UNESCO World Heritage Sites

There are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sicily:

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento

One of the most outstanding examples of Greater Greece art and architecture and is one of the main attractions of Sicily as well as a national monument of Italy.

Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina



A Roman villa built in the first quarter of the 4th century located about 3km outside the town of Piazza Armerina. It contains the richest, largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world.

The Aeolian Islands

Also known as the Lipari Islands, this volcanic archipelago of 7 islands are in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, named after the demigod of the winds Aeolus. The islands can be reached by ferry or hydrofoil as a day trip or short break and are a popular tourist destination in the summer.

Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto

"Represent the culmination and final flowering of Baroque art in Europe" and include the towns of Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa and Scicli all in the south east of the island.

Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica


Syracuse is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres and architecture and the large necropolis has over 5,000 tombs dating from the 13th to the 7th centuries BC. They are both situated in south east Sicily.

Mount Etna

Listed in 2013, Mount Etna is an iconic site encompassing 19,237 uninhabited hectares in the north east of Sicily. It is the highest Mediterranean island mountain and the most active strato-volcano in the world with its eruptive history traced back 500,000 years, influencing volcanology, geophysics and other Earth sciences.

Nature Reserves

Sicily boasts a number of coastal nature reserves, ideal for bird watching, hiking, swimming and snorkelling. These include the beautiful Plemmirio Nature Reserve near Syracuse where fauna and flora can be found in abundance along with numerous marine species including dolphins and sperm whales. 

Vendicari Nature Reserve also on the south east coast is home to Herons, Cranes, black Storks, Pelicans and home to a flamboyance of Flamingos in its lagoons, marshes, dunes and beaches.

Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve on the north west tip of the island is another beautiful coastal park and is home to several beautiful little secluded coves surrounded by the sea, worn limestone cliffs as well as 700 varieties of Mediterranean trees, shrubs and flowers and 40 different species of birds. The following accommodation is near Lo Zingaro:

Baglio La Porta >

Villaggio Cala Mancina >

Villa Cala Mancina >

Villa Bellini >

The Greek Theatre, Taormina

The theatre is Greek in design, therefore believed to have been originally constructed during the Hellenistic period. However, due to the fact that it is built primarily out of brick, it is widely accepted that the theatre was later adjusted and enlarged by the Romans, who used it to host a number of gladiatorial shows.

Like many amphitheatres, the Taormina theatre is situated at the top of a hill where the natural incline of the valley complements the seating design and provides a stunning view of the sea and Mount Etna. 

At 109 metres in diameter, the theatre is the second largest on the island (the first being in Syracuse) and is one of the most popular historic monuments on the island and used to host a number plays, shows and concerts throughout the year and an annual film festival in June.

Hotel Monte Tauro >

Hotel Villa Belvedere >

Hotel Villa Ducale >

Grand Hotel Timeo >

The Ashbee Hotel >

Vineyards & Sicilian Wine

Wine is an integral part of the Sicilian culture and a number of Sicilian restaurants pride themselves on their extensive local wine lists and well stocked cellars.

Among the local wines, try the Etna red, white and rose produced in the fertile soil of the volcano's vineyards. Full bodied red or white Cerasuolol comes from Vittoria, near Ragusa. From vineyards near Palermo, Donnafugata is a fruity white wine.

In the west Bianco di Alcamo is an honourable white wine popular around Trapani and Marsala from Marsala is the most famous of the island's dessert wines.

The Nero d'Avola is the island's most important red grape and until relatively recent years was used to strengthen weaker French wines. Today the grape is used to produce a full-bodied but not overpowering wine which is often compared to Syrah in terms of its flavour. However, to this day it is the Sicilian Marsala, a sweet fortified wine frequently used in cooking, that the island is most famous for.

There are a number of guided vineyard tours with wine tasting across the island where travellers can learn more about the production and varieties of Sicilian wine such as Santa Anastasia Winery in Castelbuono, Corvo Winery in Casteldaccia near Palermo, Florio winery in Marsala, Scilio Winery in Linguaglossa and Baglio del Cristo at Campobello di Licata near Agrigento.

Relais Santa Anastasia >

La Foresteria Planeta Estate >



Sicilian Street Food

Sicily boasts a wide range of street foods: Arancini are popular fried balls of rice filled with ragù, mozzarella or even peas and breadcrumb coated; Pani ca meusa is a sesame flavoured bread stuffed with veal's lung and spleen often found in Palermo; Sfincione is a pizza-like snack topped with tomatoes, onions and caciocavallo cheese.

Granita has seen a huge revival being a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water and various flavourings, served with brioche. Originally from Sicily, which was thought to have been inspired by the ice-cold sherbet enjoyed by the Arabs, Granita has a coarser, more crystalline texture than sorbet that makes granita distinct and unique. However, it varies from city to city on the island - in the west and in Palermo it is at its chunkiest, and in the east it is nearly as smooth as sorbet.

Plaza Opera Hotel >

Hotel Federico II Central Palace >

Hotel Principe di Villafranca >

Palazzo Planeta >

Volcanoes

Sicily is home to Mount Etna, Europe's highest (3,323m) and most active volcano, (see Mount Etna >) and is close to the Aeolian Archipelago with several active volcanoes on Stromboli and Vulcano.

There are various trips to view Mount Etna which can be arranged by most hotels in the north east with tours of the national park, treks and 4 wheel drive excursions.

Monaci delle Terre Nere >

Castello di San Marco >

UNAHOTELS Naxos Beach Sicilia >

Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges >

Villa Greta >

Villa La Torretta >

Relais San Giuliano >

Stromboli and Vulcano islands can be accessed by ferry or hydrofoil and feature natural springs, mud baths, craters, dramatic cliffs and on Stromboli nightly shows of molten rock spewing up into the sky every 20 minutes or so.

Hotel Signum, Salina >

Hotel Mea, Lipari >

Therasia Resort Sea & Spa, Vulcano >

The Aeolian Islands

The largest and most visited is Lipari reached by ferry or hydrofoil from Milazzo (the nearest), Cefalù and Palermo. Vulcano is closest to Sicily with natural mud baths, hot springs, a smoking crater and black sand beaches.

Panarea is the prettiest, smallest and most exclusive. Stromboli is the most northern island and home to the very active volcano of the same name and a nocturnal spectacle (invisible during the day) with scarlet sparks every 20 minutes or so.

Salina with its extinct twin peaked volcano is the most fertile and green island ideal for walking. Filicudi is understated and unspoilt. Alicudi is located a 5 hour journey from the north coast of Sicily and is the most uncompromising.

Hotel Signum, Salina >

Hotel Mea, Lipari >

Therasia Resort Sea & Spa, Vulcano >