The rich tapestry of Mediterranean history can be witnessed on the southerly island of Sicily, fascinating not only for its amazing blend of cultures including Greek, Arab, Byzantine and Norman and its architectural treasures which reflect these influences but also for its breathtaking scenery of coast, parched mountains and fertile groves of almonds, oranges, lemons and olives. Bougainvillaea and oleander flourish as do palm trees, walnuts and grapes. The people are proud and independent, reserved but sincere and helpful and traditions thrive to an extent that the atmosphere of Sicily is unrecognisable in the context of other parts of Italy further north. The towns and villages are contrasting with picture postcard scenes of mediaeval labyrinthine alleyways adorned by wrought-iron balconies and baskets of flowers or severe delapidation punctuated by grand Baroque or austere Norman cathedrals and churches. Additionally there are of course some of the most important sites of the ancient Greek world such as the temples at Agrigento, the theatre at Taormina and numerous relics at Siracusa, reputedly one of the most beautiful cities of the Greek world. High above the island looms Mount Etna, one of the largest volcanoes in the world and an awe-inspiring sight. Off the north coast of Sicily, the beautiful Aeolian Islands offer escape and remoteness, natural scenery and a startling light, a sleepy way of life and romantic isolation. Sicily holds an appeal for holidays for those who want typical rest and relaxation with cultural activities at hand, and for those who want to be more adventurous and experience more of this captivating island.
Local highlights
Cultural Highlights
Palermo contains some of the greatest Arab-Norman buildings in existence - San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Palazzo Reale with its striking Cappella Palatina and La Martorana.Monreale outside Palermo is the greatest work of Norman architecture in Sicily and contains beautiful 12th and 13th Century mosaics and cloisters. The Doric temples of the 5th Century BC in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Cefalu has the `Portrait of a Man` by Antonello da Messina, dating from 1465 in its Museo Mandralisca.
Festivals
Many Sicilian local festivals are linked to Saints` Days. A few of the most well-known festivals generally include Carnival celebrations in Taormina and Acireale. Easter is celebrated especially in Trapani, Marsala and Piana degli Albanesi. Messina celebrates Ferragosto on the 15th August with a firework display over the Straits. The Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore takes place in Agrigento in the first and second weeks of February to celebrate the almond blossom. Taormina Arte is almost a summer festival of music, cinema, ballet and theatre, held in the Greek theatre.T he Palio dei Normanni takes place in Piazza Armeria in August. The gastronomy of Sicily, like much of the culture of the island, has been heavily influenced by its history with the impact of the Arabs on the way of life being illustrated.
Gastronomy
Cuscus is a Sicilian version of couscous and marzipan features heavily in sweets. Local produce includes citrus fruits, almonds, capers, olives, peppers and fish. Local specialities include Maccheroni con le sarde (pasta with sardines, fennel, raisins, pine nuts and saffron), Pesce spada (grilled sword fish), 'alla Siciliana' with capers, red peppers and herbs. Cassata is a popular dessert made with ricotta, candied fruit and pistachios and Cannoli are almond biscuits stuffed with ricotta. Sicily produces a variety of red and white wines including Corvo di Salaparuta and Etna, Marsala and Malvasia.
Getting out and about
An ascent of Mount Etna, partly by car and then further on foot (guides available), through the luxuriant vegetation of the lower slopes cultivated with oranges and lemons amid bursts of bougainvillaea and poinsettias and then higher up the groves of walnuts, cherries, almonds, pistachios and vines. Palermo is known for its street markets, especially Vucciria and Ballaro, where traders and hawkers, pickpockets and shoppers converge amongst narrow streets and stalls of wares. Traditional costumes and dialect of Piana degli Albanesi, where Albanians settled in the 15th Century. Revel in the splendid site of Taormina above the sea with views to Etna. Local crafts include cork, ceramics, honey, embroidery, raffia. The calm and remoteness of the Aeolian Islands with their clear waters, beautiful scenery and peaceful way of life.Enjoy the gardens of the Villa Giulia in Palermo and the Public Gardens in Taormina.
Travel arrangements
How you get there
By air to Catania with direct flights from London Gatwick by British Airways on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from May and daily scheduled flights with Alitalia from London changing in Milan or Rome or by air to Palermo with daily scheduled flights with Alitalia from London changing in Milan or Rome. Charter flights. There are various possibilities for charter flights with departures from local airports. Please call us for details. We include a hire-car with our hotels on the mainland of Sicily except Palermo. However, if you are staying in Taormina you might not need the use of a car, so a transfer can be arranged for you instead. When driving around Sicily you do have to bear in mind the time it can take to travel from place to place. How you get to the Aeolian IslandsBy air to Catania (as above). However it is usually impossible to get further than Lipari the first day. We recommend that on the way there you break your journey in Taormina and then continue the next day. The return journey from the islands to Catania can be done in one day. To reach the islands you take a hydrofoil (summer timetable runs from June to September, before and after that the schedules are less frequent) from Milazzo on the Sicilian coast. Milazzo is about a 2 hour taxi ride from Catania airport. The hydrofoil timings are approximately as follows: Milazzo to Lipari - one hour, Milazzo to Panarea - 1 hour 45 minutes, Milazzo to Salina - 1 hour 45 minutes. In the summer months there is also a hydrofoil service from Naples to the islands with Stromboli being the closest with a journey time of about 4 hours. We do not include the cost of the taxi transfer or the hydrofoil tickets in the holiday prices - details are provided by us on request about the transfer arrangements.