Sicily's history spans 10,000 years, during a third of which the island suffered through foreign rule by more than 11 different kingdoms. The dark and reflective gaze of its people, known as the "eyes of Sicily", reflect its turbulent history and ultimate resilience.

Sicilian is a language as original as Sicily itself, a mishmash of Italian, Greek and Arab influences. The cities of Noto and Ragusa show off grand examples of Baroque architecture, and Caltagirone produces colourful ceramics. The capital city of Palermo is Sicily's opera centre, and has several important churches and museums to explore. Agrigento's Valley of the Temples, ruins from the original city of Akragas, are rivaled only by Rome's ancient Forum, and the medieval cities of Taormina, Agrigento, Siracusa, Selinunte and Erice are rife with culture, history and hidden secrets. Sicily's oldest and most famous resident, the still-active volcano of Mt. Etna, grumbles and churns regularly, reminding islanders and visitors alike of the tenuous, yet precious, nature of life on an island.