This is particularly evident when you look at the different types of ceramics to be found on the island. In Sicily there are big clay quarries from which the raw ma te rial is very easily extracted, and some places, like Santo Stefano di Camastra or Caltagirone, base their economy almost exclusively on the production of ceramics. Each of them has an ancient tradition as regards shapes and decoration, but beside these new decorationtrends are emerging. In addition to vases, plates, cups of all kinds, shapes and sizes, one can buy lamps, candlesticks, tiles and figurines for cribs. A typical Sicilian product is the coffa, a pleated and decorated basket available in various sizes. In Erice you can buy delightful multicoloured hand-woven carpets. More or less everywhere, there are embroidered objects, such as tablecloths, blankets, sheets, towels and napkins. Lastly, the classic souvenir is the little Sicilian cart and the traditional puppet, both available in all sizes.
Geography
The largest region in the Italian territory extending over 25.708 square kilometres, Sicily is the most heavily populated island in the Mediterranean sea and it lies only 140 km from the African coast. It lies at a distance of only three kilometres across the sea, the Strait of Messina, from Calabria. The group of the minor islands lies in the Sicilian territory in administrative terms: Ustica, the Aeolian and Lipari archipelago, the Aegadian islands, the Pelagie islands and Pantelleria. A line of mountain chains, the so-called Sicilian Appennines, lies parallel to the Tyrrhenian Sea up until that one of Calabria, and it is divided into three sections: the Peloritani, the Nebrodi or Caronie and the Madonie. Here is the Mount Carbonara, (m 1979) the highest elevation after Etna. A further line of low mountain chains, whose summit is practically not higher than a thousand metres, crosses the island diagonally, splits into the Mounts Erei and Mounts Iblei. These are considerably arid zones, characterized by sulphur, salts of potassium and rock salt mines. Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe, with an elevation of 3330 m and it rises isolated above the Jonic coast amid the Alcantara and Simeto rivers. The big volcano erupting, with its snow-covered top during the larger part of the year, attract the vulcanologists and the experts from all over the world every year. Unmistakable setting of big part of the island landscape, it is surrounded by hundreds of secondary cones and covered by old and new lava outflows which create an unforgettable geological sight alternating between the Mediterranean vegetation and prickly pears.
Languages
Italian is the official language of the whole region. The Sicilian dialect, with its different local inflexions, is very widespread. Languages coming from Greek-Albanian origin still survive, as well as dialects of French and Lombard influence, the modern Arab is widespread amid the immigrant people who especially live in the area of Mazara del Vallo.
Documents and Exchange
The identity card for the UE area people and the passport for others countries. The Euro is the current exchange.
Government and Population
Sicily with its minor islands is an Autonomous Region, since 1946 Palermo is its chief town. Since 1947 Sicily has its own Parliament, and its population is estimatedo of 5.000.000 of inhabitants, with a density of 190 inhabitants per square kilometer.