From Palermo till Lampedusa TOP 10 places to visit in Sicily A clockwise tour of the biggest Island in the Mediterranean sea A Publication of CharmingSicily.com Best places in and around the Island All we know that Sicily (Sicilia in Italian language) is the largest Island in the Mediterranean Sea. But we ignore, maybe, that it boasts 6 of the biggest Archeological Unesco sites, 5 blue flags on 2012, 11 Michelin Restaurants, just to cite a few numerical details. Sicily is an Italian region and, as well as in the whole Stivale, offers a strong culinary tradition, cultural heritage and a great sense of hospitality. The point that makes the island different from the rest of Italy, is its multicultural society having been ruled by Asians, Africans and Europeans. Rites, folklore, recipes, Christian liturgy and the architecture vary in according to town and sub region. Sicily is home of a stunning selection of architectural splendors, dating from ancient Greek and Roman times to impressive Baroque cathedrals and monasteries. Historic sights, such as the Val di Noto and Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica, attract visitors from throughout the world. A special mention must be dedicated to Sicilian beaches due to its coasts which surpasses 620 miles (1,000 km) and 931 miles (1,500 km), if the smaller islands are included! An holiday in Sicily looks forward to surprise you with the many facets of its enchanting landscapes, often wild and untouched, but always charming in their simplicity. As a matter of fact, Mafia, Corleone and The Godfather are not the main highlights of the largest Island of Italy and the all Mediterranean sea. Through away the prejudices, if you have some, and discover what actually makes Sicily worth mentioning. Enjoy this Top 10 places to visit in Sicily, starting from Palermo, the Sicilian capital city, till Lampedusa, the southernmost part of Italy. Our selection Palermo Aeolian Islands Taormina Etna Siracusa Val di Noto Piazza Armerina e Villa Romana del Casale Valle Templi and Scala dei Turchi San Vito Lo Capo Lampedusa If you want to have a taste PALERMO of the authentic Sicilian life, take a trip to one of Palermo's markets! Locals and tourists alike come to peruse and shop for fresh vegetables, fish and fruit, possibly tasting the food specialties as breads and cheeses, but definitely taking part in the ritual of strolling around the narrow medieval streets and buying something “slow food km 0”. Vucciria, Ballarò, il Capo, Borgo Vecchio are the main street markets of Palermo and each one as its unique characteristic. WHERE TO SLEEP “The historical markets: Vucciria, Ballarò, il Capo, Borgo Vecchio” The Aeolian Islands are a AEOLIAN ISLANDS volcanic archipelago with not only rugged coasts, caves and cliffs, but also splendid views, thermal resorts, water sports, good fishing and, of course, sandy beaches. It consists of 7 main islands (Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Panarea, Stomboli, Alicudi and Filicudi) and the are frequent ferries from and to the islands many during the summer. The largest island is Lipari, which is also the most crowded during the hot Sicilian summers. WHERE TO SLEEP “7 main islands: Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Panarea, Stomboli, Alicudi and Filicudi” Taormina is one of the TAORMINA most popular touristic resorts, perched on a mountain and overlooking the deep blue sea. Its beauty is done by the presence of important monuments and historical beauties: not to be missed is The Greek Theatre, stage of concerts and cultural activities. Taormina has lot to offer in the many nightclubs and restaurants and has its fair share of beaches close by as well. WHERE TO SLEEP “Monuments and historical beauties; Wonderful beaches and awesome views; Social life and shopping” Located on the east coast ETNA of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania, Etna is the tallest and active volcano in Europe, visible also from the moon. It recorded very large lava flow and, from ancient times, it is considered a sacred mountain. It is possible organize interesting trips to and around the mountain Etna which offers stunning panoramas which embrace the complete landscape of eastern Sicily. WHERE TO SLEEP “The tallest and active volcano in Europe “ SYRACUSE Siracusa is one of the main historic city of Sicily. Located in the southeast of the island, it was founded in 733 BC by Greek. It is worth-visiting for its rich Greek history, as well as because it was the birthplace of the mathematician and engineer Archimedes. The Ancient Siracusa is also listed by Unesco. It includes Ortigia, the ruins of the Temple of Athena, a greek theatre and a roman amphitheatre. WHERE TO SLEPP “Get lost in 2500 years of history, shown by the many Greeks, Romans and Normans remains” The cities of south-eastern VAL DI NOTO Sicily, called also the late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto (or Noto Valley) are Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli. Listed by Unesco in 2002, they were rebuilt in 1693 after a terrible earthquake. The best period to visit the Val di Noto is in spring, especially during Easter with many religious and emotional processions. WHERE TO SLEEP “Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli” PIAZZA ARMERINA e Piazza Armerina is a sicilian comune, precisely VILLA ROMANA DEL CASALE one of the so-called "Lombardic" towns due to its dialect differs notably from the main one. An additional worth visiting point is Villa Romana del Casale characterized by impressive mosaics. Villa Romana is a roman Estate located about 3 km to the southwest of the city centre and has been declared a World Heritage Site. WHERE TO SLEEP “The chance to admire some both Norman and Gothic architecture” VALLE TEMPLI and Included in the UNESCO Heritage Site, Valle dei SCALA DEI TURCHI Templi (Valley of the Temples in inglish) is, not only one of the most outstanding examples of Greater Greece art and architecture, but also it is one of the main national monument of Italy. Scala dei Turchi is a rocky cliff on the coast of Realmonte, very famous because of its unusual white colour. Scala dei Turchi beaches are also some of the best in Sicily yet are not crowded. WHERE TO SLEEP “Agrigento, an ancient and still fascinating Greek colonies of Magna Graecia” San Vito Lo Capo is part of SAN VITO LO CAPO the Zingaro Nature reserve and, its long coastline boasts five Blue Flags thanks to the beauty of the sea and the many services offered by its beaches. It is located at the foot of Mount Monaco, between San Vito and Solanto, easily reachable from Trapani and Palermo. In September, San Vito Lo Capo is home of the "Cous Cous Fest", a tribute to the Mediterranean food&wine culinary tradition. WHERE TO SLEEP “It is among the most popular destinations in Sicily, but very busy during the summer” Lampedusa, the largest of LAMPEDUSA the Pelagian Islands, is the southernmost part of Italy. Lampedusa, Linosa and Lampione are the 3 main islands of the archipelago, also called in Italian “Isole d’alto mare". Lampedusa is located about 200 km from the coast of Sicily, between the island of Malta and Tunisia. It has rugged coastlines, sandy beaches and coves protected by cliffs and long ridges. WHERE TO SLEEP “Lampedusa: the largest of the Pelagian Islands and the southernmost part of Italy” TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SELECTION! BE INSPIRED Follow us! .