Sicily: 7 Breathtaking Stops You Can’t Miss – A Sicilian’s Ultimate Guide
f you’re planning a trip to Sicily and wondering what to see, this guide is for you! Discover the must-see stops in Sicily as we explore the island’s most iconic attractions, from stunning beaches to historical sites. These unmissable destinations in Sicily will leave you captivated by the island’s unique charm and beauty.
This week, my blog is happy to host a special person, Alessia, aka Nasmadie, a talented Sicilian travel blogger and tourist agent.
Through her blog Sicilian wandering cat , she lets us explore the most iconic places in Sicily, from beaches and villages to cities and historical sites. A true wandering cat at heart, she loves strolling through the island’s stone walls and always dedicates part of her travels to exploring Sicily through daily excursions, weekend getaways, or mini trips!
I had planned to visit her in Sicily this Christmas, but once again, the pandemic interfered, and with the specter of a new lockdown, planning a trip has become quite difficult.
Today, instead of sharing an itinerary, Alessia provides us with a general overview of the island and what, in her personal opinion, is absolutely unmissable!
COSA TROVERAI IN QUESTO POST:
Sicily recommended by Nasmadie
Despite what some may think, Sicily is a very large island!
Working in the tourism sector, I often meet people who, staying in Palermo, think they can visit the entire island by setting off in the morning for Mount Etna and planning to return in time for dinner in Palermo…
Leaving aside my confusion about how one can set off for a destination without first doing proper research, this clearly shows how little is actually known about this land!
What kind of travelers are you? Do you enjoy art cities? Or do you prefer to enjoy the beauty of landscapes? Do you like diving? Or do you prefer trekking? Do you love forests and mountains? Or do you prefer beach vacations? Do you like the cold? Or do you prefer the heat? Do you like big cities? Or do you prefer small villages? Do you like skiing? Whatever your passion, Sicily offers such a varied and vast landscape that it’s bound to satisfy your desires! You just need to give it a chance!
I must emphasize that the list above is a personal selection, a reduced list compared to the vastness that is Sicily.
Palermo
Let’s start with the capital. Palermo is one of the most art-rich cities, with numerous styles left behind by the various dominations that have passed through here—Romans, Normans, Byzantines, French, Spanish, and Austrians.
Palermo is also one of Italy’s largest cities, the fifth largest to be exact, with one of the most beautiful and largest historic centers in Europe, filled with countless monuments, squares, and theaters.
Here’s what you cannot miss when visiting Palermo:
- Arab-Norman itinerary, including Monreale and Cefalù
- Catacombs of the Capuchins
- Visit to Palazzo Conte Federico (I’d like to explain why I’ve included this palace. We are used to visiting ancient palaces on our own, with the help of audio guides, or with a tour guide. But imagine if the original owners of the palace were still alive! Here, it’s them who guide you through the rooms, talking about what seems like a monument to discover, but to them, it’s home. That’s what visiting Palazzo Conte Federico feels like.)
- The coast near Aspra (especially Baia dei Francesi) and Sant’Elia
- Caccamo
- Madonie: forest and villages, including Petralia Soprana and Geraci Siculo, where the Salto dei Ventimiglia (Ventimiglia Cliff) is located, a glass structure built on a cliff.
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Trapani
Known as the City of Salt and Sailing, due to its economic activities, aided by its natural position overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Just ten kilometers off the coast, you can find the Egadi Islands.
Located on the western part of Sicily, on the promontory of ancient Drepanum (from Latin falce, meaning sickle, due to the shape of the peninsula on which the city sits).
Mythology says that a sickle that fell from Ceres’ hands transformed into a tongue of land on which the city was built.
- Erice, an ancient medieval village
- Saline di Trapani and Marsala
- Scopello: sea bathing at the tuna fishery, visit to the fishery, and tour of the small village
- Temple of Segesta and Segestan countryside by quad
- Cretto di Burri, a land art piece
- Egadi Islands
Agrigento
Agrigento is undoubtedly one of the pearls of Sicily. The city was founded by colonists from Rhodes and nearby Gela, who named it “Akragas”.
Agrigento is famous worldwide for the incredible archaeological area of the Valley of the Temples, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. It’s a must-see not only for the city but for anyone visiting Sicily.
- Scala dei Turchi
- Valley of the Temples
Ragusa e Syracuse
Ragusa, located in the heart of the Val di Noto, is the southernmost capital of Italy. Nestled in an area rich in both natural and architectural wonders, it’s the cradle of Baroque architecture.
This architectural style, known for its extravagance, is the most prevalent in the Ragusa area, which flourished after the 1693 earthquake. The city’s historical and artistic importance led to its inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002.
Syracuse, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2005, is situated within a stunning natural harbor, with the island of Ortigia to the east and the Epipoli plateau to the rear.
A beautiful and inspiring city, it was praised by Cicero as “the most beautiful city of Magna Graecia,” and still carries the marks of its ancient history, from the Greek era to the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
- Island of Ortigia (including underground Ortigia, Syracuse)
- Ear of Dionysius (Syracuse)
- Marzamemi (Syracuse)
- Noto (Syracuse)
- Donnafugata Castle (Ragusa)
- Baroque District (Ragusa)
Enna
Enna, once known as Castrogiovanni until 1927, took back its ancient name. The city was called Urbs Inexpugnabilis (Inexpugnable City) by the Romans for its impenetrability.
- Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina
Catania
Located at the foot of Mount Etna, which often puts on an incredible show with its eruptions, Catania is a dazzling city of art, another evident example of Sicilian Baroque, and like many other cities, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Catania city, built with lava stone
- Etna, in any season
- Acitrezza
- Acicastello
- Taormina
Messina
A city just a step away from continental Italy, it inspired two of Shakespeare’s plays set in the city: Much Ado About Nothing and The Winter’s Tale.
Messina reached great prosperity, becoming the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily under the Swabian-Angioin-Aragonese rule, and became one of the largest and most important cities in the Mediterranean.
For many centuries, it was the wealthiest Sicilian city, second in the South of Italy only to Naples.
In 1908, it suffered significant damage due to the earthquake that also hit Reggio Calabria.
- Alcantara Gorges
- Fiumara d’Arte, a land art piece
- Tindari, sanctuary and beach
- Aeolian Islands
I want to sincerely thank Nasmadiefor these incredibly valuable and precise recommendations. I can’t wait to visit Sicily, and if not the whole island, at least part of it… it’s a land that makes you fall in love at first sight!
Go on Traveling!
Lety goes on
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