Sojourn in Sicily

The histories of Malta and Sicily are intertwined. For millennia Malta and Sicily served as land bridges for migrations of people from the east to the west Mediterrean. Prehistoric populations settled here and the Phoenicians and Greeks established major trading centers on both islands. Under the Roman Empire both Sicily and Malta became well-known for quality textiles and Malta's new rulers incorporated the islands into the province of Sicily. Malta, with Sicily, was ruled by the Vandals and the Visigoths in the 5th century and four hundred years later many inhabitants fled to Sicily following the Muslim conquest of Malta. Roger I, gained control in 1090 with Malta coming under the rule of the Norman kings of Sicily. Before the knights arrived, Sicily and Malta were both ruled by the Aragonese. Malta is today an excellent base for visits to Sicily, with numerous Maltese travelling regularly to Catania, Taormina, Palermo or Messina for short holidays. Caroline M. Jackson writes about her trip from Malta to Sicily for travellady.com:

From this small island smack in the middle of the Mediterranean, we were heading north on a daytrip to Sicily. By 6.30 am, we had cleared passport control and boarded the sleek catamaran which would make the crossing in an hour and a half. Operated by Virtu Ferries, the three-year old Norwegian-built catamaran more closely resembled the interior of an aircraft than a ferry. Expecting a great view after sunrise, we plunked ourselves on seats facing the sloping draped windows at the prow.

Minutes after our departure, I asked one of the uniformed stewards if we could open the drapes, only to be told: “You wanna seea the insida of a wava and get sicka?” Remembering the apostle Paul’s experience of getting shipwrecked in a storm off Malta, I meekly returned to my seat. Beside me a row of Finnish passengers were tucking into exquisitely packed boxed breakfasts. I unpeeled my banana and began to read my travel guide. Separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina, triangular-shaped Sicily was named Trinacria (Greek for three points). Eighty-three times bigger than Malta, Sicily is 175 miles wide and 110 from north to south.

Sicily from Wikipedia

Smithsonian journey aboard SV Pantheon May 2005 -Malta and Sicily