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…

City, Cathedral, Palace

Palermo might not blow you away at first glance, but if you stay in the city a little longer, you’re sure to fall in love with its characteristically narrow streets. Peeling façades, rubbish on the streets and crumbling houses are nothing out of the ordinary. Gradually, however, you’ll grow accustomed to the city and its unique atmosphere, and you’ll fall in love with its contrasts. With a population of over 640,000, Palermo is Sicily’s largest…

Archaeological site

Agrigento is one of Sicily’s most significant historical sites. The main reason to visit is the Valley of the Temples, a vast archaeological park containing the remains of the ancient city of Akragas. In my view, the Valley of the Temples is one of those places that’s well worth changing your itinerary for. Agrigento itself is a pleasant bonus, but the main attraction remains the Greek temples beneath the town. 🛌 view accommodation in…

Resort, Sandy beach, Cathedral, Mountain, Lookout

Cefalù is a historic seaside town on the northern coast of Sicily, about 70 km east of Palermo. It combines a sandy beach, medieval streets, a Norman cathedral and a viewpoint from the Rocca di Cefalù cliff, all in one place. It is easy to get here from Palermo by direct train. Cefalù is therefore one of the best day trips in Sicily. If your itinerary allows, we recommend staying here for at least one night. The town centre is quieter in the…

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…

City, Cathedral

Messina lies on the northernmost tip of the Ionian coast, just a short distance from mainland Italy. An important port and gateway to Sicily, it faced natural disasters and bombing during the Second World War, which destroyed many of its monuments; most of the current ones are therefore either reconstructed copies or were built from scratch immediately after the war. View the best accommodation in Sicily Compare car hire prices Messina may…

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…

Archaeological site

Segesta is one of the most impressive ancient sites in western Sicily. The archaeological site is dominated by an exceptionally well-preserved Doric temple and a Greek theatre atop Monte Barbaro. The site is smaller than the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. However, you’ll need at least 2 hours to explore it. This is because the temple and the theatre are located in different parts of the park and are separated by a long climb. 🛌 view…

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…