Choosing just 10 of the most beautiful places in a region as fabulous as Sicily proves to be an absolutely impossible task, the kind that not even the best Cicero could manage without raising a few eyebrows.
In any case, we wanted to go out on a limb and formulate as impartial a ranking as possible of the wonders of Sicily. History, art, culture and nature intersect in a fantastic plot, capable of capturing the heart of every free spirit, of every passionate travelling soul: here are what to see in Sicily, the 10 most beautiful places to visit.
1 - San Vito Lo Capo, Riserva dello Zingaro and Scopello
Photo by Roberto Fontana. When you think of Sicilian beauty, you cannot help but consider its sea. Of all the fantastic beaches dotted along the west coast, one in particular stands out: the beach at San Vito lo Capo.
The famous seaside resort needs no introduction; its qualities are known to all, Sicilians and non-Sicilians alike.
For many, it is'a Sicily apart': orderly, organised, with a wealth of efficient services and excellent programming, with the summer season full of concerts and events, among which the Cous Cous Fest stands out.
In the San Vito Lo Capo area is the Zingaro Reserve, an uncontaminated corner of paradise, with beautiful coves and seabeds for sea lovers, as well as trekking routes in the midst of the Mediterranean maquis. Finally, a few kilometres from the reserve is Scopello, a hamlet of the municipality of Castellammare del Golfo, famous for its faraglioni (stacks) and tuna fishery.
2 - Taormina and Isola Bella
Taormina deserves praise for its archaeological wealth. The Ancient Theatre, the Numachie, the Odeon and the Castle of Monte Tauro, as well as the Duomo and Palazzo Corvaja, we recommend visiting these precious gems on an organised walking tour to appreciate their historical importance.
As if this were not enough, there are also wonderful beaches and coves, such as the Baia delle Sirene and especially the magnificent Isola Bella. The latter is known as the 'pearl of the Mediterranean' and is an islet connected to the coast by an isthmus that only resurfaces at low tide.
You can reach the beach connected to the island by a flight of steps, but beware of the climb, which can be extremely tiring due to the scorching heat. If you don't feel like struggling, use the cable car, or better still, visit the area via a cruise along the coast with a swim at Isola Bella.
SEE ALSO: Taormina: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening
3 - Palermo, Monreale and Cefalù
For a tourist who really wants to experience Sicily, Palermo is a city to discover, even better if you do so via a tour of gastronomy and history (you are in the Italian capital of street food!).
Anartistic, historical and cultural landmark of Sicily, the city offers so many things to see: the Cathedral, the Quattro Canti, the Teatro Massimo and the Politeama, the Martorana Church and the Cappella Palatina, Palazzo dei Normanni, La Zisa and Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri. The sightseeing bus tour allows you to visit all the must-sees in one day, so it is the ideal solution if you are on an itinerant tour of Sicily and are only in Palermo for a short time, plus it makes it much easier for you to get around (walking under the sun in summer can be very tiring).
After admiring Palermo, you should dedicate a second day to the nearby towns of Cefalù and Monreale, whose cathedrals are among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To reach them, simply book a convenient organised half-day tour with transfer included. Finally, if you have more time left, dedicate a third day to Mondello and Sferracavallo, Palermo's seaside districts.
4 - Mount Etna Park and Alcantara Gorges
Etna Park is a must-visit destination at any time of year.
If you visit in the summer, the reserve offers an inordinate amount of opportunities, in the form of guided tours, sports activities and excursions.
Our advice is to make anexcursion in the morning from Catania
and then move on to the Alcantara Gorge, another breathtaking natural attraction (convenient combined tours are also available).
If, on the other hand, you prefer a romantic experience, opt for a sunset tour to Mount Etna, and spend the morning visiting some of the nearby seaside resorts such as Acireale, Aci Castello, and Aci Trezza.
Even in winter, the park is an attraction of enormous interest, just think that it is the most important skiing destination on the entire island. In addition, you can visit the main Etnean foothill villages such as Bronte, Zafferana and Nicolosi.
5 - Lampedusa and the Rabbit Beach
Photo by Ezio55. The island of Lampedusa is certainly among the must-see destinations in Sicily, especially for sea lovers. It is home to the most beautiful beach in the world: the Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach), awarded the prestigious accolade by the TripAdvisor community.
A boat tour of the main coves, and the day excursion to the island of Lampione (about 40 km away) is a must. You can also easily reach the island of Linosa (53 km away) by ferry.
6 - Syracuse, Ortigia and Cavagrande del Cassibile
Photo by pjt56. It is truly amazing how Syracuse manages to encompass such a large number of attractions. TheGreek Amphitheatre and the Ear of Dionysus in the Neopolis Park, the Fountain of Arethusa, the Baroque Cathedral and the Maniace Castle on the island of Ortigia, the city's historic centre, are unique rarities, which we recommend you discover on an excellent guided walking tour.
In the surroundings of the city, you can also admire naturalistic places of great importance, such as the Necropolis of Pantalica (51 km away) and the Reserve of Cavagrande del Cassibile (40 km away), where the small lakes of Avola Antica are located. These stupendous bodies of water are immersed in a natural territory of immense charm. To reach them you have to suffer a bit. The walk is particularly tiring, perhaps too much so, especially for people who are out of shape and for people a little older, but the sight of them is able to repay any physical effort... Other nearby places of interest are the Fontane Bianche beach (17 km), Avola (25 km) and Noto (37 km).
SEE ALSO: Syracuse and Ortigia: recommended sights, beaches and itineraries
7 - Scala dei Turchi and Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
The province of Agrigento also rightly deserves a place in our list for the presence of two unique attractions: Scala dei Turchi and the Valley of the Temples!
You need only look at the beach of Scala dei Turchi on a postcard to be literally thunderstruck by the evocative beauty of its landscape. Stunning, majestic and imposing, the ivory-coloured cliff rises sheer above the sea, offering unforgettable emotions to tourists and visitors alike.
Unfortunately, access is often barred due to landslides, so the best way to admire it is by sea on acatamaran excursion.
A little more than 12 km away is the Valley of the Temples, one of the best preserved archaeological parks in the world and one of the most important witnesses of Hellenic civilisation in Sicily.
For an exciting experience, we recommend the E-scooter tour or the night tour.
8 - Val di Noto
The Val di Noto is located between the provinces of Catania and Syracuse and encompasses eight beautiful Baroque towns that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Catania, Ragusa , Caltagirone, Noto, Modica, Militello, Scicli and Palazzolo Acreide.
Not far from it one can visit natural sites such as Cavagrande del Cassibile, the Vendicari Wildlife Oasis and the Plemmirio Marine Reserve, and places of archaeological interest such as Pantalica, Palazzolo Acreide and the Neapolis of Syracuse.
Surely the best way to visit these areas is to stay in Catania or Noto and from there leave for the various towns.
9 - Favignana and Levanzo
We cannot leave out of the ranking the beautiful Egadi Islands. Even before you dock on Favignana, you will be amazed by the beauty of the island. The largest of the Egadi Islands, it is covered in bright white houses with contrasting blue or green windows and is surrounded by turquoise waters. It offers fantastic scenery and some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Italy. Equally fascinating is Levanzo, smaller and more intimate, an ancient fishing village to be discovered and understood, immersed in a slow and relaxed atmosphere.
The Egadi Islands can be reached from the ports of Trapani and Marsala. You can choose to stay in Favignana for a few days and then make excursions to Levanzo and Marettimo.
10 - Lipari, Vulcano and Stromboli
The Aeolian Islands are a popular destination, especially loved by foreign tourists. They consist of eight islands of volcanic origin, one more beautiful than the other, providing postcard-perfect scenery. There is no one island that can 'represent' the entire archipelago, because they are all characteristic and different from each other, but if we had to recommend two in which to base oneself, we would say Lipari and Vulcano, i.e. the 'most touristy of the group', hence the ones with the most choice of hotels and restaurants and the best connections with the others. However, the active volcano Stromboli is also worth a visit, especially for the possibility of an unforgettable sunset trek to Sciara del Fuoco, an impressive depression from which lava flows.
Here, too, we recommend staying on one of the main islands and then visiting the others nearby via sea excursions. If, on the other hand, you have very little time available, you can participate in simple organised cruises departing from Milazzo, Taormina and Tropea.
Organise your stay in Sicily: how to arrive and where to stay
Sicily lends itself to different types of travel. Getting there is easy, there are three airports located in Palermo, Catania and Trapani (flights from €23.00 - see offers).
If you want to enjoy the sea and some excursions, stay in a resort on the coast or on an island. We recommend Castellammare del Golfo for the west, Fontane Bianche for the east, Favignana for the Egadi and Lipari for the Aeolian Islands(find the best deals on booking).
For a complete itinerary between sea, culture and history, organise an 'on the road' trip by renting a car (from €42.00 per day). You can either land in Palermo and depart from Catania, or take a complete tour and depart from the capital. If you are short on time, visit only one of the two sides according to your preferences. For Western Sicily, stay in Palermo and San Vito Lo Capo(accommodation from €50.00 per night), for Eastern Sicily, base yourself in Catania, Taormina and Noto(accommodation from €50.00 per night).
