Italy and Sicily

Italy (or Italia in Italian), is a republic in southern Europe, bordered on the north by Austria and Switzerland; on the east by Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea; on the south by the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea; on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ligurian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea; and on the north-west by France. In addition to the Italian mainland, there are the islands of Sardinia, Elba and Sicily plus many lesser islands. There are two enclaves within mainland Italy which are the independent countries of San Marino and Vatican City; the latter is a papal state mostly enclosed by Rome.

The capital of Italy is Rome with a population of around 2.5 million people. Other major cities are Milan, Turin, Palermo, Venice, Florence, and Bologna. The total area of Italy is 301,323 sq km (116,341 sq mi). The principle language is Italian though German is spoken close to the Austrian border. Roman Catholicism is the principle religion of the country though there is a substantial Jewish community.

The country has a good communication system using roads, rail and ferries. The national airline is Alitalia. Italy has one of the world’s largest merchant navies.

Sicily is probably the least affected island in the Mediterranean by tourism and many of the smaller towns and villages seem to be untouched by the modern world so offering a laid back relaxing pace of life. British tourists have been coming to the island to sample its charm and escapism for many years and visiting yacht crews won’t be disappointed.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is separated from Italy by the Messina Strait, which is a strip of water connecting the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Ionian Sea. The strait is 32 km long and 3 to 8 km wide. The island has almost 500 miles of coastline and recently more and more marinas have opened making Sicily a new destination for yachtsmen to base their boats for a season or two.

The island has an area of 25,460 square kilometres and a population of nearly 5 million, the capital is Palermo. The highest point is Mount Etna, about 3,320 metres, and is Europe’s highest active volcano. Guided tours are available to take you up the mountain, take warm clothing with you even if at sea level the temperature is hot.

Sicily is steeped in history and ancient culture, much of Palermo was destroyed during World War II bombing but one part of the city escaped the worst and now is known as the old quarter with its Norman and Saracen heritage. The ancient Greek ruins of Selinunte are also worth a visit.

The island is famed for its seafood and also produces many good wines. Fresh fish can be purchased at most harbours.

www.navimeteo.it Navimeteo is a private marine weather company based in Northwest Italy (Chiavari, not far from Genoa) that specializes on providing forecasts in English and Italian to sailors and yachtsmen in a customised way and immediate way, not just in the Mediterranean, but also in the oceans.