Tourist town, Castle

Erice is a perfectly preserved historic town situated on the summit of Monte Erice, 751 metres above sea level. From the ramparts and viewing points, you can see Trapani, the salt pans, the coastline and the Aegadian Islands. The main attraction is not any single landmark, but the entire compact town centre, full of cobbled streets, churches, passageways and viewpoints. Erice is one of the most beautiful places in western Sicily and is easily…

Tourist town, Archaeological site, Cathedral, Pebble beach

Taormina is one of the most beautiful and most visited places in Sicily. The historic centre lies high above the Ionian Sea and, within a small area, brings together an ancient theatre, romantic alleyways, views of Mount Etna and the famous Isola Bella beach. You can easily explore the town on foot, but be prepared for hilly terrain, lots of steps, higher prices and large crowds. In our opinion, Taormina is at its most enchanting in the early…

Tourist town, Archaeological site, Cathedral, Palace

The city where Archimedes was born – Syracuse (spelt Siracusa in Italian) – was originally founded as a colony of the ancient Greek city of Corinth in 734 BC. The city can be divided into two distinct halves. The best hotels in Sicily car hire in Sicily The first is the inland part with ruins from the ancient period, and the second is the ancient part with the harbour and winding narrow streets, which lies on the island of Ortigia and is…

Tourist town, Castle, Cathedral, Mountain, Lookout

Enna stands in the centre of Sicily on a high rocky promontory at an altitude of 931 metres above sea level. It is the highest provincial capital in Italy and offers some of the best views of the Sicilian hinterland. The historic centre is known as Enna Alta. Below, near the motorway, lies modern Enna Bassa, which serves mainly as a transport and university district. Most of the sights, viewpoints and tourist accommodation are located in Enna…

Tourist town, Castle

Caltabellotta is one of the most picturesque mountain villages in Sicily. It lies at an altitude of 949 metres, about 21 km from the town of Sciacca. Stone houses cling to the slopes amongst massive limestone cliffs, and the ruins of a medieval castle overlook the town from its highest point. The main reason to visit is not the perfectly preserved monuments, but the views, the mountainous landscape and the quiet historic streets. Far fewer…

Tourist town, Salt Plain

With a population of 72,000, Trapani is Sicily’s fifth-largest city and, thanks to Trapani Airport, one of the starting points for travelling around Sicily. All boats and ferries to the popular Egadi Islands also depart from Trapani, and the resort of San Vito lo Capo and the ancient ruins of Segesta are also nearby. Sights and attractions The town itself lies on a narrow peninsula, on which the historic centre is situated. It boasts typically…

Tourist town, Cathedral, Castle

Modica is a Baroque town in south-eastern Sicily, spread out across the floor of a deep valley and the surrounding slopes. Most travellers come here for the Church of San Giorgio, the panoramic views and Modica’s traditional chocolate. Selected monuments in Modica form part of the ‘Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto’, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town acquired its present appearance mainly during the reconstruction following the…

Tourist town, Cathedral

Ragusa is one of the most beautiful towns in south-eastern Sicily. The town consists of two parts separated by a deep valley: the Baroque Ragusa Ibla and the higher-lying Ragusa Superiore. Ragusa’s current appearance dates from its reconstruction following the devastating earthquake of 1693. The historic centre forms part of the ‘Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto’ UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main attraction is not any one specific…

Tourist town

Noto is Sicily’s most famous Baroque town and one of the best places to visit when travelling around the south-east of the island. The historic centre consists of churches, palaces and wide squares built from light-coloured stone, which takes on a golden hue in the afternoon sun. The town was rebuilt on a new site following the devastating earthquake of 1693. Today, it forms part of the ‘Late Baroque Towns in the Val di Noto’ UNESCO World…