4 Nights in sicily
Contrary to Sicily's bloodthirsty reputation, its north-western capital, Palermo, is a relaxed and beautiful city. Palermo is a pretty mellow city, but trip out to Mondello Lido to really slow down. This onetime fishing village, second only to Taormina as a desirable destination for Sicily’s moneyed beach bums, is seven miles from Palermo (take bus no. 806) and is lined by dozens of small restaurants dishing up great seafood dishes. When it comes to Sicily, it has to be markets. Palermo’s outdoor market tradition hails from the 9th Century, when the Saracens were in town – so the food and fish markets have the colour and energy of Arabian souks. The Vucciria is well worth an hour or two, whether you want to ogle freshly caught sharks, feel the flesh of the world’s best tomatoes or sample local snacks. Salermo is more of a drinking than a dancing city, so take a candle-lit table at a wine bar. Food in Sicily is a product of the melting pot of cultures that have settled here, so expect an eclectic mix of Greek, Italian, Roman and Arab cuisines when you dine out. Palazzo dei Normanni is one of the finest looking edifices in Europe: its lofty facades suggest both grandeur and impenetrability. Inside, the carved ceiling and marble floors are supreme examples of Arab-Norman-Byzantine architecture. It's more than an island! Bedda, the Sicilian word for "beautiful," is the way we Sicilians describe this place. Corleone, is actually a very developed city, truly different of the Corleone we see in the movie The Godfather. Discover Sicily and discover the world. A world unto itself, this island, in all its complexities, is a land like no other. In Sicily tourism (a word we don't like too much) isn't just sightseeing. Come visit our sunny island. We've been expecting you for three thousand years!
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Aeolian Islands
Delightful islands and the beaches are exceptional and the cuisine fantastic - especially, as you would expect, the seafood. Stunning cobalt sea, windswept mountains and a charming film about a postman go some way to explaining why the Aeolians (Isole Eolie) are the European Holy Grail for island-lovers. The seven islands of Lipari (inhabited for some 6000 years), Vulcano (tranquil, unspoilt landscape), Salina (lushly wooded), Panarea (ike a Greek island with its adobe-style whitewashed houses), Stromboli (perfect triangle of a volcano), Alicudi and Filicudi are part of a huge 200km volcanic ridge and lie between the smoking stack of Mt Etna and the threatening mass of Vesuvius above Naples. Collectively, the islands exhibit a unique range of volcanic characteristics, which earned them a place on Unesco’s World Heritage list in 2000. This is an area of extraordinary natural beauty but, unfortunately, the word is out, so visit out of season if you can. |
Mount Etna
Europe's greatest natural wonder is a living, sacred mountain of legend and myth. The upper regions are covered with snow for four months of the year. Dress warmly in summer too; it's always cool at the top. (In the classic scene shown here Etna is viewed from the Greek amphitheatre at Taormina.) This is Sicily's highest mountain at approximately 3350 meters. Mount Etna does not seem that high when you are sunbathing on the beach, but when you want to climb to the very top you need a surge of energy. You will be well rewarded for your journey, the view from the top of the volcano is incredible, not to mention the thrill of standing at the peak of one of nature's most powerful creations. Lower down Mt. Etna are beautiful countryside walks, all of which are clearly signposted. There are refuges and camping sites in designated places weaving through the forests of pine trees. Horse back riding on Etna is popular as well and you will see many cycling clubs along the roads. |
Siracusa
Archimedes, Plato and Saint Paul loved Syracuse, and with good reason. It was one of the most important cities of the ancient Greek world, and the most important in Greek and Roman Sicily. It was also one of the most beautiful. The archeological park is extensive, while the old city, Ortygia, has some fascinating treasures. The columns of the ancient temple around which the cathedral was built (typical of this phenomenon of the early centuries of Christianity) are still visible on one side of the nave. If your taste runs to something more Baroque, consider Ragusa and Noto to the south. Siracusa is an ancient town on the sea, which was of immense importance as Greek Syracuse. Superb archaeological zone and a lovely historic centre on the island of Ortigia. A fine cultural destination, its significance is recognised with a UNESCO heritage listing. Visit should include the Baroque towns of Ragusa and Noto, several archaeological sites, and the lively city of Catania. |
Taormina
This mountaintop town overlooking the Ionian coast is Sicily's most famous resort, full of restaurants and shops, with beaches nearby. Its historical side is ubiquitous. The Greek amphitheatre, with its famous panoramic view of Mount Etna and the coast, is used for concerts and plays, and medieval walls enclose the town's stone streets. There are several castles, including those in the Castelmola overlooking Taormina. A visit to Etna is a day-long excursion, and if you enjoy nature the Alcantara Gorge is also appealing. Taormina makes a good base for day excursions in eastern Sicily. A good choice is the Gran Duca at Corso Umberto 172. The cities where they did filming for The Godfather in Sicily were Forza D’Agro and Savoca near the very touristy city of Taormina. In both cities you can view the country side’s and different scenes from the movie in addition to churches. Both are very tranquil and quiet. You can also see the Bar Vitelli where a scene was filmed in Savoca as well. |
Palermo
Sicily's regional capital and largest city is perhaps best compared to a rough, uncut jewel. Its beauty has to be revealed through careful discovery. You'll find this bustling city chaotic and dusty yet interesting. The historic environment of this former royal capital of kings and emirs is largely Baroque with some stunning nuggets of medieval architecture. The Norman Palace, with its Byzantine Palatine Chapel (a Monreale in miniature), is built upon Phoenician walls. There are a number of monasteries and castles, and a magnificent cathedral, as well as art galleries and a good archeological museum. Monreale is only a few kilometers outside town. Palermo is a great western-Sicilian "base" for excursions (day trips) to Cefalù, Erice, Segesta, Agrigento and the wine country. |
The Baroque Southeast
An alternate selection to Piazza Armerina or Siracusa, the towns of Ragusa and nearby Noto, with their palaces and churches in the Sicilian Baroque style, are something truly representative of 18th-century Sicilian architecture and art. The landscapes of the Hyblaean Mountains, and even some of the architecture of these towns, are rather similar to what you encounter in Malta, which really isn't very far away. Beaches and the coastal Vendicari Nature Reserve are an easy driving distance from both cities. To get a peek at the recent lifestyle of Sicily’s bluebloods, it's recommended to visit Donnafugata Castello, 20 kilometers outside of Ragusa toward Santa Croce Camerina. Set in rolling countryside among rocks and giant carob trees, the castle dates back to the mid-17th century. |
Noto
Situated in the south-eastern corner of Sicily, Noto is famous for its Baroque architecture, and since 2002 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto'. Noto. Generally listed as one of the 'must-see' tourist attractions of this part of Sicily, Noto is a pleasant and attractive little town, with a historic centre that is composed almost entirely of crumbling Baroque palaces, churches and houses. The town's striking architectural coherence is due to the major earthquake that struck Sicily in 1693. The old town of Noto was almost completely destroyed, and it was decided to to reconstruct a splendid new town several miles away. Thus Noto was rebuilt on its present site, carefully designed for functionality and architectural harmony. |
Malta
From its North African and Arabic influences to the Sicilian-inspired cuisine, Malta is a microcosm of the Mediterranean. Few European countries have such concentrated history, architecture and, yes, beaches in so tiny an area. While you’re in port in Malta, get to know its two capitals – Mdina, the ancient one, and Valletta, the current one. Visit many sights like the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage City, and you’ll learn of the different cultures and influences that have shaped Malta over the centuries. Enjoy the view of Mdina, the ‘Silent City,’ from the city bastions, and listen as your guide points out the Mdina Cathedral and the Museum of Natural History, housed in a palace once owned by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena. Malta's white taxis are famous. |
Agrigento
The "Valley of the Temples" is a large archeological site outside town surrounded by olive groves and almond orchards. The almond blosson festival (in late February) is rooted in enchanting folklore. Agrigento boasts several ancient Greek temples, including the Temple of Concord, one of only two completely standing ones in Sicily. The other is at Segesta, and if time is very limited we suggest visiting either Agrigento or Segesta. |
Monreale
The arcane fact that a mosaic icon of Thomas Becket graces the apse, and that it is the earliest holy image of the English saint murdered in Canterbury Cathedral, is just one of many fascinating features of this twelfth-century cathedral and cloister built on a hill in the eclectic Norman-Arab style with Byzantine artistic elements. It overlooks the city and its vast valley. Enjoy a pizza at Dietro l'Angolo the view from their terrace is stupendous. |
Segesta
Agrigento has one of Sicily's two completely standing Greek temples. One of these is Segesta. Out of justified pride, a few of today's Greeks might disagree, but this is the best-preserved ancient Doric temple in what used to be the Greek world. The site's ancient amphitheatre, set on a hill, boasts a magnificent position. If time is very limited, we suggest that you visit either Segesta or Agrigento. |
Erice
This hilltop town was successively Elymian, Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman. Its grey stone forms Punic walls, a castle, church and medieval streets that could almost be mistaken for ancient ones, bringing to the Good Friday passion procession an atmosphere rarely matched anyplace in Italy or Greece. But there's much more to Erice than this singular annual event. While you're here, don't forget to try the local pastries. |
Piazza Armerina
The Roman villa outside town has extensive mosaic pavements of the ancient Roman world, composed of rural scenes, pictures of flora and fauna, and classical motifs. The structure was the home of a wealthy Roman who loved art. Situated deep in the Sicilian hinterland, at 721 metres above sea level, stands Piazza Armerina.However, it is not the town that most people come to see, but the famous Villa Romana del Casale. Built in the middle of the 4th Century AD as a hunting lodge by a Roman patrician, the Villa is home to some of the best preserved and extensive examples of Roman mosaics spread over around 3500m. |
Vendicari
The Nature reserve was founded in 1984 to protect one of the most important wetlands in Europe. Hundreds of animal species inhabit it, but particularly rich is the fauna of water birds, especially during migration periods, when visiting the reserve becomes a must. Among the species that inhabit or use the Reserve during their migration are stilts, herons, storks, flamingos, mallards, seagulls, cormorants, and others. The Vendicari Nature Reserve features an area of 1,500 hectares. Cava delle Mosche is where the famous Cala Mosche beach is located. Spend a long day at the Reserve and then to go on to Noto at sunset. |
Cefalù
To describe Cefalù as Sicily's "Taormina" may be a slight overstatement, but don't miss it. The design of the splendid Norman cathedral was based on a French one, but nothing else in this seaside town owes much to anything but Sicily's own multicultural influences. There's an ancient Sicanian temple on the rocky cliff overlooking the town, and the ruins of a castle. The town itself offers pleasant narrow medieval streets and interesting shops. There's also a public beach. And all just an hour from Palermo, making Cefalù a great excursion idea if you're staying in the capital. |
Nebrodi Mountains
It's the most lushly forested region of Sicily. The range boasts some of the island's highest peaks after the volcano itself. Drive along the SS 289 from Cesarò high in the mountains to San Fratello and , a truly lush area that, with its high snowfall from late December into the middle of March, often looks more Swiss than Sicilian. A stop at Villa Miraglia, a lodge on the SS 289 in the middle of the forest, offers a chance to sample lamb, goat and the boarish Nebrodian Black Swine, and it's not far from a road leading to Mount Soro - at 1847 meters the highest peak in the chain. |