Sicilian Trivia

Things I've learned about Sicily that "may" be true . . .

. . . Sicily (Messina) was hit by a tsunami and an earthquake in 1908. Ninety percent of the city was destroyed, and men had to come from all over the island to bury the dead.
. . . The mafia doesn't control all of Sicily. The most important tourist town, Taormina, brags that is is mafia-free.
. . . Sicily produces 50% of the world's artichokes.
. . . Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean.
. . . About 5 million people live in Sicily (about the size of Atlanta's population).
. . . Ice cream was invented here, maybe with snow from Mt. Etna?
. . . Sicily has more sunshine than any other place in Europe.
. . . The Greek philosopher Archimedes lived here.
. . . Germans make up the largest group of tourists in Sicily (this is no surprise--they are everywhere!)
. . . Sicily is actually surrounded by three seas--the Ionian, the Aolean, and the Tyrranean (all part of the Med). The Aeolian Islands are part of Sicily.
. . . Sicily is triangle-shaped itself.
. . . The best-preserved Greek temples in the world are in Sicily.
. . . Sicilian wines are rapidly becoming popular around the world.
. . . Mt. Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe.
. . . The composer Bellini was from Sicily (Catania).