It’s difficult to draw up a list of experiences not to be missed in Sicily: although not particularly extensive, this marvelous island offers spectacular attractions and hides many lesser known but equally fascinating places.

We fell in love with the south-east coast for the incredible variety of landscapes and itineraries to follow: on one side, the small fishing villages overlooking a sparkling and unspoiled sea; on the other hand, artistic heritage dating back to the classical era and the Baroque period.

• Catania

Catania fascinates by its sparkling and energetic atmosphere: many bars, restaurants and kiosks overlook the streets leading to the main square, Piazza del Duomo, in the center of which stands the curious Elephant Fountain.

The real highlight of the city is the Pescheria, the fish market, which is held every morning of the working days and is located next to Piazza del Duomo, once you have gone down some steps. This market represents a cross-section of Sicilian life: fishmongers who scream the offer of the day, redundant stalls of freshly caught fish, patrons sitting at the wooden tables of the many restaurants that overlook the market where the fish passes directly from the kitchen. Near the steps leading to the Pescheria there is a small kiosk where you can quench your thirst with a seltz, a drink made with sparkling water, salt and lemon, or you can try the sweetest “mandarinetto”.

Piazza dell’Elefante, Catania

• The Ciclopi bay in Aci Trezza

The seafront of this fishing village is breathtaking: here, rise from the sea of ​​the imposing faraglioni that, according to legend, would have been thrown against Ulysses by the Cyclops Polyphemus blinded.

You cannot stop for a swim in this fascinating bay: a wooden pier leads to the rocks on the surface of water that you can swim up to the stacks in transparent water. Do not do like Matthew who thought well to jump into the water, not caring for the rocks: there, left us a piece of the side!

Cyclops Bay, Aci Trezza

• Excursion to the summit craters of the Etna volcano

Leave for a moment a beach towel and a swimsuit to try your hand at the ascent of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. You will arrive to its summit craters that continue to erupt sulfur vapors and, if you are lucky, you can admire from the top a breathtaking landscape on the whole Ionian and Tyrrhenian coast

We relied on the experience of the Mountain Etna South Guides (Guide Alpine Etna Sud), who with their knowledge and their friendliness have made the excursion a unique experience

⇒ Discover more: Trekking on the summit of Etna volcano

Trekking on volcano Etna

• Taormina

Taormina is also beautiful with the rain. Oh yes, Taormina welcomed us with a nice rain and big clouds, but we did not get demoralized and we went to the discovery of this enchanting city.

Walk the narrow strip of sand that connects to the mainland Isola bella: it seems to be in a dream!

Isola Bella, Taormina

• Cefalù

Cefalù, with its long sandy beach, is one of the favorite seaside resorts of the locals and a destination for many tourists. What struck us in Cefalù was not so much the sea and the beach, crowded with umbrellas, as its historic center that looks like a picture.

Follow the characteristic cobbled alleys that lead to the main street, Corso Ruggero, to get to Piazza Duomo where you will find an evocative scenario: the Cathedral of Cefalù, which rises in all its splendor on the small square.

Missed in an alley in Cefalù

• Zingaro Natural Reserve

The wild rocky coasts of the Zingaro are ideal for those who love discovering secluded coves and swimming in peace in a blue and clear sea.

The main entrance to the Reserve is located not far from Scopello, from which a well-marked coastal path of 7 km leaves from which it is possible to reach several beautiful beaches. There is also another entrance towards San Vito Lo Capo, from which it is possible to follow the itinerary in the opposite direction.

The most beautiful beaches we have encountered are Cala della Disa, a small expanse of stone overlooking a splendid sea, and the most crowded Torre dell’Uzzo, which is located towards the end of the path, towards San Vito Lo Capo.

Bring a bottle of water and sneakers with you: it takes two hours for one way and another two hours to return to the starting point.

Zingaro Natural Reserve

• The historic center of Palermo

You can say everything about Palermo: it is chaotic, congested by traffic, that does not shine for cleaning as soon as you step outside the historic center. But you cannot say that it is not a fascinating city full of life: lose yourself in its characteristic markets, among its baroque buildings and let yourself be tempted by the street food stalls that will satisfy your every sweet tooth. In short, Palermo leaves its mark!

Fontana Pretoria, Palermo

• Erice

The small medieval village of Erice, on the peak of a promontory, looks like a living crib: small balconies overlooking narrow, winding uphill lanes, small shops and courtyards where you can buy local products, lots of churches (there are 100 of them! ) testimony of the past, the Norman castle with its garden that gives a beautiful view, some elderly gentleman with a cap walking down with arms behind his back, garzoni intent to bring boxes of fruit and vegetables in restaurants, the irresistible smell of lemons.

Erice can seem at first glance a ghost village, not lived, put there in its perfection almost annoying only for the pleasure of tourists. Do not be impressed by this first impression! It is really worth making a stop here, even if only to taste the exquisite Genovese ericine, which we put first in the ranking of food absolutly not to be missed on a trip to Sicily.

Erice

• A day trip to Favignana

We have seen the most beautiful sea ever, which brought us back to swim in the Indonesian islands Gili and Flores, to the island of Favignana. With just under an hour’s hydrofoil or ferry (if you have a scooter or car in tow), you will set foot in a real paradise on earth. The island lends itself to be easily explored by bike or scooter. Usually, when the Mistral blows, the north coast is beaten by the wind and the sea is rough, but if you move towards the beautiful coves to the south the water is crystal clear and calm. We fell in love with Cala Azzurra, Lido Burrone and Cala Monaci.

Cala Azzurra, Favignana Island

• The remains of the classical era of Selinunte and Agrigento

Selinunte or the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento? It is not easy to recommend which site is to be visited. When in doubt, it is worth stopping in both the archaeological parks. However, we preferred the more isolated and hilly Selinunte. Although the site is less organized and structured than that of Agrigento, offers a beautiful view of the sea that with its blue contrasts the ocher of the imposing columns of Temple E.

Temple E in Selinunte

• Scala dei Turchi

A wall of white cliff, almost dazzling, that gently glides in a blue sea: it is the Scala dei Turchi, one of the most evocative sites we met on our trip to Sicily. It is located a short distance from Agrigento and it is absolutely worth stopping for a stop. Before we arrived, the rock face was walkable along its entire length. A pedestrian walkway has recently been created for visitors. We hope that this choice does not go to undermine the enchanting beauty of this place!

Scala dei Turchi

• Sicilian Baroque : Ragusa, Modica and Noto

You don’t need to be an architectural expert to fall in love with the baroque cities of south-eastern Sicily. Ragusa, Modica and Noto, located a short distance from one another, are a concentration of artistic heritage that does not leave indifferent!

⇒ Discover more: Sicilian Baroque – 2 day travel itinerary to discover the Sicilian Baroque

Modica

• The south-eastern tip of Sicily: Isola delle Correnti and Capo Passero

Since the beginning of the journey, Matteo has done nothing but repeat something: “I want to eat the Pachino tomatoes in Pachino!”. It went on like this for the whole trip, I still do not know how I could handle it! Pachino was off course, too far south of the itinerary we had planned and the days we had available. The fact is that we went to Pachino, but we could not eat the local tomatoes because out of season. Thanks to the whim of Matthew, however, we discovered spectacular places along the southeastern tip of Sicily, of which we were completely unaware: Isola delle Correnti and Capo Passero.

Island delle Correnti is the meeting point between the Ionian and the Mediterranean Sea and, despite its name, is bathed by a placid and transparent sea. The island can be reached along the fine stone tongue that connects it to the beach of Portopalo and enchants for its wild beauty. Not far away is Capo Passero, another beautiful beach with a transparent sea.

Capo Passero

• Marzamemi

Marzamemi is a small and relaxed seaside village, stormed by tourists and not by chance: this village offers, in fact, picturesque scenery. The central point of the village is Piazza della Regina Margherita, overlooked by two beautiful churches and many small rooms with colored wooden tables and chairs. It’s worth stopping for a moment and enjoying a seafood aperitif!

Even the San Lorenzo beach near the village leaves you breathless: a long stretch of fine white sand bathed by a crystalline sea.

Marzamemi

• Ortigia island, the ancient part of Syracuse

Syracuse has a double soul: early in the morning, struggling to wake up, the cobbled alleys are still deserted, the squares still silent, the shops still closed, you meet only some elderly gentleman with the cap on his head that proceeds at a slow pace starting to stretch legs; on the contrary, it starts to fill with noises and smells, the cafes begin to lift the shutters, the market begins to crowd with people and the first swimmers to go down to the beach. They captured both aspects of this living and authentic city.

What we liked most was walking through the ruins of the Greek Theater and putting us in the famous “Ear of Dionysius”, and then immediately diving into the sea in the beautiful Cala Rossa beach, in the center of the island of Ostigia, the heart of the center historical of Syracuse.

Duomo in Siracusa