Destinations in Sicily

Sicily's destinations run from the Baroque towns of the southeast and the ancient sites of Syracuse and Taormina on the east coast to the volcanic islands off the north shore. Which of the best places to visit in Sicily suits you depends on whether you want old towns, sandy beaches or mountain villages, so this overview groups them by province.

Best places to visit in Sicily, province by province

The northeast around Messina holds the largest share of the towns listed here, and the Aeolian Islands belong to the same province. In the far west, Trapani faces the Egadi Islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo, protected as the Isole Egadi marine area. The southeast is the Val di Noto, whose late Baroque towns Noto, Ragusa, Modica and Scicli share UNESCO World Heritage status.

Province of Messina

Taormina, on the east coast, has an ancient theater, a medieval old town and beaches; Goethe came here on his Italian travels. Messina sits on the Strait as a modern coastal city of broad boulevards, wide squares, Art Nouveau buildings and the ferry port. Savoca is where Francis Ford Coppola filmed several scenes of "The Godfather" trilogy.

Inland, the mountain villages are the draw. Novara di Sicilia is a stone village at 650 m in the Peloritani, a member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia, with a Renaissance cathedral and Maiorchino cheese. Montalbano Elicona in the Nebrodi has a Swabian-Aragonese castle, was voted Borgo dei Borghi in 2015 and lies close to the Argimusco rock formations. Rodì Milici is surrounded by hills, a quarter of an hour from the Golfo di Tindari.

Along the north coast, Milazzo is the harbor town where boats leave for the Aeolian Islands. Tonnarella, part of Furnari on the Gulf of Patti, has a sand-and-gravel beach facing the islands, with the Portorosa marina next door. Oliveri keeps a traditional pace away from mass tourism. Capo d'Orlando has a very long beach promenade for evening walks and dinner, and Santo Stefano di Camastra is known for its ceramics.

Aeolian Islands

The seven volcanic islands north of Sicily have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Hydrofoils from Milazzo reach Lipari in about an hour; it is the largest and most visited island and the hub for ferries to all the others. Salina, the second largest, is known for Malvasia wine and capers. Vulcano has an active volcano and a popular mud bath. The volcano on Stromboli rises 924 m above sea level and has been almost continuously active for centuries.

Province of Palermo

Palermo, on the north coast, is the fifth-largest city in Italy and the start of the UNESCO Arab-Norman route. The province also takes in the beach at Mondello and the Madonie Park. Cefalù pairs beaches with an old town around its Norman cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Near Partinico, Borgo Parrini is an artists' village of bright facades and mosaics.

Province of Trapani

The provincial capital Trapani has an ancient old town that still shows the wealth trade once brought. Above it, Erice has a medieval center with historic castles, a wide view over Trapani and traditional almond pastries. Castellammare del Golfo on the northwest coast has an old town, beaches and the Zingaro nature reserve nearby. San Vito lo Capo is known for its wide sandy beach, clear water and the Cous Cous Fest every September. The province also has the salt pans, the ancient sites of Segesta and Selinunte, and the ferries to the Egadi Islands.

Province of Agrigento

The Valley of the Temples (UNESCO) and the Scala dei Turchi are the province's best-known sights. About 10 km from Agrigento, Favara is known for the Farm Cultural Park art district, the Chiaramonte castle and its Easter lamb sweets.

Province of Catania

Mount Etna, a UNESCO site, dominates the province; at over 3,300 m it is the highest active volcano in Europe. Catania is a seaport between the Ionian Sea and the volcano, built in the Sicilian Baroque style. Acireale, on the Cyclops Riviera at the foot of Etna, is known for its churches, its thermal park and a carnival first documented in 1594.

Province of Syracuse

In Syracuse, the island of Ortygia, the oldest part of the city, and the necropolis of Pantalica are both UNESCO sites. Noto, declared a World Heritage Site in 2002, is a Baroque town easily explored on foot. The fishing village of Marzamemi near Pachino is known for tuna specialties and colorful facades by the sea, while Avola has beaches and local specialties. The nature areas of Vendicari and Cavagrande are also in this province.

Province of Ragusa

Ragusa lies among deep gorges cut into the limestone of the Monti Iblei. Modica is called the city of chocolate and 100 churches. Scicli is less famous than its neighbors but shares their World Heritage listing. Ispica has Baroque buildings and the Cava d'Ispica. On the south coast, Marina di Ragusa has fine golden sand, the Lungomare Andrea Doria promenade and a marina for several hundred boats; the fishing village of Donnalucata has golden sand on both sides of its small harbor; and Pozzallo has the Pietre Nere beach. The area is reached via Comiso airport or the port of Pozzallo.