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Sicily

The diverse region of Sicily is made up of the main island and a clutch of smaller islands. Ringed by a trio of ultramarine seas, these sun-drenched islands have a rugged landscape blanketed by mountains, volcanoes, and vineyards and orchards, as well as cultural cities and picturesque towns.

n This guide divides Sicily into five colour-coded sightseeing areas, as shown on this map. Find out more about each area on the following pages.

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

Palermo

Dubbed Conca d’Oro (golden basin), Sicily’s capital is a colourful and dynamic port city that lies pinched between Mount Pellegrino, Aspra and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Here, a spiderweb of streets lead to countless Baroque and Gothic churches, while the city’s eye-catching Liberty-style palazzi are upstaged only by its splendid Cathedral and gilded Cappella Palatina. Scattered across Palermo are a hodgepodge of lively piazzas, bustling outdoor markets and crumbling neighbourhoods strung with fluttering laundry, alongside vibrant up-and-coming restaurants and cafés.

Best for Arab-Norman architecture, browsing open-air markets and eating delicious cannoli

Home to Palazzo Abatellis, Palermo Cathedral, Cappella Palatina, Duomo di Monreale

Experience Attend an opera at Teatro Massimo

Go To: Palermo i

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

t Picking up fresh produce at Vucciria market

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

The Egadi Islands and the Northwest

A great many civilizations left their footprints on the northwest of Sicily. Today ancient settlements such as Segesta, Selinunte and Solunto sit alongside picture-postcard resort towns like Cefalù and Bagheria. The area’s rugged coastline is home to little fishing villages, beautiful beaches and the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, while further inland are mountainous uplands. Numerous islands are also scattered off the coast, from tiny Ustica to the rocky Egadi Islands.

Best for Strolling through medieval fishing villages and discovering Norman castles

Home to: Cefalù, Riserva dello Zingaro, Erice, Segesta, Egadi Islands, Selinunte

Experience Take a drive along the Salt Road

Go To: The Egadi Islands and the Northwest i

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

t The historic townand peaceful beach of Cefalù

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

Agrigento and the Southwest

Unforgettable for its classical skyline of Olympian deities, the Valley of the Temples’ garland of colonnades tumble across a crest of land near the hilltop city of Agrigento. Further east, the well-preserved mosaics of Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina offer a unique window into everyday Roman life. Hilly interiors of green-and-yellow vineyards and olive groves contrast with jagged cliffs facing the far-off Pelagie islets – mere droplets in the balmy Mediterranean.

Best for Exploring Greek temples and Roman ruins

Home to Agrigento, Piazza Armerina: Villa Romana del Casale

Experience Dine on traditional dishes such as pollo alla Marsala made with capers from Pantelleria

Go To: Agrigento and the Southwest i

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

t Snorkeling in the clear waters of Lampedusa island

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

Syracuse, Val di Noto and the South

Tremendous contrasts characterize this end of Sicily, making it a treat for the senses. Here, limestone gorges cut through a landscape blanketed by carpets of wildflowers, while bluffs curve over sandy beaches. The area is also home to several historic cities that contain UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Baroque Noto, Greek-influenced Syracuse and fairy-tale Ragusa, while eastward you’ll discover scores of scenic villages.

Best for Outdoor amphitheatres, Baroque churches and ceramics shopping.

Home to Syracuse, Ortigia, Noto, Ragusa, Caltagirone

Experience Listen to amplified sounds inside the Ear of Dionysius

Go To: Syracuse, Val di Noto and the South i

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

t Washing hanging from an apartment building in Syracuse

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

Mount Etna, the Aeolian Islands and the Northeast

The northeast quadrant of Sicily offers an array of unique travel experiences. Here you will encounter pine-forested highlands, a romantic volcanic archipelago, a coastal stretch of dreamy holiday resorts, noisy cities and pretty fishing hamlets, all set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of capricious Mount Etna.

Best for Fresh seafood, active volcanic craters

Home to Catania, Taormina, Mount Etna, Messina, Aeolian Islands

Experience Cool off with a slushy Granita on the island of Salina

Go To: Mount Etna, the Aeolian Islands and the Northeast i

DISCOVER Getting to Know the Sicily

t The bustling city of Catania with Mount Etna forming a backdrop