Sicily and encouraged the growth of smallholdings, undermining the dominance of the latifundia. The Arabs further improved irrigation systems. The language spoken in Sicily under Arab rule was Siculo-Arabic and Arabic influence is still present in some Sicilian words today. Although the language is extinct in Sicily, it has developed into what is now the Maltese language on the islands of Malta today. A description of Palermo was given by Ibn Hawqal, an Arab merchant who visited Sicily in 950. A walled suburb, called the Al-Kasr (the palace), is the centre of Palermo to this day, with the great Friday mosque
The Other Sicily The Other Sicily The Other Sicily ("L'Altra Sicilia") is an association primarily involved in assisting Sicilian emigrants. It is based in Brussels (Belgium), from where it publishes a bimonthly named "L'Isola", and its founder and president is Francesco Paolo Catania. In the run-up of the 2006 general election the association teamed up with the For the South party and finally participated to the election under "The Other Sicily – For the South" banner in the "Europe" constituency for Italians abroad. The list received 2.1% of the vote in the constituency. The association strongly defends Sicilian identity and autonomy, while frequently