Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. It is one of the autonomous regions of Italy. The capital of Sicily is Palermo and the provinces are: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Syracuse and Trapani. The nearest region of Sicily is Calabria, 3 km east of the Strait of Messina.
For many centuries of its history, Sicily has been a rich region, disputed by many nations, mainly because of its important position on the Mediterranean trade routes. Cicero described Syracuse as "the largest and most beautiful city in all of ancient Greece." Archimedes, one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world, was a native Sicilian, born in the city of Syracuse.