Sicily at a Glance http://www.SensationalSicily.com
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.
The Italian railroad system, which is owned by the government, provides convenient transportation throughout the country. Ferries link the principal islands with the mainland, and those that travel between southernmost Italy and Sicily carry trains as well as cars, trucks, and people.
The railroad system is most extensive in the north, but main lines run along both coasts, and other routes cross the peninsula in several places. The Simplon Tunnel, one of the world's longest railroad tunnels, connects Italy and Switzerland. Other rail lines follow routes across the Alps between Italy and France, Austria, and Slovenia.
The world's first automobile expressways were built in northern Italy during the 1920s. Today Italy and Germany have the most extensive networks of fast, limited-access highways in Europe. Motorists can drive without encountering traffic lights or crossroads—stopping only for border crossings, rest, or fuel—from Belgium, The Netherlands, France, or Germany across the Alps all the way to Sicily. Two highway tunnels through the Alps, under the Great St. Bernard Pass and through Mont Blanc, enable motor vehicles to travel between Italy and the rest of Europe regardless of weather. The expressways, called autostradas, are superhighways and toll roads. They connect all major Italian cities and have contributed to the tremendous increase in tourist travel.
Industry -Tourism
For centuries Italy's attractions have drawn people from other countries. Some come to visit Rome and its monuments of the Roman Empire and its shrines of the Roman Catholic church. Others are attracted by the works of art created throughout Italy's long history. Tourists are lured not only by places of religious and artistic significance but also by the varied and beautiful landscape. The money spent by tourists contributes significantly to the Italian economy. At the same time the tourist business is one of Italy's most important service branches because it employs people who work in restaurants, hotels, shops, and transportation. Most of the tourists come from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Great Britain, and the United States.
When the unified Italian state came into existence on Feb. 18, 1861, its government was a constitutional monarchy. On June 2, 1946, the people voted for their nation to become a republic. A new constitution became effective on Jan. 1, 1948.
The chief of state is the president, whom the parliament elects to a seven-year term. The president appoints the premier, who actually heads the government and decides its policies. The president has the power to dissolve parliament and represents the country on formal occasions, such as the signing of treaties. His appointment of the premier is subject to approval by parliament, and a vote of lack of confidence by either house of parliament requires the official to resign. The people elect the 630 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 315 members of the Senate to five-year terms. The president may appoint additional senators.
Italy is divided into 20 regions whose names, with few exceptions, date back to the time of the emperor Augustus at the beginning of the Christian era. The regions are subdivided into 103 provinces. Aosta, or the Valle d'Aosta, in northwestern Italy is a province as well as a region. Southeast of it lies the region of Piedmont, whose capital is Turin. The rest of northern Italy is divided by the Po River. North of the Po are the regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige. South of the Po are Emilia-Romagna and Liguria.
Central Italy consists of Tuscany, Marche, Umbria, and Lazio. The regions of southern Italy are Abruzzi, Molise, Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria. Each of Italy's two large islands, Sicily and Sardinia, is a region.
The constitution gives each region considerable freedom in running its own affairs, such as farming and tourism. However, the national government has basic powers of control over the regions.
Italian politics, long controlled by the Fascist dictatorship that took over the country in 1922, burst into activity in 1945 following World War II. Numerous political parties sprang forth. A system of proportional representation designed to avoid totalitarian rule was set up. Italy has had more than 50 governments since World War II, but the nation's well-established bureaucracy tends to hold the state together despite the political instability.
The conservative Christian Democratic party dominated politics from World War II until the 1990s, getting the largest slice of the vote, but it was often forced into a governing alliance with other parties. For example, in the 1980s the governing coalition was made up of four parties—Christian Democrats, Socialists, Social Democrats, and Liberals.
Faced with a crippling budget deficit, deteriorating public services, and the strains of European integration beginning in 1993, Italy saw support grow for a stronger central government. Electoral reforms in the mid-1990s changed the Italian parliament's proportional representation system so that voters directly elect individual candidates to three quarters of the seats. The rest are awarded on a proportional basis to candidates of the parties that win the most votes. The political climate was also affected by a series of corruption scandals and prosecutions of several government officials, who included members of most of Italy's political parties.
Since the mid-1990s the major political force of the center-left has been the Olive Tree alliance, which includes the Democratic Party of the Left (formerly the Italian Communist party). On the center-right emerged the coalition known as the House of Freedoms, which includes the Forza Italia party, the Northern League, and the National Alliance.
Italy has been a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since the alliance was established in 1949. The country joined the United Nations in 1955. Italian statesmen, led by longtime Premier Alcide De Gasperi, played an important part in the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community and, later, of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Commission, whose charters were signed in Rome in 1957. These three bodies later became the principal institutions of the European Union.
Italy is one of the most popular travel destinations on Planet Earth. Some say the Italians invented tourism in the 16th century, and it is safe to say that no country has given the world more cultural icons, including fine automobiles, architecture, fashions, operas, paintings, sculptures, tenors, and we certainly can't forget food.
Italy has so much to see and do, from skiing in the Alps, the Lake District of the north, the historic and stylish cities of Florence, Milan, Naples, Siena, Turin and Venice, coastal cities and quaint little villages, and of course Rome, and the Holy See (Vatican).
The world famous boot-shape peninsula of Italy, extending into the central Mediterranean Sea is a rugged, mountainous country of simply stunning scenery that also includes the popular island destinations of (Sardinia) and (Elba) to the west, and (Capri), (Ischia) and (Sicily) off the southern coast.
Italy is renowned for it's olive oil, pastas, people, wine, and of course sunshine, and year-round great weather. Simply stated, Italy is "la dolce vita" (the sweet life), and many people that travel to this incredible country never want to leave.
GENERAL ITEMS OF INTEREST
Currency Italy uses the euro countrywide. Instead of traveling with your own country's currency and then paying the somewhat expensive cash conversion rates, we suggest - to get the best exchange rate - that you use an ATM for cash and credit cards for purchases.
Electricity Italy runs on 230 volts AC (50 cycles). Note that most modern laptop, cell phone and digital camera chargers are dual voltage and will work perfectly in Italy with just a simple adapter plug.
Times to Travel Italy has a largely temperate climate with regional variations, making it a perfect year-round destination. Most people visit Italy between June and August, however the best time to visit is in Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October) when the weather is consistently at its best. The sea is warm enough for swimming between June and September.
Most Italians take their vacation in August and many shops and restaurants are closed during this period. The ski season runs between December and April and the best time to walk in the Alps is between June and September.
VISAS
A valid passport is required to enter Italy. For stays up to 90 days visa requirements (if any) vary from country to country. To find out whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we suggest you the contact the applicable Italian Consulate.
For stays longer than 90 days regarding employment, study or tourism, a visa is required and must be obtained in advance. For additional information please contact the Italian Consulate with jurisdiction over your country of residence.
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