Most people think of a trip to Italy including the ruins in Rome, the waterways of Venice, the landmarks of Florence, the fashion of Milan, or the historic Vatican. Meanwhile, the hidden gem that is Sicily continues to quietly produce its amazing wine, cultivate almonds, olives, pistachios, and citrus, and dine on exquisite seafood.

 

The island has an incredible history as the melting pot of the Mediterranean and boasts gorgeous coastline, amazing mountain vistas, and many more attractions. The little tri-cornered island off the toe of Italy’s boot is starting to be recognized for everything it has to offer!

Here are the top 7 reasons why you NEED to visit Sicily (from someone who has been, is going again, and it is my favorite place to visit)!

First, Sicily has delicious food with a combination of Mediterranean fare and Italian cuisine! Both the location and history of the island influence the unique dining experiences you’ll find in every city. You’ll note Arabic influences with couscous, fresh delicious seafood galore, lots of eggplant dishes, and of course pastas and pizzas! My personal favorite dish was the Arancina, an Italian rice ball stuffed with meats, cheeses, or veggies and deep-fried.

The fresh markets were beautiful and offered a variety of freshly made local food to try in between your complete dining experiences in the gorgeous sit-down restaurants. And let’s not forget the delectable desserts available! I like to experience a Gelato a day when in Sicily! You’ll also find cannoli, granita, biscotti, and various other desserts usually featuring the island’s own agriculture with almonds, pistachios, and citrus.

During our Sicilian cultural tour, not only do we enjoy the markets and many amazing restaurants, but we have the privilege of joining a local family to dine in their family home! They will prepare a delicious dinner and then join us for the meal and conversation. We also get to partake in the unique culinary experiences of dining on a beautiful family citrus orchard with generations of the family welcoming us with food and entertainment! Finally, my personal favorite experience, we will join another Sicilian family to hand-make pizzas in their family wood-fired oven that is hundreds of years old! Then of course, we get to partake in our baking! These are Sicilian culinary experiences you won’t want to miss and are exclusive to our small group travel!

Second on our list are the stunning Archaeological sites! Sicily boasts some of the most incredible and well-preserved Greek and Roman temples in the world. From Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples to the massive Roman Amphitheater of Catania and the amazing Temple of Apollo in Ortigia, you’ll be swept into ancient history as you admire these incredible sites. You’ll see all this and so much more when you join us to explore Sicily!

Third place goes to the luxurious beaches lining the 600 miles of coastline. The Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas surround the island of Sicily and meet an incredible variety of beautiful coasts. You’ll find beautiful sandy beaches, unique pebble shores, and breathtaking cliffs. On our trip, we enjoy time at the north shore beach of Mondello near Palermo as well as a boat ride adventure tour and a swim in the eastern waters from Siracusa!

Fourth on our list are the complex Sicilian wines. Winemaking dates back many millennia to the Greeks in the western part of Sicily. You’ll also find the volcanic soil and the favorable climate lend to excellent whites and reds too. Our tour of Sicily wouldn’t be complete without a private wine tasting at the base of Mt. Etna!

The impressive cathedrals and architecture you’ll find in Sicily come in at number five. From the many stunning examples of Norman architecture in Palermo, my favorite is the Cathedral of Monreale. You’ll get to experience the intricate mosaics, some made of pure gold, marble floors, and incredible details of the columns in the cloister. It is truly one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. When I was last in Sicily, we had the privilege of witnessing a wedding taking place in this gorgeous cathedral!

In Ortigia, we visited the Cathedral of Syracuse which was built on top of a Temple of Athena and the original Greek columns are still visible. One of my favorite experiences in Ortigia, and Sicily overall, was sitting on the stairs of this incredible Cathedral enjoying another Gelato and watching a local musician play the violin in the square. There are so many UNESCO World Heritage sites throughout Sicily and you’ll get to experience many of them with us!

Sixth place goes to the inviting accommodations in Sicily! Every place we stayed was amazing! From the beautiful boutique hotel on the tiny streets of Palermo to the amazing resort with our own private plunge pool overlooking the Valley of the Temples, to the cliffside beach hotel with private access to the Tyrrhenian Sea, our boutique accommodations were incredible. Every morning, we woke to a delicious European breakfast at each hotel or resort also! When you travel with us, you can count on an extremely comfortable place to rest after your busy days and a great breakfast to start the next adventure!

Finally, my favorite reason you need to visit Sicily is the people! Not only did most people speak English, if your Italian is a little rusty like mine, but they were so friendly and welcoming! From the amazing hotel staff to our incredible guides and hosts and even the shopkeepers, everyone was kind and inviting and happy to see us! And when we were wandering the various cities, the locals had a friendly smile and were happy to help us find where we were going! Be cautious though, because you may feel so welcome and comfortable that you don’t want to leave!

If it’s not obvious by now, Sicily is near and dear to my heart! I love taking people to explore this incredible hidden gem! Check out our Sicily trip page HERE for the full details of our amazing trip where we’ll traverse the entire circumference of the island, experiencing many amazing adventures in each city on our small group adventure travel. There is ONLY one double room left for our fall 2024 trip, so if you know you need to experience one or more of these 7 reasons to visit Sicily, don’t delay! Contact us HERE to secure your spot before it’s too late!