Why you should explore beautiful Sicily

The largest island in the Mediterranean, you could spend weeks exploring, including a chance to try some of the local wine, indulge in some gelato and granita, as well as the delicious fresh fish and pasta dishes you’d expect in Italy. Or stroll through botanic gardens which flourish in the Italian sun and fertile volcanic soil, before relaxing by the waves at one of the pretty towns and fishing villages that Sicily specialises in.

For history-lovers, the island is hard to beat; from UNESCO-listed Greek and Roman temples and theatres to Arab, Byzantine and Norman architecture, mosaic-filled cathedrals to more recent history amid the edgy buzz of modern-day Palermo.

Wondering what to do in Sicily first? We’ve picked out 10 of the best places for your Sicilian adventure.

Taormina

If you’re looking for a taste of la dolce vita, the pretty cliffside town of Taormina is perfect – known as the pearl of the Ionian Sea, 18th century aristocrats would pause here on their Grand Tour, putting Taormina firmly on the fashionable map of Europe.

It’s easy to see why the rich and influential flocked here. Once you’ve gazed out at the views of the Ionian Sea and Giardini Naxos below, this is somewhere to stroll through the attractive streets, stopping occasionally for a refreshing granita made with local fruit juice, served alongside buttery warm brioche.

Lemon granita

Wander along the main street, Corso Umberto, which links the gates of Porta Messina and Porta Catania, and you’ll find souvenirs galore, from handmade lace to colourful artworks, as well as a string of designer boutiques for a more glamorous memento of Sicily.

Then relax in the pretty Villa Comunale gardens or discover the views of Mount Etna from Piazza IX Aprile, with its baroque church. There’s history to find here too, including the Teatro Antico di Taormina, the ancient Graeco-Roman theatre built in the 3rd century BCE, which has its own wonderful views and is still used for the summer arts festival.

Roman amphitheatre in Taormina, Sicily

Mount Etna

Europe’s largest and most active volcano, Mount Etna has quite literally shaped the island of Sicily – quite apart from helping create its fantastic local wines – and a visit has to be top of any list of what to do in Sicily. While historians have been recording eruptions here since 1500BCE, constant grumblings and smoking fissures mean that the dangers are limited, but the adventure is real.

Towering 3km above Sicily, you can soar almost to the top in the cable car, and there’s nothing quite like walking on the cooled lava of previous eruptions, or discovering more about the geology behind this Sicilian icon. The views from the top are spectacular on a clear day, before heading off to discover the fruits of the rich volcanic soil at one of the vineyards. Enjoy a tasting with lunch at a winery on the lower slopes or visit one of the cellars, as well as trying some of the honey made by beekeepers who keep their hives on the volcano.

Save time to look out to Mount Etna at night too, when sparks still jet from the crater against the dark sky.

Syracuse

Ancient Syracuse, established four years after Ortigia on the island nearby, was once the most powerful city state in the Greek world and you can’t visit without stepping back into history.

The Neapolis Archaeological Park is the place to start, home to a Greek theatre which dates back to the 5th century BCE, and the place where Aeschylus’s last tragedies were first performed to crowds of up to 16,000 people. You’ll still find classical theatre taking place here in early summer.

Nearby, the Roman amphitheatre is only a couple of hundred years newer, once the site of gladiatorial battles and races, although much of the stone was taken for Ortygia’s walls. You can also find a sacrificial altar, and an ancient quarry, as well as catacombs which functioned partly as a prison.

Temple of Apollo in Syracuse, Sicily

Ortiga

The little island of Ortigia was the site of the Greeks’ first settlements before spreading out to the mainland – joined to Syracuse by a bridge since the 16th century, it’s easy to visit both in one day, and unmissable when you’re planning what to do in Sicily.

Look out for the remains of the Temple of Apollo, one of the most important ancient sites of Magna Graecia on the island. Elsewhere, you can wander a maze of narrow medieval lanes opening up into Baroque piazzas, and see the treasures of Syracuse Cathedral with its wonderful creamy limestone façade.

Once you’ve wandered past the cafes and gelaterias lining the streets, catching a few glimpses of the deep blue Ionian sea as you go, one of the highlights is to take a boat trip to gaze back onto Ortigia from the water.

Radicepura

It’s not just vines which have flourished in the fertile volcanic soil around Mount Etna, with more than 3,000 species of plants to be found at Radicepura, in the shadow of the volcano. The Radicepura Botanical Park covers five hectares, with guided tours around the gardens to show you some of the highlights, including the varieties of Mediterranean plants, herbs and flowers, plus artworks inspired by Sicily’s history and landscapes dotted amongst them.

Every two years, the botanic gardens host a festival which weaves together culture, art, and sustainability through six months of events, ranging from botanical exhibitions and art installations to music and food and wine experiences. If you love gardens, this is unmissably somewhere to visit in Sicily.

Palermo

Often overlooked when people consider what to see and do in Sicily, the island’s capital is a bustling, buzzing, gritty city which once lay at the centre of the ancient world, and the myriad influences from countless civilisations can still be seen. As you wander through the old streets, you’ll pass Byzantine churches and the cathedral, with its mix of Norman and Arab styles, along with markets which wouldn’t feel out of place in North Africa. Don’t miss the Norman Palace and UNESCO-listed Palatine Chapel with its Byzantine mosaics either.

Elsewhere the marble Fontana Pretoria was given to Palermo by Florence to settle a debt, with statues of humans, animals, gods and nymphs decorating the vast fountain, which measures 133m across.

The city has a vibrant, modern side too with street art brightening the streets, as well as darker recent history at the No Mafia Memorial about the organised crime which has stalked Palermo’s streets over the decades, although you’ll also find plenty of gardens and parks to escape to for some peace and tranquillity.

Catania, Sicily

Catania

Sicily’s second-largest city sits between the sea and Mount Etna, with a mix of history and fantastic food. Catania is the birthplace of pasta alla Norma, the aubergine pasta dish that’s perhaps Sicily’s best known creation, while at La Pescheria fish market, you can spot everything from swordfish and tuna to octopus fresh out of the sea.

Or stroll and soak up the architecture in the UNESCO-listed historic centre, including elegant Baroque buildings such as the Cathedral, although you’ll also find black and white mansions made using volcanic rock from Etna’s eruption in 1669.

Step further back into the past and you’ll discover the remains of three ancient theatres; Catania was founded by the Greeks in the 8th century BCE before becoming a Roman city, with several sites surviving the volcanic eruptions over the centuries. And music-lovers shouldn’t miss a visit to the Museo Belliniano, dedicated to composer Vincenzo Bellini, who was born in the city – the opera house also takes his name.

Valley of the Temples

One of the highlights of what to see in Sicily, the Valle dei Templi near Agrigento is a collection of ancient Greek temples scattered across a valley of almond trees. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins have inspired artists, poets and writers galore, and you can wander past temples, tombs and sanctuaries which were built around 2,500 years ago.

The Doric architecture of the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Juno, and the Temple of Heracles, are highlights, although look out too for the huge fallen statue of Icarus with his broken wings – a modern piece which fits seamlessly in this historic landscape.

You can also spot the remnants of the city walls and gates which once stretched for 12km around Akragas, which was among the largest cities of Magna Graecia.

Valley of the Temples, Sicily

Monreale

The town of Monreale is easy to overlook when you’re planning what to do in Sicily, but the magnificent cathedral with its outstanding Byzantine mosaics shouldn’t be missed. Sitting just outside Palermo, Monreale’s famous landmark was almost an accident of history – after the Arabs took control of the capital in 831, they turned the existing cathedral into a mosque, with the Bishop escaping to the nearby hills.

It wasn’t until the 12th century, around 100 years after the Normans retook Palermo in 1072, that the king ordered a new church be constructed in Monreale in memory of the bishop, quickly elevated to the status of cathedral.

So it’s perhaps surprising to see elements of Arabic architecture and decoration, as well as Byzantine and Norman styles, courtesy of the mix of craftsmen employed by the enlightened king. Behind the façade, with its elegant columns, sturdy towers and decorative flourishes, the interior is even more impressive, home to around 6,500m2 of golden mosaics depicting scenes from the Bible, alongside kings and saints.

Then wander the cloisters, which could be equally at home in one of the Moorish palaces of southern Spain, with 108 pairs of marble columns, each decorated with unique mosaic patterns.

Cefalu

A little like a quieter version of Taormina, the small fishing village of Cefalu has been attracting more and more visitors thanks to its laid-back charm, wonderful architecture, history and beaches. This is somewhere to amble through the warren of medieval streets, stopping to discover one of the landmarks, or to people-watch over a drink before heading down to the sea to relax on the crescent of sand or one of the lidos.

There’s an impressive Norman cathedral, with its own elaborate Byzantine mosaics that predate those in Monreale, while you’ll also find Arab and Spanish influences in the old town, along with unexpected historic sites such as the medieval washhouse which was used through to the 20th century.

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