Guide to Sicily

Guide to Sicily (87)

Our recommendations if you are planning a vacation or visit to Sicily and the islands.

  • Guided Tours of Palermo, Sicily
    These half day and day guided tours of Palermo include food tastings and visits to some of the most important historical sites in the city and nearby Monreale.   GUIDED VISIT OF PALERMO – HALF DAY SERPOTTA TOUR Guided visit of the Oratorio S. Cita, all’Oratorio SS. Rosario in S. Domenico, the Mar...
  • Sicily Day Wine Tours
    Sicilian wines have been on the up for a number of years now and these fabulous wine tours propose are an enjoyable day to appreciate the production of three renowned cantine. They all include a guided tour of the cellars and guided tastings, CANTINE BARBERA Guided visit of the Cantina (approx. 4...
  • Palermo Shopping Tours, Sicily
    The city of Palermo is a great place for a short break, but it might be worth booking a guide to get the best out of your stay. If you like shopping then Together Personal Shopping & Luxury Services have the best proposals in town.   SHOPPING TOUR 'In giro per la citta', a walk through art and h...
  • L'Approdo delle Sirene Bed and Breakfast, Siracusa
    L'Approdo delle Sirene Bed and Breakfast is set in two floors of a historic building overlooking the harbour of Ortigia, the ancient historical heart of the city just across from modern Siracusa in Sicily. In fact, you can cross over to the new town using the bridge which connects the waterfront. ...
  • Sicilian Cooking Demo, Siracusa
    Sicilian Demo Cooking is an introduction to the unique cuisine of Sicily from its Arab, Greek, Norman and other influences, to the combination of sea, land and both peasant and aristocratic backgrounds. All these make up traditional Sicilian cooking and Fioreangela will demonstrate to you that the ...
  • Wedding and Catering Services in Ragusa, Sicily
    Consider the restaurant locations and catering services of Locanda Don Serafino located in Ragusa in south east Sicily for your wedding reception or special event. The one star Restaurant Locanda Don Serafino is located in the heart of the old historical centre of Ibla Ragusa, while the Lido Azzurr...
  • A Classic Fiat 500 for a Sicily Wedding
    Rent a classic Fiat 500 for your wedding in Taormina, Sicily. 500 Vintage Car Tours have many a wonderful selection of vehicle colours to choose from to match your weddings dress, eyes, or the romantic countryside of the land and sea.
  • Locanda Don Serafino Restaurant, Ragusa
    The one star Michelin Locanda Don Serafino Restaurant is just a short walk from the Locanda Don Serafino Hotel. Both are owned and managed by the same family and are connected by small and narrow traffic free paths near the baroque center of Ibla, Ragusa’s historic centre in Sicily. The menu by C...
  • Lido Azzurro Restaurant, Marina di Ragusa
    The Lido Azzurro Restaurant is part of the gourmet proposals of boutique Hotel Locanda Don Serafino in Ibla Ragusa and which also includes the Locanda Don Serafino Restaurant. Formally entitled the Lido Azzurro Ristorante da Serafino 1953, the restaurant is situated right on a long beach of powdery...
  • Hosteria Rossopeperoncino, Taormina
    Restaurant Rossopeperoncino 'hosteria sicula' is positioned at the foot of a small alleyway besides Il Duomo or Cathedral of Taormina. Diners enter first a splendid courtyard full of green vegetation and the fragrance of flowers. The internal part of the restaurant is equally warm and welcoming...
  • Luxury Apartments in Taormina
    In 2011, luxury apartments belonging to Hotel Villa Carlotta and about 150 meters from the hotel, were opened in the centre of Taormina. They can be rented on a self-catering basis and guests can also enjoy the facilities of the hotel. The apartments are made up of one or two elegant bedrooms with...
  • Locanda Don Serafino Hotel Ragusa
    The 4 star Hotel Locanda Don Serafino is an extremely refined and welcoming three star hotel in the heart of old Ragusa itself inserted on the World Heritage List of Unesco. The hotel is situated right in the heart of baroque quarter of Ragusa in a tastefully renovated 19th-century mansion where ma...
  • Sicily Driver, private chauffeur guide services
    Your private driver for Sicily and chauffeur guide for the island is Giacomo Mazza based in Catania. With a Sicilian father and a Irish mother, Giacomo, or James, runs a small company of authorized and English speaking NCC drivers near Catania in partnership with Limousine Sicily in the west of the...
  • Etna Jeep Tours, Catania
    Sicily Off Road are specialists in 4x4 guided tours of Mount Etna with excursions departing from Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Catania, Messina, Acireale. Sicily Off Road is also specialised in shore excursions from the main tourist ports of West Sicily such as Catania, Messina, Giardini Naxos and Rip...
  • Classic Fiat 500 Vintage Tours, Sicily
    If you have ever wanted to drive a classic Fiat 500 car while on vacation in Italy, then contact 500 Vintage Tour based in the province of Catania near Mount Etna and Taormina. An unforgettable Sicily car tour hire experience in the most classic of Italian motor vehicles. You can choose from a ran...
  • Holiday Housing, Aeolian Islands Rental Apartments & Villas
    Holiday Housing manages the seasonal rental and weekly bookings of houses, villas and private accommodation in Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi. In other words, the beautiful Aeolian Archipelago of islands in north Sicily. Contact, this Lipari based booking ag...
  • Hotel Villa Ducale, Taormina
    The 4 star Taormina boutique Hotel Villa Ducale is an authentic aristocratic villa recently restored and converted into a charming and romantic hotel in Sicily. With over 80 km coastline visible from the panoramic terrace, as well as Mount Etna in the background, the hotel has an old fashioned ...
  • Hotel Villa Carlotta, Taormina
    Villa Carlotta in Taormina is a luxury boutique Sicilian hotel and sister accommodation to the award winning Hotel Villa Ducale nearby. It is a sophisticated choice for discerning travellers who are looking for a vacation of charm and exclusivity. Villa Carlotta is still surrounded by lush g...
  • Aeolian Islands Week Sicily Cruise
    A luxury cruise by In Italy Tours in an elegant two masted sail yacht departing from the Calabria fishing village of Tropea to Sicily and taking in the main Aeolian Islands of Stromboli, Salina, Vulcano, Filicudi, Panarea and Lipari. Your accommodation is a classic 22 meter 'caicco salato' built in ...

SICILY TRAVEL INFORMATION AND TOURISM SUGGESTIONS

The region of Sicily includes Catania, Palermo, Trapani, Taormina, Enna, Ragusa, Siracusa, Messina, Agrigento, the Egadi, Aeolian and Lampedusa islands and Caltannissetta.

First point of call would be Catania and a visit to Mount Etna. Try skiing the volcano in winter.

The Nebrodi National Park in the province offers plenty of trekking and outdoor experiences. Sleep over in one of the Aeolian islands choosing from Lipari, Salina, Vulcano or Stromboli.

The long north coast runs towards Cefalu and the coast is spectacular. Palermo's fortune was built on citrus fruit and the aristocratic buildings can just about be seen.

The territory between here and Trapani is worth some time. Such locations as Monreale, Alcamo and Piana di Albanese.

Italy's upcoming wine zone can take inspiration from Marsala which gave the world their sweet dessert wine.

The west coast also provided the British Empire with a strategic and economic base from the time of Nelson. Ragusa and Siracusa will put you at the most southerly part of Italy.

Then there is all the interior to discover, done best by the Normans who created their fiefdom around 1000 years ago.

Consult our latest or last updated Sicily travel articles below, or access them from the links above right divided by recipes, food, wine, itineraries, tours and trip suggestions

  • Palermo and Sicily street food

    Published in Sicily Itineraries
    If you happen to be in Palermo do not miss out on the chance of immersing yourself in the color, smells and sounds of the local food markets. It's all about street food and for non Sicilians, even Italians, they are places where a truly unique fusion of culinary influences over many centuries can be experienced. To enjoy best the Palermo street food, leave your diet regime at home and allow yourself to be carried where your taste buds take you. Firstly, try sfincione which is  focaccia bread fried with onions. Then there is 'stigghiola'  which requires a bit of braveness…
    Last modified on 04 June 2012

Noto Valley Wine Route

Published in Sicily Itineraries
The Strada del Vino of Val Di Noto (the wine route of Val di Noto) may not mean much to most people, but if it was renamed the Nero d'Avola wine route ... that's better and can we also include the towns of Palazzolo, Pachino, Rosolini and Ispica. Of course.
Last modified on 04 June 2012

Pachino Tomatoes from Sicily

Published in Sicily Food
Pachino tomatoes may be more familiar to most of us as a type of tomato, but it is Italy's and Europe's most southern town, located in the province of Siracusa, Sicily. It was founded in 1760 when Don Gaetano Starrabba, Prince of Giardinelli, obtained permission to build in the feudal zone of Scibini, then owned by Ferdinand IV, King of then Two Sicilies. The first modern inhabitants came from Greece and later from Malta, but 'promontorium pachyni' was known to Homer and Virgilio and later as 'pachini portus' to the Romans.
Last modified on 04 June 2012

Fresh seafood fettuccine pasta recipe from Sicily

Published in Sicily Recipes
We are not too sure if this fresh seafood pasta recipe comes from Sicily but it features clams and pasta and is ideal for Spring.
Last modified on 04 June 2012

Sicily sardine and pistacchio pie recipe

Published in Sicily Recipes
This pistachio and sardines pie recipe is taken from an email we received from the very excellent website Mare in Italy.
Last modified on 04 June 2012

Greek Colonization of Sicily

Published in Sicily Itineraries
From the first ancient inhabitants, the Sicans and Sicels of unknown origin, to the Greeks and the Phoenicians, between whom the indigenous Elymian population was squeezed, Sicily has always remained a place where very different cultures meet and mix. Even today.
Last modified on 04 June 2012

Mount Etna Tour

Published in Sicily Itineraries
There are many ways to see Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. A tour might begin in Catania or Taormina, but to get close up quick consider a night in any one of the towns surrounding the 210 kilometer base.
Last modified on 04 June 2012