Sicily lies at the toe-point of Italy’s “boot,” quite separated from the mainland by the narrow Strait of Messina. It is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is best known for having the tallest active volcano in Europe. This mountainous island with rugged landscapes is disciplined by centuries of deforestation and cultivation. You will find a range of cultures that have dominated the island over its long history and have left their impressions as well. Many of the travelers come to this place to explore the diverse range of archeological marvels. Moreover, the outlying Aeolian Islands are also famous locations to visit in Sicily. Delicious and unique cuisine, sandy beaches and temperate climate makes Sicily a wonderful holiday destination. In the following articles, we have mentioned some of the popular places to visit in Sicily.
Valley of the Temples
Located on the southern coast of Sicily, the city of Agrigento was a city held a great importance in Ancient Greece, and thus, it’s the archaeological ruins of its gloried past make this town a famous tourist destination. Located just outside the city lies ‘the Valley of the Temples’, where a series of Doric temples of 5th-century stand on a point facing the sea. Amongst these temples, the ones devoted to the goddesses Juno Lacinia and Concordia in the eastern section are the well-preserved. On the other hand, the western section features the uncompleted Temple of Zeus, which is the largest Doric temple ever unearthed.
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is amongst the most active volcanoes in the world. This mount stands about 11,000 feet (3,300 meters) tall towers on the east coast of Sicily. Most of the eruptions of this volcano occur at the summit that constantly add or subtract the height of mountain. During the winter season, travelers can visit Etna to enjoy ski on its snowy slopes. While, in warm-weather months, adventurous enthusiasts make their way to Rifugio Sapienza, which is a famous departure point for climb up the mountain.
Villa Romana del Casale
Situated on the outskirts of the town of Piazza Armerina in southern central Sicily, “the Villa Romana del Casale” is another must visit tourist place here. It is a 4th-century Roman villa that features one of the largest and well-preserved collections of ancient mosaics in the world. Each of the key rooms in this villa has a mosaic floor well decorated in specific themes that include a hedonistic mosaic in the bedroom. The mosaic depicts the Olympic games is the most popular because of featuring the first image of women wearing which are called “bikinis” today.
Taormina
Settled on a cliff close to Mount Etna on the island’s eastern shoreline, Taormina has been a famous place to visit in Sicily. Travelers have been including this beautiful resort town on their itineraries since the 19th century. You will find beautiful beaches close to the city, where you can enjoy various activities. Moreover, these beaches are only accessible by an aerial tramway. The ‘Teatro Greco’ is the most famous tourist attraction of Taormina. Having the architecture of an amphitheater is Roman; this place’s layout symbolizes that it was constructed on an older Greek theater. Though, the original seats have been replaced that is much of the 2nd-century theater remaining intact.
Apart from these, Syracuse, Doric Temple of Segesta, Erice and Monreale are some of the other worth visiting places in Sicily.