A cultural crossroads
Sitting off the toe of Italy’s boot, Sicily has long been a melting pot of Mediterranean culture, a ruggedly beautiful island surrounded by sparkling seas.
Sicily’s long history has seen it at the heart of great civilizations and often under foreign rule. Of the ancients, the Greeks loved Sicily most and left a monumental mark on the island, almost as great as the island itself made on classical culture. The great cities of Syracuse, home to Archimedes, Selinunte and Agrigento are still strewn with vast ruins and towering doric temples. The iconic amphitheatre at Taormina overlooks sea and smoking Mount Etna, as impressive a view now as it was two millennia ago.
Next came waves of Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Spanish and Bourbons, each adding to the identity of Sicily, from golden cathedrals, imposing castles and Baroque palazzos, to the islanders’ generous hospitality and rich cuisine. Even with Italy unified under today’s Republic and a tough twentieth century, Sicily proudly retains its own distinct culture.
When Goethe wrote ‘to have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything’, he was not far off the mark, but truly seeing Sicily would take many months. As well as the great Greek ruins, beautifully Baroque Noto, Ragusa and Modica all deserve time to be explored, as does seaside Cefalù and lofty Erice. After re-emerging from years of poverty, Sicily’s two biggest cities can each captivate for days, Palermo as a cultural centre and Catania with a heady nightlife at the foot of Mount Etna.
And that’s before exploring the glorious interior, a hinterland home to sublime mountainscapes and a rural patchwork of gently crumbling villages, sleepy olive groves and basking vineyards. There’s also miles of quiet beaches and dozens of off shore islands.
Highlights
Get lost wandering through the streets of the impossibly pretty cities of Noto, Ragusa and Syracuse
Sample Sicily’s incredible cuisine and enjoying finding your favourite place for cannoli
While away your time in the beauriful city of Taormina
Enjoy the frenetic energy of Palermo
Melania Siriu
Senior Travel Designer
Sicily has it all: natural reserves, a live volcano and secluded islands for adventurous types; stunning panoramic spots for photographers and romantics; and Greek temples and baroque architecture for history lovers. Plus, everyone agrees on Sicilian cuisine – simply irresistible.
Melania Siriu
Senior Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Sicily
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Whatever you want from your Sicily tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Discover more of Italy
Capri
Approach by sea from Naples, and as you come to the landmark of the Faraglioni rocks, you’ll know you’ve reached the fabled hedonistic isle of Capri. This is the island that charmed both Roman Emperors Augustus and Tiberius, America’s Hollywood darlings and this century’s international jet set.
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Home to pretty coastal towns, elegant cities and is considered by many to be the country’s foodie capital.
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Surrounded by rolling Tuscan hills, the beautiful city of Florence is one of Europe’s most enchanting and historically influential cities.
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Lake Como has been a popular retreat since the time of the Roman Empire, and its popularity shows no signs of waning. Everyone from aristocrats to A-listers flock to its shores to enjoy its tranquil waters and beautiful lakeside towns and villas.
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Matera is the jewel in Basilicata’s crown, a jumble of houses and churches perched on a plateau with deep canyons either side.
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An arbiter of international style, Milan is Italy’s financial and industrial heart, a thoroughly modern European city with a great history not far under the surface.
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Nestled in the north west of the country and fringed by the French and Swiss Alps, Piedmont is one of Italy‘s most naturally beautiful regions.
Discover morePortofino and Cinque Terre
The magnificent Italian Riviera has been attracting rich and beautiful since the days of Byron, Shelley and Keats who spent time here swimming, finding inspiration and drinking around what became known as the Golfo dei Poeti.
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Known for its never-ending coastline, whitewashed hill towns and sublime food it feels very different to the rest of the country and is it the perfect place for those looking to get off the beaten track.
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Glorious reminders of Rome’s illustrious past, from ancient Roman wonders to Renaissance masterpieces, are all on show.
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Sardinia has its own unique identity, and its inhabitants are fiercely proud of their island which is as intriguing as it is beautiful.
Discover moreThe Amalfi Coast
Draped along the cliffs on the southern side of the Sorrento Peninsula, between Salerno and the city of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most dramatic and glamorous spots in Italy.
Discover moreThe Dolomites and the Alps
Soaring peaks, tooth-like crags and lush verdant slopes, the Dolomites are some of Italy’s most dramatic scenery.
Discover moreTuscany
Few scenes are more evocative of Italy than that of rural Tuscany, undulating hills, dotted with stoic stone farm houses, dark green cypress trees and ranked vines, all under a shawl of a dawn’s mist.
Discover moreVenice
Sat within a shallow lagoon between the mouths of Po and Piave rivers, Venice is formed of 118 islands formed by some 170 canals connected by over 400 bridges.
Discover moreVerona
A splendid city of art inextricably associated with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, straddling the winding Adige River where ancient and modern times meet.
Discover moreMeet your Europe team
When to visit Sicily
The best time to visit Sicily is in the late spring and autumn months. April to June or September to October bring beautiful, mild days. The summer months (July-August) are fine for those seeking high temperatures, but the region can get very busy.
Peak Season
May - Sept
History
April - May, Sept - Oct
Coast Trips
April - Nov
Italy Travel Guides
Plan your trip to Sicily
Whatever you want from your adventure to Sicily, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
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