SICILY CHARM

How many times have you yearned to enjoy a fully relaxing holiday, to contemplate a beautiful landscape while breathing in clean air and sipping a good glass of Etna DOC?

To stroll through a piazza with open-air bars and get lost in a maze of narrow streets, with your nose in the air, wandering between flowery windowsills and bell towers, noble palaces and rounded balconies, peering into courtyards?

Dreams and desires can come true: it’s time to visit Sicily’s beautiful villages.

These small towns by the sea, surrounded by greenery, nestled in the hinterland or perched on the mountains will offer you what you are looking for, with small curiosities and new discoveries, such as houses carved out of the rock that were inhabited until the last century, or the most famous film set of all time.

In each of the nine Sicilian provinces, you will find the right village for you and, nearby, many other places that may be less renowned but will remain forever in your heart.

These people-friendly places and holidays can be experienced in company and in safety, where the watchword is “unspoiled”, just like your chosen village.

The flavours, shapes, scents and colours of Sicilian food have become symbols of overwhelming pleasure all over the world.

The outstanding desserts include cannolo  and cassata, which bring out the freshness and authenticity of local ricotta. Granita, which does not include ice here, reveals itself in all its creaminess. It can be difficult to choose between the many flavours and it is so delicious it can even give the best homemade ice cream a run for its money. Never alone: it should be accompanied by an aromatic hot brioche, and strictly with a “tuppo” (nobble).

Almonds , another of the island’s points of pride, are used to make the paste that is often chosen as a sweet souvenir by those visiting a distant friend. It is also the basis for a thirst-quenching and sumptuous milk and the choreographic creations of martorana fruit, which add life to the windows of the pastry shops and amuse tourists and passers-by.

In Sicily there are many delicacies rooted in tradition and faith, which become beloved symbols before they being consumed.

Bridging sweet and savoury, the juiciest red oranges come from the countryside most beloved by the sun, while the most famous pistachios, those from Bronte, now dominate the culinary scene thanks to their gastronomic flexibility, which ranges from their use as sweet cream in desserts to the intense pestos that bring together ancient grains [link to Sicilian Ancient Grains] in the form of inimitable first courses.

A treasure trove of flavours: from Bronte’s green gold to the finest red gold, Saffron, which seduces the palate and inspires you to dream. And digging in the undergrowth, precious jewels and nuggets emerge: mushrooms and truffles .

An icon of Sicilianness, arancin*  has a name that divides people but its taste brings everyone together: it is a rice-based wonder, an essential fried delicacy and the pinnacle of Sicilian street food.

Sicily is the cradle of the Mediterranean diet , which has always been the healthiest and most varied approach to food. It also brings out the best of fish and vegetables through caponata and parmigiana, as well as pickles and infinite speciality dishes, in which the Pachino tomato reigns supreme.

In Sicily, the dinner table becomes a “stage” for exhilarating flavours: one case in point is pasta alla Norma , made with tomato sauce and fried aubergines, and so named because it is considered sublime like the work of the same name by the “Swan”, the composer Vincenzo Bellini.

Meat from historic farms, such as the Nebrodi black pig, rounds off rich and surprisingly impeccable menus.

The price of Sicilian wines is rising rapidly, as the product becomes increasingly sincere, intoxicating and versatile. It serves as an invitation to savour this island in small sips, with a glass in your hand and lightness in your heart.

Walking along the nostalgic paths of taste you will find that even dipping bread in oil proves why you will never have enough of Sicily.

Visiting the local markets will be the best way to deeply discover the tasty, spicy and most authentic flavours of Sicilian street food. Sicilian street food is among the most celebrated, and its main symbol is the arancin* of contention, which is loved and appreciated all over the world.

Sicily is the cradle of the Mediterranean diet and will surprise you witha thousand combinations of poor ingredients that enrich vegetarian menus.

And if you are wondering whether Sicily is the right destination for you, you will find the answer in a glass of local wine.

Discover all the flavours of your happy island.

In Sicily, you can visit the majestic volcano Etna, the Valley of the Temples, the Greek Theatre of Taormina and the one of Syracuse. You can learn more about Quasimodo, Verga, Il Gattopardo and the Rape of Persephone. Close your geography, science and art history books. Forget everything you learned at school and get ready to live a new experience.

You can follow the verses and passages of the greatest writers in world literature, from Sciascia to Camilleri, from Tomasi di Lampedusa to Pirandello. Travel along the literary routes that will lead you to discover an unusual side of Sicily.

Discover the roots of the fascinating myths and legends. These stories take inspiration from an extraordinary nature whose shapes and colours influenced the course of history itself. All tales reveal one truth: Sicily has always been a place loved by the Gods.

Travelling through Sicily, you can learn what rare botanical wonders live around the island. You can visit corners of paradise such as the Bioparco di Sicilia, or you can choose to follow the footsteps of Charles V around Sicily’s most beautiful cities. Spend some time watching hundreds of colourful kites soar through the sky, then taste and discover the history of real Aztec chocolate.

Travelling is the best way to learn something new and unique about Sicily.

There are stories of men, perspectives, voices and hands that come together and, with commitment, give life to new hopes. They are the symbols of a Sicily that rises from its ashes.

Discover the Sicily that doesn’t give up.

The part of Sicily that does not want to be forgotten creates memorials.
Palermo Ecomuseum promotes projects related to shared social responsibility, participatory care of the territory and sustainable tourism. The local community plans cultural, touristic and educational initiatives.

A terrible earthquake destroyed the town of Gibellina. Today its existence echoes through the work of its rebirth: Burri’s Cretto. There is a part of Sicily that shouldn’t be forgotten and abandoned. In Favara, from the greyness of a neighbourhood destined to decay, Florinda and Antonio created the Farm Cultural Park. Today it is one of the world’s most vibrant cultural centres. With Fiumara d’Arte, Antonio Presti has proclaimed the salvific power of beauty, creating one of the largest and most evocative land art parks in Europe. The inhabitants of the small and enchanting Borgo Parrini transformed the town into one of the most evocative places on the island, a virtuous example of urban regeneration.

There is another part of Sicily that does not surrender to fate. It pursues its dreams and reaches for the stars. One example is the shepherd poet Lorenzo Reina, who shapes the Andromeda Theatre in Santo Stefano Quisquina with his bare hands.

We cannot mention the part of Sicily that does not surrender to the Mafia. With infinite gratitude for the men who gave their lives to protect their land, it keeps their memory alive and educates the new generations to fight with messages of peace.

Discover the beautiful stories that Sicily has to tell. Prepare yourself for an exciting journey that will enrich your soul: this is what committed tourism is all about.

Sicily is the perfect and unique destination for those who want to spend a holiday surrounded by art, history and culture.

Let’s discover the cities and small towns of Sicily. Noto is the capital of Sicilian Baroque. In Caltagirone, we will be surprised by the blaze of colours of its ceramics. Syracuse is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a walk through its streets will take you back in time. In Modica, the Duomo di San Giorgio’s great beauty (the Baroque icon in Sicily) will leave you speechless. In Marsala, you can admire the most beautiful sunset in the world, which makes the atmosphere of the Stagnone surreal. We then arrive in Piana degli Albanesi, a tiny Albania in the heart of Sicily, ready to welcome you with its lake teeming with life.

You will get to know such a wide and varied territory that you may wonder whether you are still in the same Region. Sicily seems to be the gateway to another dimension. Heaven and hell make peace in the Etnean landscape. Gods and nymphs weave love stories, unbridled passions and jealousies through forests, rivers and springs. But don’t forget to visit the smaller islands.

In Lipari, you can taste the worldwide famous Malvasia. Panarea is the most exclusive and popular destination. You can explore the Island of Alicudi on the back of a donkey. Don’t miss visiting the characteristic Island of Vulcano, renowned for its mud baths. Stromboli is pyrotechnical, while, in Salina, you can see the home of the poet Neruda, set of Massimo Troisi’s unforgettable movie “Il Postino”.

Then there are the Egadi Islands, Pantelleria, Ustica, Linosa and Lampedusa. They are all surrounded by a wonderful sea, and each Island has its palette of reflections, from deep blue to the turquoise sky. You will be completely captivated by the colours and atmosphere of these places.

There is too much to see, and it is hard to choose where to start. Do not waste time then: get ready to go. Sicily is waiting for you!

There is increasing demand for holidays that take us away from crowded places and daily stress, where the body and mind can find rest and meditation.

Excursions lead us to places where nature and silence reign, with monasteries, hermitages and shrines where it is possible to find religious devotion by retracing the paths of Saints and beatified people, as well as a secular moment of serenity.

The Sacred Paths are routes that have been travelled by pilgrims since ancient times, and have now become itineraries with great attraction for tourists. Some are a few dozen kilometres long, others hundreds. Discover the itineraries along the ancient roads of the Via Francigena or along the most beaten religious paths, and get ready to walk through the most enchanting places in Sicily.

Sicily is ready to offer an interesting network of religious routes that allow you to discover bright gems that are still little known, alone or with the help of local nature associations.

Sicily offers a wide range of natural treatments to regenerate the body and mind.

If relaxation, sensory well-being and immersive pleasure are your top travel priorities, when you visit Sicily, you will discover that it is an amazing open-air spa.

It is not a matter of destination or length of your holiday: you will find out that the simplest and most natural things have extraordinary power over your health.

Breathe deeply and find your balance using the wisdom of the centuries-old forests and the energy of the frozen waterfalls. Surround yourself with sunshine and beauty. Relax on the salt crust in the unique setting of the Stagnone. Explore and rest in the natural caves, places of the Gods in the minor islands.

To treat yourself to some relaxation, spend a day in Vulcano’s mud baths. They are a true elixir of life. The thermal waters scattered throughout Sicily supply some of the best facilities in Italy.

Let your wellness journey begin. You deserve the best: you deserve Sicily.

A quick look at the beaches, lidos and coves on the wonderful Sicily sea, with surprising transparency and richness of colours.

We’ll start from the coast on the south of this incredible island, going from Capo Passero in Syracuse to Capo Granitola in Trapani, which proudly reveals its golden sand with an exotic flair.

Marina di Ragusa, Pozzallo, Punta Secca in the territory of Ragusa, the Torre Salsa Reserve near Sciacca, the island of Lampedusa and the Scala dei Turchi in Agrigento have very long beaches that are usually not crowded, and which blend the “off-grid” harmony and relaxation we all seek.

This sandy coast extends to Mazara del Vallo and Marsala and continues with the Via del Sale, the Stagnone Reserve and Mozia in Trapani. Here we find out how salt is produced in the museums dedicated to it. Riserva dello Zingaro and the white, fine sandy beach of San Vito lo Capoe need no introduction and open up to the Tyrrhenian coast, characterised by a succession of beaches and cliffs.

The island of Ustica, Cefalù and Mondello in the Palermo area, the Aeolian Islands, Capo d’Orlando and Tindari in the province of Messina and the Egadi Islands in the Trapani region all overlook the Tyrrhenian Sea, where the blue of the sea is intense and snorkelling is very enjoyable.

The eastern coast starts after Messina with the lava rocks and pebble beaches of Taormina and Giardini Naxos, the Acireale Timpa Nature Reserve and the cliffs of Aci Trezza. The sand then returns in the Gulf of Catania, Syracuse, the Vendicari Reserve, going up to Marzamemi and the Isola delle Correnti, the precise point where the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea meet.

The climate and landscapes allow you to pursue many outdoor sports activities in Sicily, combining wellness and fun: you will be spoilt for choice.

If you love the sea, you can dive and snorkel, experiencing the thrill of contact with the most awe-inspiring fauna and flora and discovering the “Divers’ paradise” on the bottom of Ustica, in the heart of Italy’s first marine reserve. You will behold images and colour combinations that you thought were pure science fiction with your own eyes.

On the surface, however, the sea works together with the wind to playfully push you towards kitesurfing: try it in the beautiful setting of Stagnone in Marsala!

The Sicilian natural scenery offers an original and fully comprehensive solutions for any level of fatigue, for all ages and for previous background of physical activity, from those who want to get fit to those who want to push their limits. Choose between a walk with your children along the Trek&Kids and the extremes of climbing and ski mountaineering. There are challenges with a very wide range of difficulty levels, from golf, which you can play in both the west and east of Sicily, to a highly evocative bike trip, from a day spent feeling truly free on a sailing boat to a horseback ride on Etna or crossing the Argimusco.

The hinterland of Sicily is the heart of the island, it is a little-known area. Here time flows naturally, and the contact with the locals is wonderful. It is a land rich in cultural expressions, millenary traditions, archaeological, architectural and naturalistic treasures. Many places make you want to stay forever.

Let’s discover the slopes of Mount Etna or the Simeto Nature Reserve: this area is rich in lava caves, waterfalls, rapids and small lakes. The Piana degli Albanesi Lake, on the other hand, is an area teeming with life. From the Bosco Della Ficuzza, we find ourselves in the heart of the Parco delle Madonie, dotted with small towns where time flows slowly and quietly.

Enna is the highest town in Italy, and from here you can enjoy a panoramic view over the whole island. Caltanissetta has a historical centre full of Renaissance and Baroque monuments.

Sutera is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The Teatro di Andromeda in Santo Stefano Quisquina is a magical place surrounded by the pastoral landscape of the Monti Sicani.

Despite being in the centre of Sicily, far from the coast, you can enjoy the incredible and unique view of the Aeolian Islands. You will feel like you have just completed a journey into the most unusual and authentic Sicily.

Sicily is the perfect place to spend a carefree and fun holiday with your family and children.

Here you can travel and walk with children in total comfort and safety, discovering beautiful and unexpected natural settings. You can travel on foot, by bicycle or on the back of friendly donkeys. There are many ways to discover a land rich in hidden treasures, observing fauna and flora of rare beauty.

We recommend the best beaches to enjoy the wonderful Sicilian sea and spend your days among sandcastles, velvet seabeds and curious little fish. If you are lucky enough, you may even see a specimen of Caretta Caretta turtle!

In the Valley of the Temples, children can become budding archaeologists. They will be provided with the right equipment and guided by experts in discovering ancient remains. The Ludum is the first science museum in Sicily where you can learn what laws regulate the Universe.

You can discover the rare botanical wonders hidden around the island together with your family. You can visit corners of paradise such as the Bioparco di Sicilia. Or you can test your courage in the Adventure Parks, suspended in the air amidst the greenery.

Another unforgettable experience is driving along the writers’ road. Follow in the footsteps of Charles V on a historical route. Have fun with the children by flying colourful kites and tasting Aztec chocolate. Be inspired and choose the experience that perfectly suits you and your family.

Some treasures do not need to be touched to perceive their rarity. However, in this triangular and evocative region, you will constantly come across the signs left by history, the passage of man and his creativity.

Get ready to discover how Sicily can amaze you. Sicily will surprise you when you least expect it. As you stroll along the streets, you will come across the works of contemporary street art: it is intense, immediate and universal. Looking out, over the infinity of the Sicilian hinterland, from the Andromeda Theatre, you will see a mystical and ancestral place. You will feel like floating in sidereal space. You have the chance to visit artisan’s workshops, guardians of traditions handed down from father to son.

Some customs are very ancient, such as the working of obsidian or the unique and precious Mediterranean coral. These traditions keep alive arts and knowledge of inestimable value, they are World Heritage Site. This heritage also includes the Sicilian puppets, protagonists of the Opera dei Pupi. Or the art of dry stone walls that embellish landscapes with their ancient beauty.

And what about archaeological sites? Of Sicily’s 7 UNESCO sites, some are among the most beautiful archaeological sites of all time. Examples, Pantalica, the Valley of the Temples and the magnificent Theatre of Taormina. They all bear witness to a glorious past in bright colours just waiting to be discovered. In Sicily, you will find countless places of culture, beautiful theatres and museums, artistic routes and endless opportunities to breathe in art en plein air. You will cherish this journey in the depths of your heart, along with your most precious memories.