Sicily, a place that is dear to the hearts of its many transplanted children and tourists alike. Its beauty is stunning, from the rocky coasts to its arid interior, and its looming volcano, Mount Etna. Italy’s largest island, Sicily offers exceptional beaches, charming villages and towns, as well as an abundance of ancient ruins and archeological sites.

It’s a Mediterranean paradise of dramatic landscapes, glorious coastline and awesome architecture reflecting the many cultures it has hosted—not always happily—as some were invaders and occupiers. But all of them have left a trace.For centuries, Sicily has been a bubbling caldron of the different cultures that have landed on the island. Globalized and multicultural before those words were even coined.