Vacations in Sicily: where to go and what to visit?

Vacations in Sicily | Some tips on how to spend your vacation in Sicily, where to go and what to see. Let’s get started!

Some tips on how to spend your vacation in Sicily, where to go, and what to see. Let’s get started!

If you’re planning your vacation in Sicily, you’re in the right place! If what you’re looking for is a trip you’ll remember for a lifetime, there’s no need to go far (especially in times of pandemic); spending your summer holidays in Sicily means having an experience that will stay in your heart forever. Sea, sun, nature, adventure, landscapes, sunsets, history, culture—you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Where to start?

Well, they say well begun is half done. What better place to start than its capital? Palermo is fascinating, full of culture and contradictions, beauty and decay. It’s so rich in history and art that it’s hard to choose which monument or historic site to start with. But if you have to choose, these are the must-see places:

• the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel;
• the Palermo Cathedral;
• the Church and Cloister of Santa Caterina;
• the Teatro Massimo;
• the Vucciria and Ballarò markets;
• the Monreale Cathedral.

You won’t be able to resist the folklore that fills the streets of the historic center or the beauty of the old buildings framing the city. But Palermo isn’t just history and art: here, nature and the sea take center stage. From the Capo Gallo reserve to the Mondello beach, from the climb up to Santa Rosalia to the Bourbon Semaphore, the spectacular landscapes and colors will leave you breathless. This is our home, so we can confidently recommend that you stay in central Palermo: from the center you can easily reach by car, bus, bicycle, or scooter all the places we’ve mentioned.

How to continue your trip in Sicily?

Once you’ve completed your visit to Palermo (we suggest staying at least four days to fully enjoy it), you can make two choices: either continue on the western side of Sicily or head east. Of course, the more time you have, the better—so you don’t miss anything. If you decide to stay in the West, well, good choice! On this side of Sicily, there are so many places to visit, each more beautiful than the last. Here are our recommendations:

• Cefalù and its Cathedral (PA);
• the island of Ustica (PA);
• Castellammare del Golfo and the Zingaro Nature Reserve (TP);
• Erice (TP);
• the beach of San Vito Lo Capo (TP);
• the Egadi Islands archipelago (TP);
• the salt pans of Marsala and the pink beach of San Teodoro (TP);
• the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento;
• the Scala dei Turchi (AG).

If you choose to head east, well, good choice too! Every side of Sicily is wonderful and will give you something to take home. So if you’re in eastern Sicily, here are our suggestions:

• Capo d’Orlando (ME);
• the Aeolian Islands archipelago (ME);
• Taormina, the ancient theater, and Isola Bella (ME);
• Catania and Mount Etna;
• Syracuse, the island of Ortigia, and the Greek theater;
• the Val di Noto, with Noto, Ragusa, and Modica and their baroque architecture;
• the rock necropolis of Pantalica.

Well, maybe we should stop here so we don’t confuse you! Who knows, maybe in a future article we’ll explore this topic even more and tell you about many other places that are definitely worth visiting! In the meantime, enjoy your vacation in Sicily and if you’re around, come visit us at BeetCommunity, our oasis of tranquility in the center of Palermo. We’ll be happy to give you plenty of other tips (including culinary ones!) and, why not, even be your guide for a mini-tour or an excursion to some unexplored places. We’re waiting for you! >