Sicily, the largest and most important of the Mediterranean islands (25,708km²), owed its ancient name Trinacria to its triangular shape. The modern name Sicilia is derived from that of its ancient inhabitants, the Sicels or Siculi. Physically it is a continuation of the chain of the Apennines on the one hand, and of the Atlas mountains on the other. But it appears that far from Sicily being joined at a comparatively recent epoch to Calabria, the Strait of Messina is actually narrower now than in former ages. The island is mountainous across the north and easth, with plateaux in the centre, lowering towards the south, and fertile coastal plains. Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, dominates the easth and much of the centre of Sicily...   ...continue