Sicily
an island belonging to the kingdom of Italy, in the Mediterranean, the largest and the finest in that sea, lying at the S. W. extremity of Italy, from pop. about 3,793,500. Sicily is of an irof Messina. Area, 9,936 square miles; pop. about 3,793,500. Sicily is of an irregularly triangular shape (hence its ancient Latin name of Trinacria), and is 180 miles in length by 120 in breadth. A of the Apennines, tra traverses the island E. mountain chain, seemingly a continuation and W., throwing off spurs, from one of which in the E. rises Mount Etna, the loftiest volcano in Europe, having a culnor the rivers are of any considerable mination of 10,900 feet; neither the lakes size or length. The plains and valleys which compose the greater portion of the island are remarkably fertile, and yield all kinds of vegetables, and abundance of fruits; the silk worm is largely cultivated. The minerals are marble, iron, copper, stone, agate, jasper, salt, and coal, while of sulphur the yield is enormousabout 300 mines. The manufactures, generally unimportant, are silks, hats, furni- ture, skins, cotton, and cutlery; the exports comprise all native produce, with linseed, manna, rags, and tanned leather. Sicily is divided into seven provincesacuse or Noto, Trapani, and Caltanisetta. Palermo, Messina, Catania, Girgenti, Syr- The Sicilians are of middle stature, well made, with dark eyes and coarse black hair; their features are better than their complexion; and they attain maturity and begin to decline earlier than the inhabitants of more N. regions. There are 1,000 are established everywhere, and grammar miles of railroads. Elementary schools and commercial schools in the town.
There are universities in Palermo, Messina and Catania. Sicily was originally peopled by the Phoenicians, by the Greeks, next by the Carthaginians, and then by the Romans.
Carthaginians, and then by the Romans. gated the island, and some centuries later the Norwegians made inroads on its territory and finally it fell under the Nor- SICKLES man sway. From this time Sicily became the prey of Spain, France, and Austria, till the crown was united to that of Naples under the title of the Two Sicilies in 1734. When the French overran Italy under Bonaparte, the King of Naples, being driven from his throne, took shelter in this, the insular portion of his dominions, where he reigned in peace, under British protection, till the final peace of 1815 placed him once more in his continental chair of Naples. The revolution in Italy begun by Garibaldi in 1860 soon spread to Sicily, and on the landing of of that patriot the whole island rose in arms, and the royal troops were beaten in every engagement. Sicily in a few months was free, and when Naples acknowledged Victor Emmanuel as its sovereign, under the style of King of Italy, the Sicilian crown was laid with rejoicings at the feet of that sovereign. See ITALY.