192
SICILY. Geography and Statistics.
to Patti (Tyndaris) 1, to S. Agata 1, to S. Stefano 1, to Cefalu 1, to Ter¬
mini 1, to Palermo 1 day. Thus the entire tour, performed on a mule
would occupy 30—32 days, and embrace the complete circuit of the island,
i. e., exclusive of the indentations of the coast, about 535 31. For the sake
of variety, however, the traveller will prefer to av.ail himself of other con¬
veyances when an opportunity offers. From Palermo to 3Iessina by land
in 4—5 days, or direct by railway and steamboat in 18 hrs.; thence (if the
latter mode of performing the journey be selected) to Melaxzo and Patti
(Tyndaris) and back in 3 days, to Taormina 1, to Catania 1, Catania and
/Etna 3, to Syracuse 1, at Syracuse 2 days. By steamboat in 18 hrs. to
Girgenti, where 1—2 days should be spent. Thence by diligence in 20 hrs.
to Palermo, or on a mule in 2 days by Sciacca and Selinunto to Castel¬
vetrano. Then in 2 days by Calatafimi (Segesta), or, if Blarsala and Tra¬
pani be included, in 4 days to Palermo by diligence or on a mule. A slight
acquaintance with the interior may be obtained on a diligence journey of
20 his. from Palermo to Girgenti. Or a journey of 22 hrs. from Palermo
to Castrogiovanni (Enna), thence either by the main road to Catania by
Adernd, or in 1 day by Piazza (Lacus Pergusa) to Caltagirone and thence
in 1 day to Catania by diligence. An approximately exhaustive tour cannot
be accomplished in less than a month.
The great majority of travellers proceed to Sicily via Naples. Steam¬
boats of the 3lessageries Impe'riales, however, start from Marseilles for 3Ies-
sina several limes weekly (on Saturday evenings regularly); to Palermo
direct every 10 days. From Genoa to Palermo one steamer weekly touching
at Leghorn only. From Naples to Messina and Palermo steamers almost
daily. The best boats are the French (Mess. Imp.), which go to Blessina
every 31onday morning: of the others the larger vessels of the Peirano-
Danovaro Co. are preferable to those of the Florio. From Brindisi to 3Ies-
sina once weekly. Jlessina is in weekly correspondence with the East, also
with 3Ialta. To Sardinia and Tunis from Palermo every fortnight.
Geography and Statistics.
Sicily (Sicilia, Sikelia, Trinacria, Triquetra in ancient times) is the
largest island in tlie Slediterranean. Its area, according to the most recent
measurements, amounts to 29,240 sq. kilometres, i. e. about 11,410 Engl.
sq. M. The form of the island is an irregular triangle, the W. angle oi
which is the promontory of Lilijbaeuin, or Capo di Boeo, near 3Iarsala, the
N.E. angle the promontory of Pelorum (Capo del Faro) nearest the main¬
land, the S.E. angle the promontorv of Pachunum (Capo Passaro). The N.
coast is 200, the E. 135 and the S.W. 177 Engl. 31. in length.
The island is mountainous. Three different ranges must be distin¬
guished. (1). The principal chain, a ramification from the Apennines,
skirting the N. coast of the island, begins with the Faro di Messina and
at first runs parallel to the E. coast, the 3Iontes Neptunii or Pelorian 3Its.
of antiquity. The highest point is the Dinnamari, near Messina, 2906 ft.;
other summits are the Sciuhri near All, 2284 ft. and the Monte Veinru near
Taormina 2736 ft. From the Pizzo di Bonavi, not far from the latter, the
range turns to the W. and now bears the name of Nebrode. Diodorus Si-
culus also calls them the Hertean Mts. The highest point of this portion
of the chain is the Pizzo di Palermo (5930 ft.), S. of Cefalu. Here they
are sometimes termed the Madonian Mis. Farther on, to the W. of Termini,
the watershed which the range has thus far formed between the African and
Ionian seas is interrupted and the mountains become detached and isolated.
The highest point here is the Monte Cuccio, W. of Palermo (3225 ft.). Those
most remarkable on account of their situation and form are tie- Monte S.
I'alogero near Termini (2500 ft.). the Monte Pellegrino near Palermo 11400 il. I
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