Sicily

The island of Sicily is Italy’s largest region and is also its most varied. In terms of geography, there are offshore islands, endless coastline, rugged mountains, rolling wheatfields and volcanos, but its history and architecture are also of note.

Sicily formed a significant portion of the Greek empire, was strategically vital to Rome, and was invaded in succession by the Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French, Spanish and Bourbons, before unifying with Italy. Each conquest left its mark, to create a palimpsest of cultures on the island.

Top 10 Must-See Sights

1. Norman Palermo
Norman rule of Sicily only lasted a century, but it left a rich legacy of law, culture and architecture. Their early monuments are grouped around a fortified site in the heart of Palermo.

2. Monreale
The last and most spectacular of the Norman monuments, the mosaic cycle at Monreale Cathedral is one of the wonders of the medieval world.

3. Aeolian Islands
Volcanic activity lent to each of these seven islands its own land and seascape. Evidence of 6,000 years of history, a live volcano, black lava beaches, the magnificently limpid sea, and food and wines intensely flavoured by the sun are well worth the trip out.

4. Taormina
As Sicily’s first resort and an obligatory stop on the Grand Tour, Taormina has welcomed visitors for centuries. The town, draped with bougainvillea, offers breathtaking views, an ancient theatre, and cafés and terraces overlooking the sea.

5. Mount Etna
This, the largest and most active volcano in Europe, has been threatening the island since before records began. Its awesome presence dominates eastern Sicily.

6. Syracuse
The once mighty Greek colony and rival to Athens quietly exists today as a thriving modern city endowed with vestiges of its former glory.

7. Noto
Destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, Noto was rebuilt during the 1700s when the Baroque style was at its height. A unified building programme creates harmony between landscape and village.

8. Villa Romana del Casale
The extensive mosaic decorations of this luxurious Roman hunting villa are the best preserved of their kind in the world.

9. Agrigento and the Valle dei Templi
The famed Valle dei Templi is home to ruined Greek temples that stand, or partially stand, against a backdrop of the distant sea. They are as awe-inspiring today as they must have been to the peoples who constructed them 2,500 years ago.

10. Selinunte
Another of Sicily’s remarkable ancient sites, the romantic remains of Greek Selinus reign spectacularly from a promontory high above the sea. Comprising the largest archaeological park in Europe, Selinunte offers the chance for a solitary ramble among the ruins, walking in the footsteps of history.

Discover more to see and do in Sicily at www.traveldk.com/sicily.

Exclusive Heart offer
Get 25% off a DK Guide