Visiting Sicily this summer is a chance to visit beautiful beaches, explore Italy’s vast culture and history, and dine on amazing dishes.
The island just off Italy’s southern coast is a seductive locale filled with natural wonders, rich history, and enchanting vistas. You will not want to return home after a visit.
Here are 7 of the top reasons to make Sicily your destination for a summer vacation.
Incredible Food
Sicily, like many regions of the country, has its own distinctive cuisine. It’s also influenced by other nearby cuisines. For example, couscous is a common menu item, a result of Arabic influences.
Fresh seafood is a staple of Sicilian cuisine, a product of its more than 600 miles of coastline. Some of the most popular dishes include:
- Pasta con le sarde, made with sardines, fennel, raisins and pine nuts
- Pasta alla Norma, with tomato, eggplant and salted ricotta cheese
- Arancini, stuffed rice balls filled usually with meat and tomato sauce, mozzarella and peas, coated in bread crumbs and deep fried
- Cassata, a round sponge cake dipped in fruit juice or liqueur and topped with fruit and ricotta cheese
- Cannoli, the region’s best-known dessert that features flaky pastry shells filled with a sweetened ricotta cheese
Local Food Markets
All that fresh food often comes from a wide array of local food markets. Try getting up early and beating the crowds and getting the freshest foods at the local markets that dot Sicily.
Local vendors will hawk their wares, shouting out the daily specials and enticing customers with samples. Meanwhile, fishermen will dress and fillet the daily catch right at their booths.
Historic Archaeology
Sicily has some of the best-preserved sites for Greek and Roman antiquities, including temples, art and majestic structures. Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples in the southwest includes the nearly intact Temple of Concordia. In the southwest, you’ll find Siracusa and the enormous amphitheater built in the 5th century B.C.
In the city of Taormina, you’ll discover the Teatro Greco, which like several of the other venues, is still home today to performances, films and plays. On the island of Ortigia, you’ll see the remains of the Temple of Apollo while in Segesta and Selinunte there are other archaeological sites to explore.
Stunning Beaches
Sicily borders the Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and Mediterranean seas with miles of coastline to explore. Explore the luxury Isola Bella beach near Taormina or take a cable car to hilltop beaches at Mazzaro. Palermo, Cefalu, and Ragusa also offer popular beaches to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf.
Mount Etna
Europe’s most active and largest volcano is Mount Etna. The nearly 11,000-foot mountain is on Sicily’s east coast and is a great day trip. Walk the craters, take a cable car or bus to the observatory and, if you time it right, see the active volcano in action. Climbing to the summit without an experienced guide is not advised as even in the summer, it can get very cold and the weather is unpredictable.
Annual Festivals
Celebrate various festivals during the summer throughout Sicily. Wine festivals and holiday celebrations are a nearly weekly occurrence. Popular festivals include the Carnival of Acireale, the Calici di Stelle wine festival, and the Cous Cous Festival. The Feast of Santa Rosalia in Palermo in mid-July features music, fireworks, and processions.
Islands
There are many islands close to the shore to explore. The Pelagie Islands feature sandy beaches and are ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Favignana is full of luxury hotels and beaches. To the north are the Aeolian Islands, with hot springs and architecture to explore.
Sicily has something for everyone and is an ideal getaway vacation this summer.