Sicily is the largest of the islands of the Mediterranean. Because of its location and its history it is one of Italy's major tourist destinations, both for its beaches and its cultural offerings.
Touring Sicily would take months in itself because there's simply so much to do and see, so we are forced to make a hard choice and limit our tour to the best-known locations, hoping to be able to get back another time to discover the hidden gems we miss this time.
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, and one of the most beautiful regions in the world. It is multi-cultural; many different races and religions have found home throughout the millennia. From Greeks to Arabs, from French to Spaniards, from Italians to Americans, this incredible island has shaped an identity of its own with amazing cities, great food and fantastic people who are proud of being Sicilians and Italians. This pride shows through in the art, music, and literature - in fact, some of the highest forms of art have been produced in Sicily.
Villa Romana del Casale is an ancient Roman estate located outside Piazza Armerina in the Sicilian countryside. Built in the 4th century BC the villa was originally the center of an agricultural estate. Since the 19th century excavations have taken place at the site and some of the world's most beautiful examples of Roman mosaics have been uncovered.
Vacations in Italy are often about relaxing on beaches and touring monuments, but most visitors are also eager to do a little shopping along the way. Whether it be a souvenir or a regional delicacy the island of Sicily offers much in the way of shopping.
Agrigento is located in the region of Sicily and was once one of the great cities of the ancient world. Founded in the 6th century BC as a Greek colony known as Akragas, the city was more recently inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage site list in 1997 due to its rich archeological remains.
Several ancient temples were built in the town, several of which are still intact. Excavation works continue in the area in an attempt to locate new Hellenistic and Roman ruins.
The Aeolian Islands or the Lipari Islands is an archipelago of volcanic islands located north of Sicily. The Islands are known to be a very popular tourist destination during summer, and attract more than 200,000 visitors each year. The islands had been declared a world heritage site in the year 2000 because of their unique geological features. There are 8 main islands which make up the archipelago.
Sicily has eight towns located on its southeast coast that were destroyed during an earthquake in 1693. Each of these towns were rebuilt in magnificent style that represents the high level of architectural and artistic achievement of what is known as Sicilian Baroque. These towns not only maintain the late Baroque style of the era, but also illustrate unique town planning.
Salina is the second largest in the archipelago of the Aeolian Islands and is quite different in landscape than the rest of the islands. Due to its numerous fresh water springs, the island is quite green. The island is listed in the UNESCO world heritage list due to its volcanoes. The island is composed of six different volcanoes, and the two most important ones are Monte Fossa Delli Fecci and Monte dei Porri. Both of these volcanoes are quite well preserved. The island is made up of three small towns and some villages and the population of the entire town is approximately 4000.
Lampedusa is an island located in the Pelagie group of Islands in Sicily in Italy. The island is the largest one in the group of islands and is the southernmost island in Sicily; it is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The island is only 3 Km wide and is 12 Km long. Lampedusa has a very vibrant culture and a historic past since over the centuries it had been inhabited by quite a lot of different nationalities and tribes including the Romans, Arabs and Greeks.
Panarea is a small island located off the Sicilian coast and is one of the Aeolian Islands. Out of the eight islands that make up the chain of the Aeolian Islands, Panarea is the second smallest. The island is only 3 Km. long and 2 Km. wide and there are only around 280 permanent residents on the island which makes it a very charming island. Recently, the island has become a very important tourist destination for wealthy tourists, most of whom explore the coast on their yachts. Due to this, Panarea sees a lot of day-trip tourists that flock here every year especially in the summers.
Trapani was once situated in the heart of a very powerful trading center, even today its important harbor is extremely precious to Sicily, and this is where the tourists from the neighboring cities enter Sicily. On the outside, the city might seem like an urban maze of buildings and wires but once you explore the real Trapani, you would be amazed at the culture and beautiful architecture and the softness of the city. The Baroque buildings and the churches, the picturesque streets lined with the shaded trees mesmerizes anyone who comes here.
Even though Siracusa, or as it is popularly known, Syracuse is not as big as some of the other cities in Sicily, it remains the most visited location in Sicily. The reason for its popularity is that it is a dense mixture of civilizations and cultures. It was once known to be the most beautiful city of the ancient world, standing parallel to Athens in terms of beauty and prestige. Passed on from the hands of different rulers, Siracusa has managed to retain a little bit of every civilization.
Ragusa is a town in Sicily, Italy that has managed to remain untouched and unaffected by the tourism in the region. Ragusa is a very unique town since it is aristocratic and grand as well as urban and modernistic at the same time. The town is divided in two parts, the older Ragusa and the new Ragusa, both unique in their own way and totally different than each other. In 1693 Ragusa was devastated by an earthquake and when the residents had to rebuild their town there were divided opinions and that's where two groups formed and two separate Ragusa sections were built.
Palermo is the capital of Sicily in Italy and one of the biggest cities in the country. Palermo is unique in its own right; its raw pulsating energy cannot be matched by many cities in Italy. Being in Palermo would feel to most like being in a treasure hunt since most of the city's jewels lay hidden, and that's what makes it so precious since not many tourists know about some of the best places in the city. Palermo has had an evocative history, part of which can still be seen and felt here in the people as well as in the places.
Among the Aegadian islands, Marettimo is the second largest island known for its natural beauty, which attracts visitors coming to this scenic spot. This island is located across the West coast of Sicily at a distance of around 40 kms surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. The clean and unspoilt beaches along with the scenic beauty of the mountains here offer lot of opportunities for exploring this island. This island is quite remote and offers lot of peace and tranquility amidst its pristine surroundings.
Levanzo, one of the most beautiful islands is located close to Trapani and it is known to be the smallest of islands among the Aegadian islands. It is the one of the major tourist attractions known for its natural charm and beauty as compared to most of the other islands. Levanzo is surrounded by the blue green waters of the Mediterranean Sea along the north of Favignana close to Sicily.
Messina is the third largest city in the region of Sicily in Italy. The city is mainly an agricultural center and a busy port, which is a focal point for the ferries travelling to various other destinations along the coast. The important international fair in Sicily is held here every year and beneath the urban façade of the city lies a culturally and historically important town that has had its share of ups and down through the centuries and has now been able to resurrect itself and become an important tourist destination as well as an important economic hub in Sicily.
Enna is a city located in central Sicily in Italy. Enna has been known to be one of the most panoramic locations in Sicily and has also been frequently known as the Navel of Sicily. Through the years Enna has been an agricultural and working class town, known to the seat of the goddess of fertility. Enna has always been an important agricultural center, supplying wheat, cane and cotton to the surrounding areas in the past centuries during the rule of the Arabs, Greeks and the Romans and continues to supply agricultural produce even today to most of the neighboring cities.
Catania is located on the eastern coast of Sicily in Italy and is the second largest city in Sicily. It is located at the foot of the biggest volcano in Europe, Mount Etna. Catania is a major transport hub, university center and economic hub in the area and is known for its active nightlife and vibrant culture. Catania is also known for its architecture which is mostly Baroque and urban style due to the major devastation that it faced in the earthquake of 1693. Catania attracts thousands of tourists from around Italy as well as other countries through the world.
