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Adapted from a Sciascia novel, a look into the Mafia and life in 1960s Sicily, directed by Elio Petri in 1967.

The castle is perched atop a black promontory, jutting out over the sea. Built by the Normans, it was later covered by lava flows in 1169. It was rebuilt by a traitor to the crown and thus partially destroyed by Frederick II of Aragón in 1297. A stairway scales the side of the fortifications giving access to the interior of the structure. The passages and chambers now hold the archaeological collection of the Museo Civico.

Murdered by the jealous Polyphemus, Acis was reincarnated into a river and gave his name to three towns on the Ionian coast.

Aeneas fled Troy, found refuge on Sicily, and founded Erice and Segesta.

The King of the Winds and master of navigation lived on the Aeolian islands.

The “Father of Greek tragedy” (525–456 BC) was born near Athens but made extended visits to Sicily. Only seven of around 500 plays have survived the centuries, among them Agamemnon , Oedipus and Prometheus Bound . Many of his plays were premiered in Syracuse’s theatre (see Greek Theatre), where they are still performed.

In the grounds of the famous Valle dei Templi lie wonderful Greek temples, and an important sanctuary to the goddesses Demeter and Persephone, the so-called Rock Sanctuary and the oldest at Agrigento. Now almost buried by the ugly mass of modern development is the medieval centre of the town, into which fascinating pieces of Greek structures were incorporated (see Agrigento and the Valle dei Templi).

On 10 July 1943 Allied Forces under generals Patton and Montgomery landed at Gela and Pachino taking Sicily in 38 days.

Messina-born Antonello (c.1430–79) is one of the masters of Italian Renaissance art, known for his exacting detail, intriguing portraits and the luminous quality of his paintings. He achieved the latter through his skilful use of oil paints, a technique he learned from Flemish masters. Italian Renaissance artists adopted oils in his wake and it became the standard medium for the world’s greatest masterpieces. The few Antonello works that remain in Sicily are in museums in Palermo, Messina, Syracuse and Cefalù.

After three centuries of long-distance Byzantine rule, North African Moors invaded in 827 AD at Mazara del Vallo. Four years later they took Palermo, made it their capital and transformed it into the cosmopolitan city it remains today. They brought infrastructure to rural Sicily, improved irrigation and introduced new methods of agriculture and fishing.