Sicily is the largest – and most famous – island in the Mediterranean, and there is a lot more to it than it’s somewhat dubious status as being home to the Italian Mafia and La Costra Nostra. While Sicily is technically a part of Italy, it has a unique character of it’s own.
Sicily is famed for being a melting pot of various cultures, landscapes, and cuisines that all come together in an incredibly beautiful way. Keep watching to see our top picks of the Best Things To Do In Sicily, Italy.
Mount Etna
The Ancient Greeks believed that Mount Etna, which happens to be the largest active volcano in all of Europe, was the home of the mythical Cyclops. Today, this locale which can be found in the province of Catania is one of Sicily’s biggest tourist draws.
In the summer, it’s an excellent place to go hiking – come winter, it’s peaks are prime ski territory. If you’re hoping to experience something a bit more relaxing, you can take a ride on a cable car that will bring you more than 8,200 feet above sea level to see jaw-droppingly beautiful panoramas.
Villa Romana del Casale
Built around the fourth century CE, Villa Romana del Casale is home to some of the most complex and famous mosaics from the Roman Empire. The site has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was abandoned sometime in the 12th century. In the 19th century it became famous when it’s dazzling mosaics were unearthed.
One of the most famous pieces on display is the bikini girls mosaic which was excavated in 1959. The piece depicts women doing a variety of sports and exercising. Tours of the site are available daily.
Castelmola
Nowhere else on the island will you see views as impressive as Castelmola, but in order to see them, you’ll have to work for it. While passing through Taormina, you’ll ascend to more than 1,640 feet above sea level. We recommend taking the bus route instead of driving, as the windy roads can be quite challenging for those that aren’t familiar with the lay of the land and parking is extremely limited.
You could alternatively walk there, but that trek wouldn’t be an easy one. Regardless of how you get there, once at the top, you can visit the historic church, eat candied almonds, and look out over Mt. Etna, the Calabrian coast, and the Strait of Messina.
Hopefully, if you’re still with us, this video has already given you a couple of solid reasons to visit Sicily, Italy. If you’re interested in learning about more fantastic travel destinations across the globe, show us a little support by giving this video a like and subscribing to the Viewcation channel. And stay tuned to learn about several more excellent Sicilian attractions that you need to see to believe!
Valley Of The Temples
Right outside of Agrigento, this fascinating archaeological park contains the remains of eight temples that were built sometime between the fifth and sixth centuries BC. While all of the structures are noteworthy, the Temple of Concordia is generally considered to be the most important.
The Temple is one of the most perfectly preserved Greek ruins on the planet – so much so, that it’s even inspired the design of the UNESCO logo. The Park, which spans over 3,212 acres, is the worlds largest archaeological site.
Gole dell’Alcantara
Formed by waves of lava that freely flowed many centuries ago, the Gole dell’Alcantara is a network of canyons that can be found in the Gole Alcantara Botanical and Geological Park. When this formation was created, lava flowed along the Alcantara River between Messina and Catania provinces. In the process, it formed several vertical and horizontal configurations as well as a few basalt walls that are as tall as 164 feet.
The Cathedral of Monreale
This ornate structure encapsulates the politics, religion and artistry of Sicily under the reign of the Normans. To this day, it remains almost exactly as it was when it was first built in the 12th century.
The Cathedral’s architecture displays the shift away from the Eastern Byzantine forms that were once popular. The mesmerizing mosaics that adorns it’s interior walls are what the Cathedral is best known for. While it’s exterior suggests otherwise, those pieces are still very much so within the Byzantine tradition.
The mosaics cover just about every surface within the structure, illustrating Biblical tales and themes rendered in vivacious colors and with masterful artistry.
Eastern Temples At Selinunte
One of the most revered and cherished ancient sites in Sicily, Selinunte, has 8 Greek temples that date back to the fifth century BCE. Nearby is the Temple of Demeter.
The most notable of these is known as the Eastern Group, which are designated by letters. Temple G is famed for its immense size, while Temple E is considered to be an architectural marvel that’s often listed as being one of the foremost examples of design from the Classical period.
Temple G was once the largest of all the Greecian temples, nowadays, it’s been reduced to ruins – as is often the case when buildings are subject to the passing of the sands of time.
Another section is the massive Acropolis which is surrounded by ancient defensive walls. Some of these walls date back to the 7th century BCE. Temple C, is by far the oldest and largest temple, dating back to 550 BCE. It also sits on the highest ground in the area.
Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, Syracuse
Getting the chance to see the most prominent theater of the Ancient Greek Empire is but one reason why you should visit this archaeological park. As you approach the site coming along Vilae Rizzo, you’ll get a pretty good idea of what to expect. Along that route, you’ll see both the Greek Theater and a large Roman Amphitheater.
Another must-see attraction is the Altar of Hiero II which dates back to the 3rd century BCE – a full century after the construction of the 15,000-spectator accommodating Greek Theater. The Roman Amphitheater was built in the 3rd century CE and is partly constructed out of the bedrock.
Another compelling feature of this site is the opportunity to see the rock quarries where the building materials used to construct these marvelous structures were cut on-site. The biggest of these is the impressive Latomia del Paradiso. Here limestone has been harvested since the 6th century BCE.
l’Orecchio di Dionisio, or the Ear of Dionysius, is an underground gallery that is famed for having perfect acoustics. Make sure you check it out on your visit!
Dine On Sicilian Cuisine
While sightseeing and visiting the various archaeological sites scattered across Sicily are certainly two of the best things to do when taking a Sicilian vacation, eventually you’re going to work up an appetite.
Traditional Sicilian grub is fairly simple. Sicily takes great pride in it’s local, affordable, and all-around delicious food. Traveling to either side of the island will allow you to taste dishes that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Some dishes borrow elements of North African cuisine while others are deeply rooted in Italian culinary tradition. Pistachios, almonds, citrus fruits, and seafood are featured heavily – as are artichokes, creamy sauces, and al dente pasta.
For fine dining, La Madia is a 2-star Michelin-rated restaurant in the south coast town of Licata. Guests are served flavorful and imaginative dishes in a sophisticated, sleek dining room that makes sure that all of the attention is directed where it rightfully should be – the food.
Each dish is designed to invoke the feel of what it’s like to live on the island. You can either order a la carte menu items like smoked cod or honeyed pigeon or enjoy their tasting menus which will allow you discover an assortment of creative dishes.
Another high-end Haute cuisine restaurant that does a great job re-imagining classic Sicilian recipes is Duomo Ristorante. This 2-Michelin-Starred spot can be found in the town of Ragusa. It borrows it’s name from the nearby San Giorgio cathedral.
The emphasis in their menu is on deconstructed Sicilian classics that re-imagine them with a modern 21st-century twist. Menus are seasonal, but they always contain at least three key ingedients, salt, wheat, and oil. The restaurant’s assorted fish menu is out of this world.
Osteria Ballaro is a Sicilian restaurant located in Palermo that offers diners a multisensory dining experience within a building that boasts a ton of history. The building once housed the stables of the Medieval Palazzo Cattolica. With it’s exposed brick walls and vaulted ceiling, this place makes for an excellent location to enjoy a delicious meal.
For a feast from the sea, check out Viri Ku C’s. This waterfront restaurant can be found in the Southeastern Sicilian town Vittoria. Right across the street is Scoglitti’s beach, making this dining spot an excellent place to enjoy an assortment of fresh seafood after a day enjoying the beauty of the ocean.
The fixed price menu changes daily, adapting to whatever the freshest catches are. So be sure, to come with an open mind and an appetite. Start your meal with mussels, oysters, clams, langoustines, or shrimp. For your main course, we recommend the homemade pastas and whole, broiled fish. For dessert, wrap things up with a palate-cleansing serving of lemon sorbet.
With that, we’ll be wrapping this video up. But before you move on to watching another one of our eye-opening travel videos, let us know in the comments what you’re most excited to see and do on your upcoming trip to Sicily. If you’ve already been before, what are a few of your favorite attractions, restaurants, towns, and landmarks?
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As always, thanks for watching and happy travels!