Guide to Sicily

Guide to Sicily (87)

Our recommendations if you are planning a vacation or visit to Sicily and the islands.

  • Guided Tours of Palermo, Sicily
    These half day and day guided tours of Palermo include food tastings and visits to some of the most important historical sites in the city and nearby Monreale.   GUIDED VISIT OF PALERMO – HALF DAY SERPOTTA TOUR Guided visit of the Oratorio S. Cita, all’Oratorio SS. Rosario in S. Domenico, the Mar...
  • Sicily Day Wine Tours
    Sicilian wines have been on the up for a number of years now and these fabulous wine tours propose are an enjoyable day to appreciate the production of three renowned cantine. They all include a guided tour of the cellars and guided tastings, CANTINE BARBERA Guided visit of the Cantina (approx. 4...
  • Palermo Shopping Tours, Sicily
    The city of Palermo is a great place for a short break, but it might be worth booking a guide to get the best out of your stay. If you like shopping then Together Personal Shopping & Luxury Services have the best proposals in town.   SHOPPING TOUR 'In giro per la citta', a walk through art and h...
  • L'Approdo delle Sirene Bed and Breakfast, Siracusa
    L'Approdo delle Sirene Bed and Breakfast is set in two floors of a historic building overlooking the harbour of Ortigia, the ancient historical heart of the city just across from modern Siracusa in Sicily. In fact, you can cross over to the new town using the bridge which connects the waterfront. ...
  • Sicilian Cooking Demo, Siracusa
    Sicilian Demo Cooking is an introduction to the unique cuisine of Sicily from its Arab, Greek, Norman and other influences, to the combination of sea, land and both peasant and aristocratic backgrounds. All these make up traditional Sicilian cooking and Fioreangela will demonstrate to you that the ...
  • Wedding and Catering Services in Ragusa, Sicily
    Consider the restaurant locations and catering services of Locanda Don Serafino located in Ragusa in south east Sicily for your wedding reception or special event. The one star Restaurant Locanda Don Serafino is located in the heart of the old historical centre of Ibla Ragusa, while the Lido Azzurr...
  • A Classic Fiat 500 for a Sicily Wedding
    Rent a classic Fiat 500 for your wedding in Taormina, Sicily. 500 Vintage Car Tours have many a wonderful selection of vehicle colours to choose from to match your weddings dress, eyes, or the romantic countryside of the land and sea.
  • Locanda Don Serafino Restaurant, Ragusa
    The one star Michelin Locanda Don Serafino Restaurant is just a short walk from the Locanda Don Serafino Hotel. Both are owned and managed by the same family and are connected by small and narrow traffic free paths near the baroque center of Ibla, Ragusa’s historic centre in Sicily. The menu by C...
  • Lido Azzurro Restaurant, Marina di Ragusa
    The Lido Azzurro Restaurant is part of the gourmet proposals of boutique Hotel Locanda Don Serafino in Ibla Ragusa and which also includes the Locanda Don Serafino Restaurant. Formally entitled the Lido Azzurro Ristorante da Serafino 1953, the restaurant is situated right on a long beach of powdery...
  • Hosteria Rossopeperoncino, Taormina
    Restaurant Rossopeperoncino 'hosteria sicula' is positioned at the foot of a small alleyway besides Il Duomo or Cathedral of Taormina. Diners enter first a splendid courtyard full of green vegetation and the fragrance of flowers. The internal part of the restaurant is equally warm and welcoming...
  • Luxury Apartments in Taormina
    In 2011, luxury apartments belonging to Hotel Villa Carlotta and about 150 meters from the hotel, were opened in the centre of Taormina. They can be rented on a self-catering basis and guests can also enjoy the facilities of the hotel. The apartments are made up of one or two elegant bedrooms with...
  • Locanda Don Serafino Hotel Ragusa
    The 4 star Hotel Locanda Don Serafino is an extremely refined and welcoming three star hotel in the heart of old Ragusa itself inserted on the World Heritage List of Unesco. The hotel is situated right in the heart of baroque quarter of Ragusa in a tastefully renovated 19th-century mansion where ma...
  • Sicily Driver, private chauffeur guide services
    Your private driver for Sicily and chauffeur guide for the island is Giacomo Mazza based in Catania. With a Sicilian father and a Irish mother, Giacomo, or James, runs a small company of authorized and English speaking NCC drivers near Catania in partnership with Limousine Sicily in the west of the...
  • Etna Jeep Tours, Catania
    Sicily Off Road are specialists in 4x4 guided tours of Mount Etna with excursions departing from Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Catania, Messina, Acireale. Sicily Off Road is also specialised in shore excursions from the main tourist ports of West Sicily such as Catania, Messina, Giardini Naxos and Rip...
  • Classic Fiat 500 Vintage Tours, Sicily
    If you have ever wanted to drive a classic Fiat 500 car while on vacation in Italy, then contact 500 Vintage Tour based in the province of Catania near Mount Etna and Taormina. An unforgettable Sicily car tour hire experience in the most classic of Italian motor vehicles. You can choose from a ran...
  • Holiday Housing, Aeolian Islands Rental Apartments & Villas
    Holiday Housing manages the seasonal rental and weekly bookings of houses, villas and private accommodation in Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi. In other words, the beautiful Aeolian Archipelago of islands in north Sicily. Contact, this Lipari based booking ag...
  • Hotel Villa Ducale, Taormina
    The 4 star Taormina boutique Hotel Villa Ducale is an authentic aristocratic villa recently restored and converted into a charming and romantic hotel in Sicily. With over 80 km coastline visible from the panoramic terrace, as well as Mount Etna in the background, the hotel has an old fashioned ...
  • Hotel Villa Carlotta, Taormina
    Villa Carlotta in Taormina is a luxury boutique Sicilian hotel and sister accommodation to the award winning Hotel Villa Ducale nearby. It is a sophisticated choice for discerning travellers who are looking for a vacation of charm and exclusivity. Villa Carlotta is still surrounded by lush g...
  • Aeolian Islands Week Sicily Cruise
    A luxury cruise by In Italy Tours in an elegant two masted sail yacht departing from the Calabria fishing village of Tropea to Sicily and taking in the main Aeolian Islands of Stromboli, Salina, Vulcano, Filicudi, Panarea and Lipari. Your accommodation is a classic 22 meter 'caicco salato' built in ...

SICILY TRAVEL INFORMATION AND TOURISM SUGGESTIONS

The region of Sicily includes Catania, Palermo, Trapani, Taormina, Enna, Ragusa, Siracusa, Messina, Agrigento, the Egadi, Aeolian and Lampedusa islands and Caltannissetta.

First point of call would be Catania and a visit to Mount Etna. Try skiing the volcano in winter.

The Nebrodi National Park in the province offers plenty of trekking and outdoor experiences. Sleep over in one of the Aeolian islands choosing from Lipari, Salina, Vulcano or Stromboli.

The long north coast runs towards Cefalu and the coast is spectacular. Palermo's fortune was built on citrus fruit and the aristocratic buildings can just about be seen.

The territory between here and Trapani is worth some time. Such locations as Monreale, Alcamo and Piana di Albanese.

Italy's upcoming wine zone can take inspiration from Marsala which gave the world their sweet dessert wine.

The west coast also provided the British Empire with a strategic and economic base from the time of Nelson. Ragusa and Siracusa will put you at the most southerly part of Italy.

Then there is all the interior to discover, done best by the Normans who created their fiefdom around 1000 years ago.

Consult our latest or last updated Sicily travel articles below, or access them from the links above right divided by recipes, food, wine, itineraries, tours and trip suggestions

  • Sicilian Ceramic Circuit

    Published in Sicily Handicrafts
    The Sicilian Ceramic Circuit is an itinerary which links five very special towns in Sicily. They are Burgio, Caltagirone, Patti, Santo Stefano di Camastra and Sciacca. What they have in common is a ceramic or pottery tradition handed down for generations. The Sicilian Ceramic towns are also part of the non profit Italian Association of Ceramic Towns or AICC whose hallmark guarantees the origin, authenticity and forms of the products created in each locality. To see where they are coming from, here is a summary of the introduction for Burgio in the province of Agrigento from the dedicated brochure. 'Burgio,…
    Last modified on 29 May 2013

Festival of U Fistinu Saint Rosalia, Palermo

Published in Sicily Itineraries
Media
The U Fistinu of Saint Rosalia is one of the most famous and popular festivals in Sicily. The birth of the first Festino of Saint Rosalia was in the year 1624 on Pellegrino mountain, when the Saint appeared in a vision to a hunter from Palermo. She told him where her body (that had disappeared upon her death) was buried. When the hunter returned to the city (where a terrible plague was decimating the population), he informed everyone about the appearance. They went to the mountain, dug in the exact place she had specified to the hunter and found the…
Last modified on 23 May 2013

Feast of Sant'Agata in Catania

Published in Sicily Itineraries
Our friend Silvia from Catania accepted our invitation to write her experience of the Sant'Agata Festival which takes place every year to celebrate the Patron of the city. Silvia is a true Sicilian and describes the event like only a local can possibly do. Therefore we thank our friend and look forward to more first hand suggestions from her to appreciate the culture and the beauty of this unique island. SANT'AGATA FEAST IN CATANIA - first part Every year from 3rd to 5th of February the city of Catania wears it’s best dress, puts make up on and warmly welcomes…
Last modified on 23 May 2013

Port of Call Palermo

Published in Sicily Food
Multicultural yet profoundly steeped in history and hospitable welcoming people, enchanting Palermo is full of enigmas, beauty, romance, yesterday and today. Please join me at this famous Port City where I have met chefs, restaurateurs, have taken in the sights, checked out the shops, have soaked in some local culture, taken the sun, and generally have done what sailors might do in ports of call, and have always done, have a great time, wine and dine. My two best bites recommendations near the sights are : Trattoria Carlo V: The fresh mussels, Pasta Norma, the house Prosecco Trattoria Ferro di…
Last modified on 06 April 2013

Island of Salina

Published in Sicily Itineraries
The Aeolian Island of Salina is situated off the northeastern coast of Sicily and is most world renowned for the filming of IL POSTINO where the small house at Pollara famously featured with the late and much missed Massimo Troisi. The biggest island in the Mediterranean is also the largest region of Italy and boasts the highest point of all the Aeolian Islands in Sicily. The summit of the crater of the Fossa delle Felci stands at 962 meters above sea level with nearby Porri at 859 meters. A salt water lake at Punta Lingua which was once used for…
Last modified on 06 April 2013

Easter Week in Enna

Published in Sicily Itineraries
Media
The atmosphere of Easter in Enna, central Sicily, is very special. The rites of Holy Week date from the Spanish domination of the 15th to 17th centuries when the various confraternities of artisans and artists were authorized to form religious organisations. They were given precise rules and privileges from the Spanish rulers to look after the sick, poor and unfortunate. Today, 15 of the original 34 confraternites still exist and animate Holy Week in Enna. The members are no longer miners or farmers, but lawyers, doctors etc. and only, only men.
Last modified on 26 March 2013

Easter Arches of San Biagio Platani

Published in Sicily Itineraries
Of all the Easter celebrations across Sicily, the Archi di Pasqua in the town of San Biagio Platani, province of Agrigento, is one of the most suggestive and unusual. It all began in the 18th century when the town was populated by less than a thousand people. Two confraternities were born named 'Madunnara' and 'Signurara' for the Easter period and each year they compete in a lively and passionate demonstration called the 'Archi di Pasqua' which fills the historical centre of San Biagio Platani.
Last modified on 26 March 2013