Description & Facts: Sicily at a Glance www.SensationalSicily.com Sicily's history spans 10000 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