Holidays to Sicily

An island full of contrasts and old traditions, Sicily lies off the southern tip of the Italian boot. Separated from the mainland by a 3 km wide Strait of Messina, this largest island in the Mediterranean is conveniently located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea between Italy and Northern Africa. Known for its colourful past, corruption and the famous Sicilian Mafia, Sicily lives life to the fullest and every day is different on this charming island. Rocky landscape, beautiful beaches, bubbling towns and authentic people describe Sicily well - but the most prominent landmark is Mount Etna (3,320 m), the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active volcanos in the world! Sicily’s history dates back as early as 8000 BC; it was the site of Greek-Punic and Roman-Punic wars, then changed hands numerous times during the early Middle Ages, later the Kingdom of Sicily lasted for 700 years and finally it was united with the rest of Italy in 1860. Sicily’s colourful past has left a magnificent cultural and archaeological history with Necropolis of Pantalica, the Valley of the Temples and Selinunte to name a few. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Necropolis of Pantalica with over 5000 tombs is located in the south-eastern Sicily. The Valley of the Temples (another UNESCO World Heritage site) features the most outstanding examples of Greater Greece art and architecture and is a national monument of Italy. Selinunte is another interesting ancient Greek archaeological site on the south coast of Sicily.

Sicily boasts over 1,500 km of coastline, stunning beaches of white sand, pebbles and black volcanic sand and the delightful island groups consisting of mainly volcanic islands in the Mediterranean Sea which add to the charm of Sicily. The Aeolian Islands consist of seven islands which are part of a big 200 km volcanic ridge and were included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000. A trip to Sicily is not a traditional beach holiday - it is an obligation to explore and experience this delightful island in addition to its pretty coastline.

Palermo, a buzzing and energetic city, is the capital of Sicily. Full of hidden treasures waiting to be explored, handsome ancient buildings standing next to shabby run-down buildings, designer boutiques and a lively way of life, this fascinating city will give you a fantastic insight into life in Sicily.

Most of the traditional tourist areas are located on the east coast with its stunning fine sand beaches and emerald waters surrounded by a spectacular scenery. Activities are endless including trekking in the beautiful, green countryside; scuba diving in the turquoise, crystal-clear waters; enjoying art exhibition in one of Sicily’s art galleries; indulging in fabulous local cuisine or simply enjoying the breathtaking views on one of Sicily’s pretty beaches. Sicilian cuisine is full of sumptuous home-cooked Italian flavours. Think wood-oven baked pizzas, delicious pastas, freshly prepared espresso and sweet ice creams. On top of all traditional trattorias and ristorantes, try street food in Palermo which has been ranked among the top five cities in the world for street cuisine (after Bangkok and Marrakech!).

Sicily is a lot of things but it is not the traditional tourist destination with flashing neon-lights and beachfronts lined with international eateries. It is authentic and traditional - offering a real sense of place once you get there.