Adventures Through Sicily

Sicily, the beautiful Mediterranean island that sits off the toe of Italy, may be most famous for its historic Mafia connections. But, it is so much more than that. Sicily is a stunning island full of history, culture and tons of tourist delights. Home to everything from Greek temples to glorious seaside escapes, Sicily is absolutely a world-class destination.

© Yulia Grigoryeva | Dreamstime

Sicily is not as big as you think — it takes about five hours to drive from the east to the west coast, and that’s taking the highway. What you really want to do is meander along some of the most beautiful and enchanting country and coastal roads. As such, make sure to plan enough time to thoroughly see the island, as there are plenty of sights to see.

Make sure to visit Palermo — the island’s frantic, urban mess of capital. The city is full of incredible food, architecture and art. It’s a great place to experience Sicilian culture, and it’s a fantastic starting point for a trip through the island.

Mount Etna © Alfio Roberto Silvestro | Dreamstime

The southeast and southern coast of Sicily has some of the island’s most famous sights, including the mosaic-covered Villa Romana del Casale, late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto and the incredible Greek temples of Syracuse and Agrigento.

In northeast Sicily, the small resort town of Taormina is the island’s most well-known and most-visited tourist destination. It can get crowded during the high-season, but the town is home to the island’s two most luxurious hotels.

© Denise Serra | Dreamstime

Sicily is a unique place in that the island has not been overly developed for tourism. Additionally, Sicily is an incredibly diverse place culturally. The island is a patchwork of different influences, and each region has its own culinary specialties. The cultural layers can also be seen in the island’s architecture. In Palermo, there are neighborhoods where the street signs can be written in Italian, Arabic and Hebrew.

Sicily is an incredibly rich destination — its culture, food, and history all combine to create an incredibly unique and fascinating place. Sicily is a destination that challenges you, incites your senses and ultimately proves to be a magical place, one that you will want to visit again and again.