Inside Sicily

A guide to Sicily and islands

The region of Sicily is divided into the provinces of Palermo, Catania, Messina, Agrigento, Siracusa, Ragusa, Caltannissetta, Enna, Trapani and includes the Egadi, Aeolian and Lampedusa islands.  Get to know the region better.

Plan where to go in Sicily Follow our links and contacts in this section to find out more about Sicily and the islands, organise your accommodation and build your visit or food, wine, history and cultural tour.

Trinacria, the symbol of Sicily
The three legged symbol has an amazing history which encompasses the very limits of Europe

Province of CATANIA

A tour of Mount Etna
Get your bearings and head out into the National Park which surrounds the volcano summit

Caltagirone,
The city is famous for its baroque architecture, ceramic culture and earthquake of 1693

Zafferana Etnea
They get a little nervous in Zafferana when the volcano starts to move, but you can ski here in winter

Sicilian Treasures
Sicilian baroque architecture Castle

Province of PALERMO

Misilimeri and the Valle del Sosio
This is the hinterland of Palermo and a contrast to the dusty city. Make a day trip of it.

Scary Easter festivals
Two spring traditional folk appointments

Cefalù
The fine tourism resort on the north Sicilian coast

Province of MESSINA

Messina
Often devastated by all manner of violence, but always rising as a new city from its ashes like the 'Phonecian Arab'

Province of Messina
Messina is famous for its Straits and may eventually be connected to Calabria by a huge bridge

Goethe visits Messina
Goethe was not much impressed by Sicily, but he did visit following the huge earthquake of 1793

Taormina Greek Roman theater
Still in use during the summer concert season, print out this guide before your visit

Sicilian treasures
The 17th century Castello San Marco near Taormina has immense historical and local importance

The Aeolian islands
This group of islands sit in a bubbling, steamy active volcanic area which is extremely beautiful.

Aeolian Islands archeaological tour
Who colonised the islands, who fought for them, who won and who lost.

Salty Salina
The film 'Il Postino' was filmed here, more precisely at Pollara

Island of Lipari
The main Aeolian island and important Mediterranean cultural and historical site

Stromboli
The Mediterranean sea's most active volcano.

Vulcano
If you were a volcanic island in the Mediterranean you'd want to be called Vulcano.

Alicudi & Filicudi
Are they related? Find out about this double act here.

Contemporary art in Sicily
The park of Fiumara d’Arte, the biggest European contemporary art  regional museum.

Sicilian art realism
What would emerge if a Sicilian artist became influenced by Van Gogh, Picasso and Bacon.

Sambuca di Sicilia
Does the drink Sambuca come form this zone in Sicily? Read on.

Island of Lampedusa
An anvil shaped rock in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, but also an exclusive retreat

Province of AGRIGENTO

Luigi Pirandello Literary park
The writer was inspired by the zone of Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

The valley of temples
The Greeks called their city Akragas and each February the first rays of Spring are celebrated here.

Province of SIRACUSA

Necropolis of Pantalica
Prehistoric Sicily and perhaps the first city of the inhabitants of Siracusa

Greek colonization of Sicily
The modern history of ancient Italy actually begins with the arrival of disenchanted Greeks

Classical Greek plays
Head to the ancient Greek theater of Siracusa every summer for live performnces.

Ancient tonnara
A place and way of life for the tuna fishermen of Capo Passero, province of Siracusa

An alternative itinerary in Sicily
Taormina, Catania and Etna, OK, but Forza d'Agro, Alcantara, Acireale, Piazza Armerina and Noto?

Province of RAGUSA

Ragusa
Ibla is old Ragusa and although called 'inferiore' is built on a hill. An earthquake put paid to its expansion

Province of CALTANISSETTA

Province of ENNA

Nicosia
The Normans conquered this small town in central Italy and made it their stroghold

Arab and Norman dominations
Many have invaded the island, but these two perhaps left the most impact in terms of gastronomy and fair hair.

Three towns in Enna province
Three imposing structures in Nicosia, Sperlinga and Agira all with the same message. Stay away!

Palio dei Normani
Takes place every August and celebrates the Norman's victory over the Saracens

Easter week and Holy Rites in Enna
the Easter traditional event since the 15th century

Province of TRAPANI

Marsala
Not just sweet wine, the wider zone should be visited for its salt production, wine and art.

San Vito Lo Capo
The Arabic cultural influence is still evident in this fishing town in the province of Trapani.

Pantelleria Island
The whole zone was created by a huge explosion in the Mediterranean many years ago.

Egadi Islands
There are three Egadi islands and a reader asks us which is the best to visit. Our answer here.

Mozia and salt trade
Salt was a valuable commodity in ancient times and much of it has been traditionally produced here

Doric theater of Segesta
Very close to Palermo, Segesta was and still is a breathtaking spot for a Greek tragedy