THE BEST 25 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SICILY

Island of volcanoes, stone villages and crystal clear waters. Land of contrasts, melting pot of cultures, war and peace. Good people, good food and good drinking. Sicily was one of the regions of Italy that we had to explore, and after two weeks of roadtrip, we returned in love! If you are also planning to travel to this special island we tell you what are the 25 best things to see and do in Sicily.

1. We believe it is best to start the trip fromPalermo. It is probably the most interesting city in Sicily and wastes a sweeping personality. But it also offers emblematic monuments, local markets and is the gastronomic capital of the island. There can be no better beginning. All you can do in Palermo.

2. If you like archeology, in Sicily you will discover lots of sites. One of the most important isGets pregnant, where a Greek-era temple is surprisingly well preserved. Greek? Yes sir, part of the island belonged to Ancient Greece, and from this civilization you can still visit some ruins, like this one. Although the jewel in the crown is the Valley of the Temples.

3. But not everything is history, you will also have to enjoy the beaches! In San Vito lo Capo one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily and it is an essential stop on the route along the coast from Palermo to Trapani. We recommend you also go through Scopello and its cliffs: secured photo. Route by car from Palermo to Ragusa.

4. The city of Trapani It is the gateway to the beautiful Aegadian Islands. But it is much more, it is a friendly and beautiful city, where you can walk among stone buildings, contemplate the best sunsets in Sicily and try a rich granita or the occasional typical Sicilian dish, such as cous cous de fish. This is all to see and do in Trapani.

5. One of the surprises of the trip is just 15 km from Trapani, yes, by a winding road that goes up to the sky. We talk about Erice, a medieval village with cobbled streets and offering a panoramic that takes your breath away (that if the fog does not catch you hehe). Guide to visit Erice.

6. Of course, take a ferry or tour to explore the Aegadian Islands (Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo). We left a little bit of heart in Levanzo, so we will have to recover it again. And by the way we stayed a good season. All you have to know to visit the Aegadian Islands.

7. South of Trapani you can enjoy one of the most curious landscapes of Sicily: theSalinas de Nuvia, and later theSalinas de la Riserva dello Stagnone. They are grids that stain the horizon red and dotted with old windmills. You can take boat tours to better discover the area or just get in your car, as we did, and take a ride.Route by car from Palermo to Ragusa.

8. But if we have to talk about rare and surprising landscapes, it could not be missing La Scala dei Turchi. Its white rock cliff, with capricious formations, which falls into the sea, is one of those magical places that always remain in the memory. And more if you have the opportunity to watch a sunset from here. Information to plan the visit to the Scala dei Turchi.

9. We already did a little spoiler before: the Valley of the Temples It is without a doubt the most important archaeological site in Sicily. Lost among its ruins you will seem to be in Athens! The classic poet Pindar described her as "the prettiest of mortal cities." If you want you can book online ticket without queues and with audioguide.

10. And the prettiest of Sicilian cities for us is Ragusa. Sometimes the mistake is made of not including it in the traveler plans, and renounces to enjoy an authentic architectural jewel. Ragusa is divided into two parts: the new city and the old city, called Ragusa Ibla, connected by stairs and ramps that zigzag along the hillside, with beautiful views. For us, it was one of the great surprises of the trip. Curiosity: here many adventures of Commissioner Moltalbano took place. The best to see and do in Ragusa.

11. We haven't told you so far, but you have to eat a Sicilian cannolo a day. It is tradition (well, not really, but all traditions start with something, right?). What is tradition is breakfast granita and brioche, although there are hundreds of recipes in Sicily, so something you have to do if or if on your trip is take advantage of local cuisine! In this post we tell you that other typical Sicilian dishes you have to try.

12. Another thing what to see and do in Sicily, if you are traveling by car, it is to enter the “Val di Noto”, One of the most interesting areas in the south of the island, where you can explore Baroque cities as interesting as I notice Y Modica, or enter through its beautiful interior.

13. Since we learned of the existence ofMarzamemi In Irene's blog, we gave her absolute priority on our trip. So we stayed one night in this small town lost along the Sicilian coast and we took a walk through the square and its four streets, discovering charming corners. It is an original town, flirtatious and full of personality.Route by car from Ragusa to Taormina.

14. Near Marzamemi there is an excellent option to reconnect with nature in theVendicari Nature Reserve, a protected area for the habitat of flamingos and other birds (and even turtles!), with well maintained trails and pristine beaches where you can take a bath. If you travel in summer do not stop approaching. Admission is free.

15. Although on the map Syracuse It may seem like a big city, without seemingly too much charm, here are two places that you cannot miss while visiting Sicily. The Archaeological Park of the NeapolisIt is in the heart of the city and especially surprises the Greek amphitheater and the ear of Dionysus, an artificial cave where we had the immense luck of coinciding with a choir (it is one of the best acoustic sites in the world). And the Ortigia Island, the old part of Syracuse, where walking through its streets is a great pleasure. Prepare your trip to Syracuse with these tips.

16. The capital of Sicily is Palermo, although the most important city in the east is Catania (With more than 300,000 inhabitants. In a duel between the two, we would stay with the first, but it is clear that Catania has monuments and places that deserve to be visited (and if you are lucky enough to be on a clear day, you can go Via Etnea under the watchful eye of Etna ... that is priceless!). What to see and do in Catania.

17. In Sicily there are two of the three active volcanoes in Italy (Stromboli and Etna, the third is Vesuvius in Naples). And of course, it can't be a perfect trip without visiting the craters of Etna. There are different ways to make the visit, we finally decided to climb by car to the Rifugio Sapienza, 2,000 meters high, and there travel a couple of craters. The best thing is that the road is perfectly and you just have to pay for parking! The almost lunar landscapes are amazing! How to visit Etna for free and on tour.

18. After the visit to Etna we follow the route to get to know one of the most beautiful and elegant cities in Sicily: Taormina. Upon arrival we realized that we were not the only ones to have this same idea. The town is very touristy, but it will be for something! Between the theater, the downtown streets, and the beach at your feet, we can only subscribe to everything they say about it: it is a jewel (not hidden) of Sicily. This was our passage through Taormina.

19. We cross Messina without stopping, and the truth, we do not regret it. We continue along the coast road, getting closer and closer to Peninsular Italy on the other side of the strait, until we reach the small fishing village of Faro Tower. It is a fairly quiet area, with pebble beaches and crystal clear waters, and where to eat fish dishes at good prices.Route by car from Taormina to Palermo.

20. We arrive at Milazzo With one goal: visit the Aeolian Islands on a day tour. Although after thinking that one day would not be enough, we decided to dedicate ourselves to throwing ourselves at the bartola on the beaches of Milazzo and hitting several dip in its cool and turquoise waters. Honestly, it didn't cost us much to change plans.

21. Be able to know the Aeolian Islands It was one of our travel goals. As you can see, we could not fulfill it, but in this way we have an excuse to return. Because it is certainly one of the best things What to see and do in Sicily.

22. We tell you about the Aegadian Islands and the Aeolian Islands, but did you know that in Sicily there are a total of 19 inhabited islands? Some of the prettiest are in the Pelagias archipelago, like Lampedusa and Isla de los Conejos (where it is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world!). Go straight to the list for the next trip.

23. In Monreale There is one of the best examples of Norman art: its famous cathedral. The entrance costs € 4, yes, check the visiting hours well because they are somewhat rare. You can see them here.

24. The mafia is a terrible problem for Sicily and in general for Italy. We ask you not to go with the romantic image sold by the Holliwood blockbuster movies. Traveling to Sicily is very safe, but it is advisable to know a little about the history of Cosa Nostra, to understand the problems of today's society. To help a little, we wrote a post with a (not so) brief history of the Mafia in Italy.

25. Last, and not least of this list, we put Cefalu, another of the most beautiful corners of Sicily. It is a small and old coastal town, with narrow streets and perfect beaches for swimming. Although without a doubt, the best thing in Cefalù is to climb the Rock. Here we leave you Everything to see and do in Cefalù.

25 + 1. And of course, come back: two weeks in Sicily fall short! There is much more to explore on this amazing island, for us one of the most complete trips in Europe.

Do you know more things to see and do in Sicily? Leave us a comment!

Video: Our 25 Favorite Bites on Tour in Sicily (April 2024).