Sicily

Sicily, largest Mediterranean island (9,925 sq mi/25,706 sq km), part of Italy, but with its own parliament at the capital, Palermo. Its most notable feature is the active volcano, Mt. Etna (height varies around 10,750 ft/3,211 m). Much of the island is mountainous, but there are lowlands along the coasts. About half the population live in the coastal towns Palermo, Catania, Messina, and Siracusa. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, though hampered by the low rainfall and feudal land tenure system. Wheat is the staple crop; grapes, citrus fruits, and olives are also grown. Main exports, from Ragusa, are petroleum products. Sicily was the site of Greek, Phoenician, and Roman colonies before conquests by the Arabs, who in turn were ousted by Robert Guiscard, the Norman conqueror. The Sicilian Vespers rebellion (1282) led to Spanish rule, ended by Garibaldi (1860), when Sicily became part of the kingdom of Sardinia, then of unified Italy. In World War II, Sicily was conquered by the Allies (1943) and used as a base for attack on Italy.