What to see in Sicily

The luxurious Italian (what did you think?) island of Sicily. Which cities to visit? What sea washes its shores? Why come here? Let’s talk about the most interesting spots in Sicily worth seeing.

How to get to Sicily

There are five airports on the island, but we are only interested in two international ones — in Palermo and Catania. There are no direct flights to them currently, so you will have to fly with a layover. If you take tickets to Palermo, you will first need to land in Istanbul, and then make another connection in Rome, Athens, or Thira (Santorini). So we recommend allowing more time for the journey to see many more interesting things along the way. Convenient tickets for the journey to Catania are available with a layover in Yerevan and Rome or in Istanbul and Milan. Those who wish to fly faster can make just one layover in Istanbul, though such tickets will be more expensive.

There is another way to get to Sicily — by water. That is, you will still have to fly first, and then transfer to a ferry. This method is suitable if you are traveling through Italy by car. Ferries to Messina depart from San Giovanni (approximately 20 minutes travel time) and from Salerno (9 hours travel time).

Both for traveling in mainland Italy and in Sicily, you will need a Schengen visa.

When is the best time to fly to Sicily

Although you might hear that you can fly to the island starting from April, it’s better to wait at least another month. In May it will be significantly warmer here, although we still recommend bringing warm clothes (a jacket, trousers): it might rain at any moment, and then the temperature will drop to +14 degrees Celsius.

Summer is the best time for a holiday at Sicily’s resorts. There are many magnificent port towns and beaches here, so you can swim and sunbathe without any problems. The main heat falls in July and August. The active tourist season continues until November, when rains start frequently in the region. However, in autumn and winter, Sicily is worth visiting if you are more interested in museums and architecture. Moreover, at this time, there are significantly fewer tourists, and prices for tickets and accommodation are lower.

Which cities to visit

Palermo

If Palermo needs to be described in one word, it would be ‘contrast’. Everything here seems to be gathered from different ends of the spectrum. The architecture has absorbed both West and East, modernity is intertwined with antiquity, and beauty coexists with the unsightly sides of life. Since everyone who wasn’t too lazy left their mark on the city’s history (its location in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea always encouraged this), Palermo’s appearance turned out accordingly.

Here, for example, is the Norman Palace. In its past, it was the Arab Palace of the Emirs. Or Casa Professa — pure Baroque! And beneath Palermo are the Capuchin Catacombs. Cute monkeys have nothing to do with it: in the underground corridors, you will find skulls and bones — these are the burials of Sicilian aristocrats and clergy.

Taormina

This small coastal town is characterized by an exclusively touristy nature. And no wonder — its location is simply fabulous. Below are the bays of Mazzaro and Isola Bella — semicircular, quiet, picturesque. Upwards, the town ascends in terraces of squares and winding streets. Overcoming them is quite a task, which is why there’s a funicular here.

Taormina’s main attraction is the ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman theater, surrounded by green trees. The Messina Gate leads to Umberto Street — the main street in the city, where tourists stroll back and forth and where countless gelaterias, restaurants, hotels, and luxury shops operate. But the best view of the city and Etna opens from the windows of Villa Casa Cuseni. The artist Robert Kitson lived here, Frank Brangwyn designed the space, and Coco Chanel once stayed at the villa. Tour guides claim that the famous monogram with two crossed ‘C’s was inspired by the emblem of Casa Cuseni.

Syracuse

Many remember this name from their school history lessons. And rightly so: Syracuse was an ancient Greek colony, a center of Hellenic culture, and a participant in the Punic Wars. The legacy of the Greeks is preserved here even today, for example, the amphitheater in the archaeological district of Syracuse — Neapolis. It has a Roman ‘younger brother’ where gladiatorial fights took place in the 1st century BC. But the most beautiful part of the city is the island of Ortigia. Everything here is worth seeing. Literally every street gleams with sculptures or luxurious building facades. And in the center is the Cathedral in Sicilian Baroque style, so complex and richly decorated that it will make you stand for a few seconds, mouth agape in awe.

Noto

Now we drive just 30 km from Syracuse and arrive in Noto — a concentration of the purest Baroque style. The best architects of Italy of their time — Vincenzo Sinatra and Rosario Gagliardi — worked on its appearance. The result was a yellow-stone marvel: the ‘honey’ hue of the sandstone looks best in the rays of the Sicilian sun, making the city seem to breathe warmth and shine.

The main ‘star’ in it, of course, is the Cathedral of San Nicolò: in the depths of its right nave, a silver reliquary with the relics of Saint Corrado, the patron saint of Noto, is kept. It is located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele (Vittorio Emanuele Street). Following it, you will see all the most beautiful buildings and squares of the city — Piazza del Duomo (Duomo Square), Piazza Immacolata (‘Immaculate Square’), the Church of San Francesco, the Porta Reale o Ferdinandea gate, built in honor of King Ferdinand II.

Cefalù

This small town is considered one of the most picturesque small towns in Italy. Its shores are washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the La Rocca rock nestles nearby, and whitewashed houses with tiled roofs come right up to the water’s edge. This creates the postcard-perfect landscape for which Italy is known. Although Cefalù also has the Duomo di Cefalù cathedral, the medieval Lavatoio laundry, and the Gibilmanna temple, here you need to look at the overall picture. That is, stroll through the old streets, dine in restaurants, drink limoncello, eat dishes made from freshly caught fish, and listen to the sea surf.

Catania

Sicily’s second capital, the gateway to Etna. On one hand, it’s a city of Baroque buildings, museums, and palaces. On the other, you can see a wild amount of graffiti on the walls of any of them. This is where history and modern times collide. However, Catania is no stranger to change: it was conquered by Arabs and Normans, destroyed by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

But development did not stop because of this: each conqueror left their mark on its appearance, and each cataclysm brought updates to the city’s geometry. Even volcanic lava was put to use. It began to be used as a building material, which gave the buildings a characteristic grayish hue. This includes the Cathedral and the fountain with the black elephant in Piazza del Duomo. It’s worth strolling along Via Crociferi and Via Etnea — Catania’s main central streets. Among the archaeological sights preserved here are the Roman Odeon and theater.

What sights to see

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento — is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here are the ruins of ancient Greek temples — the Temple of Concordia, Hera, and Olympian Zeus. However, the valley is located far from the main tourist cities, on the southern coast of the island.

Etna — the highest active volcano in Europe. In summer, you can climb to the summit (with a guide), in winter — go skiing, and at the airport — worry that Etna will ‘sneeze’ ash again and flights will be delayed.

Zingaro Nature Reserve — a nature reserve between San Vito Lo Capo and Scopello. A picturesque coastal area with beautiful coves, crystal clear water, and diverse flora and fauna.

Dionysius’ Ear — an artificial cave in a limestone rock. Michelangelo Caravaggio gave it its name because even the slightest sounds are amplified many times within it. And its shape also resembles an ear.

Caltagirone Ceramics — you will often encounter ceramic products in Sicily, but here you will find the most beautiful ones. There is also a museum dedicated to this craft, and an entire Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, decorated with ceramic tiles. You won’t be able to leave without a painted plate.