Over the years we have explored many of Sicily’s breathtaking cities, towns and villages. There are 9 provinces in Sicily and of those we have enjoyed 6. We still have much to explore, but here are some of the things we’ve done and seen so far. Check out our recommendations page to find out which were our favourite eateries!
Palermo
Having been to Palermo several times we’ve got so much to recommend here – there really is something for everyone in this wonderfully versatile city. If you like cities, beaches or mountains this place has you covered. Here’s a list of some of our favourite places, and what you can expect there:
- Monreale
Nestled in the hills above Palermo you’ll find Monreale, a stunning city in its own right and boasting the breathtaking Duomo di Monreale, an Arab-Norman masterpiece. If you’re not into religious sites, it’s still worth a trip up into the hills, because once you’re there you’ll find the best surprise of all – the panoramic view spanning across all of Palermo and the coastline.
If you’d like to add a meal to your Monreale experience, we’d recommend ‘Giardino degli aranci’ where you can taste authentic delicacies from Palermo such as ‘arancine’ and ‘panelle’. More on this here:
https://ilgiardinodegliarancimonreale.it: Exploring Sicilia- Mondello
Mondello is probably one of the better known areas in Sicily and for good reason. Not only is it a beautiful and well kept seaside town, but it also has one of the best stretches of sea and beach on the island. Now – a pre-warning: depending on the month you plan to visit, beaches in Italy can get EXTREMELY busy. August is by far the busiest month as many Italians choose to holiday in their own country – it’s so beautiful, why wouldn’t they?!
As with any beach and sea, you also have to keep in mind that sometimes Mother Nature changes the conditions of the water and there’s not much to be done about that. If you happen to be there and you notice the water at Mondello is a little green – don’t worry, it s actually just lots of tiny and harmless micro-organisms that give the water that green tinge. It has to do with the climate at certain times of year. Other days, you’ll find crystal clear water, a sandy sea bed and a well equipped Lido for your convenience. Note that there are areas of ‘spiaggia libera’ or beaches free to the public, but there are also serviced areas where you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas – these of course incur a cost, and the cost will vary throughout the season. Depending on your needs, there should be something for everyone.
Note: in our opinion it’s pretty easy to avoid the high season as it’s hot in Sicily from around April through until November!
- Ballarò
Ballarò offers an incredible antique market and is situated in the gothic quarter of the city, making it feel instantly more ‘moody’ and almost like you’re walking through the streets of the past. We love strolling through this area and looking at all the stalls – if you enjoy haggling, this is the place for you. You can find some real gems here and there are also fresh food markets of course, so if you’re self catering you can pick up your groceries here too.
- Corleone
Ragusa
- Ragusa & Ragusa Ibla
This is a city on two levels and every bit of it is stunningly beautiful. It is also arguably one of the best maintained and most organised cities in Sicily. Its buildings are works of art, the streets clean, and the atmosphere; especially in summer, is not to be missed.
After we first visited Ragusa, we fell head over heels in love and have since visited again. It’s one of those places we would move to in a heartbeat, should the opportunity present itself.
A few of our favourite things to do here include: a walk through the gardens in Ragusa Ibla, finding all the spots where the famous Italian detective series ‘Montalbano’ was filmed, renting an e-scooter or simply walking through the magical winding streets of the city.
There is no shortage of eateries here but we particularly loved the following:
- Caffetteria Donnafugata for ice cream/ coffee, etc.
- Cucina e Vino – there’s a special story behind this one that we’ll share another time, but please go, you won’t be disappointed!
- I Banchi
There are also several tours that you can do here, depending on what you’d like to do or see.
- Modica
Modica is a small city not too far from Ragusa, and it’s really beautiful. Like Ragusa, it’s very well organised and very clean. Modica is also famous for its chocolate and there is even a chocolate museum there. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this is the place for you!
The city also boasts a beautiful world heritage cathedral, an ‘old town’ and much more.
Catania
- Catania centrale
- Mount Etna
Siracusa
- Noto
- Pachino
- Portopalo
- Avola
Trapani
- San Vito Lo Capo
Messina
- Taormina & Isola Bella
- Castelmola
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