Sicily travel guide

2 min summary Best time to visit Map & highlights Things to do Food History tours Mt Etna & volcanoes Families Walking Tips Responsible tourism All our Italy guides

Sicily travel guide

Less effusive and more inscrutable than their mainland counterparts, Sicilians don’t conform to carefree Italian stereotypes. Life on the island has been too tough and embattled. Numerous civilisations have invaded, with the Greeks and Romans building temples and amphitheatres and the Normans, Arabs and Spanish leaving behind everything from cathedrals, to citrus fruits, chocolate and couscous. More recently, an earthquake in the 17th century saw the towns of the Noto Valley rebuilt in gorgeous late Baroque style. Sicily’s delights aren’t limited to the manmade though.

The football kicked by Italy’s boot, Sicily is so packed with ancient sites and architectural gems it could be accused of showing off. Only that’s not the Sicilian way.

Its natural landscapes range from rolling limestone hills and quiet bays, to the explosive peaks of Stromboli and Etna, while its fertile seas and fields produce the fresh goodies used in its unique cuisine and sensational street food.

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Sicily is/isn't

Sicily is…

bursting with treats for all ages, from culture and history, to fab food and beaches.

Sicily isn’t…

Italy in miniature. Sicily has its own language, cuisine and history, not shared by the mainland.

WHAT WE RATE & WHAT WE DON'T

UNDERRATED

Sicilian wine

Sicilian wine once had a reputation as being a bit …

Separateness

Don’t make the mistake of thinking Sicily is like the …

Cycling tours

Sicily pulls in folk hungry for its history and its …

Family holidays

Sicily isn’t generally first choice for a sunny family getaway, …

RATED

Ancient sites

Sicily’s position in the midst of the Med means it’s …

Sicilian food

Sicily’s food is legendary. The island is brilliantly fertile and …

Volcanoes

Two of Italy’s three active volcanoes are found around Sicily …

Walking

As well as beautiful coastal trails, Sicily has walking that’s …

RATED

OVERRATED

Irresponsible souvenirs

Don’t buy pumice from the Aeolian Islands, obsidian or coral …

Thirsty cruise ships

Palermo port sometimes handles as many as 10,000 cruise ship …

Sicily in August

Temperatures creep into the 30°Cs in July and August, making …

Pizza

Obviously, we love pizza as much as the next person, …

Our Sicily Holidays

FOOD, SHOPPING & PEOPLE

EATING & DRINKING IN SICILY

Arancini, little rice balls stuffed with ragù were introduced to Sicily by Arab invaders who brought rice to the island in the 10th century.

A popular street food in Palermo, panelle are Sicilian fritters made from chickpea flour, often eaten between bread, like a sandwich.

Sfincione means “thick sponge” – the perfect description for these deep pan pizzas which originated in Sicily. They are made with focaccia, topped with tomatoes, onions, a few anchovies and grated casciocavallo cheese.

PEOPLE & LANGUAGE

'Where is…?' Is Unni è...? in Sicilian, and Dov’è...? in Italian.

Sicilian is thought to be the first Romance language to have developed from Latin. It’s very different to Italian, containing words from Arabic, Hebrew, Greek and other languages. That said, it’s only spoken by some Sicilians and most people speak a mix – basically Italian with Sicilian words thrown in.

Hello is saluti in Sicilian and ciao in Italian, both best used with people you know, not strangers. If unsure, stick with the simple basic greeting Buongiorno (good day).

In Sicilian, lu capisciu is I understand, but if you don’t, say nun lu capisciu.

PEOPLE & LANGUAGE

'Where is…?' Is Unni è...? in Sicilian, and Dov’è...? in Italian.

The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is also home to Western Europe’s largest volcano, Mount Etna.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Sicily or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Call us until 5pm

Calling from outside the UK

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Call us until 5pm

Calling from outside the UK

rosy@responsibletravel.com

GIFTS & SHOPPING

The traditional coppola hat, once associated with the Mafia, has now been appropriated by hipsters. It’s made in Palermo from wool or cotton

Look out for pasta, extra virgin olive oil, honey, preserves and limoncello with the Libera Terra label, meaning “freed land”. It’s produced on land confiscated from the Mafia which now benefits local communities.

The UNESCO protected town of Caltagiorone is famous for its brightly coloured pottery.

There are 23 DOC zones on the island producing popular Sicilian wines like Marsala and Syrah, and less known varieties, including Etna Rosso and Nero d’Avola.

Between 1876 and 1930, out of the five million Italian immigrants who came to the United States, four-fifths were from the South – Calabria, Campania, Abruzzi, Molise and Sicily.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Bottle of good table wine: £4.50

Loaf of bread: £60p

Cappuccino: £1.15

Three course dinner for two with wine: £35

Ferry from Messina (Sicily) to Lipari (Aeolian Islands): from £23 single

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SICILY

Perfectly positioned between mainland Europe and Africa, Sicily has been a strategic military and trading location for millennia. Phoenicians came here from the eastern Mediterranean from the 11th century BC, their settlements later falling under the control of Phoenician Carthage, and then the Greeks followed in the 8th century BC. Sicily soon became the star of Magna Graecia, or Greater Greece, with Syracuse its most important colony. The Valle dei Temple in Agrigento, the site of the ancient city of Akragas, rivalled Athens in its splendor and the remains of its Doric temples are among the best preserved Ancient Greek buildings in the world.Read more

More about Sicily

Best time to visit Sicily

Unless you’re a sun worshipper bent only on the beach, the best time to go to Sicily is outside of roasting and rammed July and August.

Sicily map & highlights

Our interactive map features 12 Sicily highlights, from the foodie and frenetic capital Palermo to pretty fishing villages and towns bursting with beautiful Baroque architecture.

Things to do in Sicily

Our top things to do in Sicily range from hiking up volcanoes to seeking out historical sites, with eating high on the must-do list, too, as Sicily’s food is famously delicious.

Sicily food holidays

A Sicily food tour makes for an introduction to one of Italy’s most distinctive and dangerously delicious cuisines that is sure to become a long-lasting relationship.

History tours in Sicily

Blessed with an enormous variety of well preserved archaeological sites, Sicily is a paradise for history buffs, classicists and anyone hoping to explore one of the world’s great cultural crossroads.

Mt Etna and Sicilys volcanoes

Sicily’s volcanoes make up one of the most volcanically active regions of the planet, and the best way to appreciate their awesome power is by getting up close and personal with them – on foot.

Travelling in Sicily with kids

Hiking on volcanoes, sea kayaking into caves, beautiful beaches, super snorkelling, fascinating history and brilliant cuisine – travelling in Sicily with kids is a joy.

Sicily walking holidays

Walking is also a fantastic way to discover the distinct and vibrant culture of Sicily, especially its food and wine.

Sicily holiday advice

Browse our page full of Sicily travel tips, with expert advice from our tour operators alongside helpful been-there, done-that insights from fellow travellers.

Responsible tourism in Sicily

Our page on responsible tourism in Sicily includes guidance on supporting local businesses that resist Mafia extortion rackets and advice on conserving water.

More relevant guides

Written by Joanna Simmons

Sicily travel guide