Cast adrift ItalyThe Mediterranean’s largest island The island has been caught between civilizations for centuries. Fraught as this may have been, it has rendered the island totally unique—Sicily is a fierce melting pot of cultures and customs, a place that potently exhibits the indelible effect of architecture, community spirit, food, and phenomenal landscapes on humans. Conquered, invaded, coerced—the layers of history are manifest throughout the island, from the Norman Palace of Palermo to the North African-influenced spiced couscous and chickpea dishes of Trapani. Agriturismos, ancient temples, and crumbling palaces are all found on the island. vineyardsMount Etna is stoic. The volcanic islands that surround it gurgle, spit and have fertile slopes covered with wildflowers. Capers and Malvasia grapes are also abundant. The Sicilian spirit is not one easily bottled—it’s complex, proud, and afflicted. To live like a Sicilian, you must prioritize food and family over all else. You can do this by starting your day with a sweet brioche or granita, spending the afternoons in the sun-bleached cement before diving into the turquoise waters, and even rushing under the gaze of Baroque churches to joust and joke around the markets.
Taormina is not just a tourist hotspot. White Lotus Why not explore the island’s ever-contradictory, rugged soul when you are looking for filming locations? Its beauty is worth a visit. beachesIf you’re looking for a beachfront paradise, head to the pebbled beaches that plunge into turquoise swirls of sea (Scala dei Turchi is a firm favorite). Oenophiles should head directly to the foothills of Etna where fertile soil made it ripe for vineyards. If it’s shorefront bliss you’re looking for, head to the rocky, pebbled beaches that drop off into turquoise swirls of sea (Scala dei Turchi is a firm favorite), while oenophiles should head directly to the foothills of Etna, where fertile soil made the land ripe for vineyards—and there are plenty of hotels to rest your spinning head afterwards, complete with sweeping views of the Sicilian landscape. Palermo’s architecture is breathtaking and the artisans who create it are among Italy’s best. The best things to see and do in Sicily are listed below, without any particular order.
What is Sicily known for best?
Homer’s famous beaches are knockout beaches Odyssey, crumbling, honey-hued palazzos, mafia lore, and ancient temples—Sicily effortlessly blends a sunny Mediterranean escape with lashings of history, culture, and life-changing food. Etna dominates the landscape and treats al-fresco dining guests to occasional fiery gulps (best seen from Taormina). The southeastern Baroque villages of the island bear the architectural marks of a prosperous era. Soaring cathedrals, churches, and grand palaces all have wrinkled exteriors from being baked in the sunlight. Sicily’s food changes as you travel around the island. It reflects the influences of different invaders and merchants.
How long can you stay in Sicily for?
It is possible to see so much in a short time. You’ll need three days to explore the Southeast Baroque Towns. The rest of your week can be spent relaxing on one of Toarmina’s beaches, wine tasting or hiking up Etna’s slopes. Sicily can be explored in two weeks. Start with Palermo, then move south via Agrigento to see the temples. Then head to the Baroque South East. Spend time in Noto’s pretty, prairie-like borders before moving up towards Etna. Then, if you have the time, hop on a Hydrofoil and head to the Aeolians. There, the sea is an exotic shade of blue. Europe.
What are the best things to see and do in Sicily?
All reviews on this page have been written by a Condé Nast Traveler A journalist who is familiar with the destination and has done that activity. When selecting things to do, editors look for landmarks or experiences that give an insider view of the destination. They keep in mind authenticity, location, customer service and sustainability credentials.
1. Baroque towns to visit
The eight towns of Southeast Sicily are arranged like beautiful beads to form a strand. UNESCO World Heritage SiteThis amber-hued maze is a haze of honey-hued walls, all belittled by the pillared and pompous cathedral that sits atop a series of steps like if it were adorned with dazzling jewels. Noto is a honey-hued haze, with walls that are a pale shade of yellow. The cathedral sits on a set of steps at the top of a series of steps. Corso Vittorio is the orderly street in a labyrinth of chaos beyond. coffee lovers make their Sicilian pilgrimage to the legendary Caffè Sicilia (open since 1892).
Modica, with its baroque splendor and hilly landscape, is a chocolate lover’s paradise. Antica Dolceria Bonajuto along Corso Umberto is Sicily’s oldest chocolate factory—the chocolate here is dark, richly flavored, and crumbly rather than smooth. Scicli feels like a Noto or Modica shrunk in the wash—quieter, fewer tourists, stricter siesta code—though its bejeweled palazzos still whisper tales of a thumping prosperous age, their windows’ stucco brows crumbling, their facades mottled with age. Below them are tiny cannoli shops, antique stores, and filming locations. Inspector Montalbano. Ragusa Ibla follows the Baroque theme, but the scene is more like a Hans Christian Anderson story, with its pastel-pink houses and wooden toy shops. It also has little Sicilian Puppet Theaters.
