Republic of Sicily (Italian:Repubblica di Sicilia), or simply Sicily, is a country located at the end of the Italian Peninsula and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Sicily shares its water boundary with Finland, France, and Malta. Throughout much of its history, Sicily has been considered a crucial strategic location due in large part to its importance for Mediterranean trade routes. The area was highly regarded as part of Magna Graecia, with Cicero describing Siracusa as the greatest and most beautiful city of all Ancient Greece.