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

  • Historical Sicilian Cheeses

    Published in Sicily Food
    'I Formaggi Storici Siciliani' is a handy guide to the historical cheeses of Sicily produced by the Consorzio Ricerca Filiera Lattiera Casearia (CRFLC). It is an introduction to those classic cheeses of the island still produced the traditional way using old methods handed down from generation to generation. They are made from whole raw milk and biodiversity is the common thread. In particular, the areas of production, the breeds reared, the animal feed, the milk quality, the natural microflora, natural rennet, traditional technology and ageing locations. These are natural environments with notable architectural and picturesque contexts, even caves.
    Last modified on 23 April 2012

Salame Sant 'Angelo, Sicilian salami

Published in Sicily Food
The production of salami on Sicily originated around the 9th century thanks to colonization by the Norman invaders and more specifically the Count Ruggero d'Altavilla. Prior to this the consumption of pork products had been forbidden by the Muslim presence. The name of origin "Salame Sant Angelo" is reserved exclusively for the product of the town of Comune di S. Angelo Di Brolo in the province of Messina and the trade mark can only be used by the members of the Consorzio Di Tutela.
Last modified on 23 April 2012

Tuna Fishing and the Tonnara

Published in Sicily Food
In Capo Passero, province of Siracusa, the fishermen are the kindest in Sicily and tuna fishing in this most southern part of the island is perhaps the oldest in the world. At least 5 types of tuna pass through the zone and they are the fish returning from the Adriatic where they have deposited their eggs.
Last modified on 30 November 2011

Cheese and Wine of Ragusa

Published in Sicily Food
This classic Sicilian cheese is known as a 'caciocavallo'. It is delicate, soft, sweet and a pale yellow colour if eaten young. A maturing period longer than six months gives the cheese a spicier flavour and a harder crust. The 'stagionato' cheese is usually grated at the meal table. But many eat the slices cooked in olive oil, salt and pepper having been given a covering of whipped egg. Its called 'cascavaddu frittu cu l'uva'. Ragusano DOP cheese is in fact made from, and only from, the full fat or 'intero' milk of the Modicana breed. They are reared in…
Last modified on 20 November 2011

Island of Vulcano Sicily

Published in Sicily Itineraries
The impressively named island of Vulcano is the Aeolian Island nearest to 'mainland' Sicily. It is separated from Lipari by a sea channel just 1.6 kilometers wide, itself known as Bocche di Vulcano.
Last modified on 16 November 2011

The Arab and Norman Rule in Sicily

Published in Sicily Itineraries
The Arab expansion and conquest of Sicily led to a period of splendour for the island. Commerce began to flourish and the quality of life improved maintained by new irrigation methods and the introduction of crops. The coastal cities became repopulated and meeting places for Oriental, Jewish, Greek, Amalfitani and Pisan merchants.
Last modified on 11 August 2011

Taste of Sicily

Published in Sicily Food
If you are seeking the authentic taste of Sicly, then you could do worse than start with "The Ancient Art of Cooking" by Eleonora Consoli. We have quoted a couple of paragraphs here.
Last modified on 11 August 2011