DK Travel : Sicily

The island of Sicily is Italy’s largest region and is also its most varied. In terms of geography, there are offshore islands, endless coastline, rugged mountains, rolling wheatfields and volcanos, but its history and architecture are also of note. Sicily formed a significant portion of the Greek empire, was strategically vital to Rome, and was invaded in succession by the Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French, Spanish and Bourbons, before unifying with Italy. Each conquest left its mark, to create a palimpsest of cultures on the island.

Azienda Agrituristico La Perciata, Syracuse

The estate produces figs, strawberries and olive oil, while the 4-star hotel rooms and apartments with terracotta floors and kitchenettes are grouped around tranquil gardens. Pool, tennis courts and horseback riding.
Badia di Santo Spirito, Caltanissetta

The Abbey of the Holy Spirit was founded around 1090 by Count Roger and his wife, Adelasia, and consecrated in 1153. It is one of the few Romanesque Norman buildings to remain intact. The exterior is unadorned except for the portals and the small, triple apse articulated with tall, narrow arcading. The interior contains 14th- and 15th-century frescoes and an dedicatory inscription dating from 1153 in the apse.
Bagheria

This village east of Palermo is now rather built up, but you can still see the elaborate Baroque villas built by Palermo’s nobility, when it was all citrus groves and orchards.
Baglio Conca d’Oro, Palermo

Located between Palermo and Monreale, in what is known as the “Golden Valley”. The spacious rooms have terracotta and majolica tiled floors.
Baglio Santacroce, Erice

This 17th-century baglio sits on the slopes below Erice. Rooms are laid out around a stone courtyard and boast original stone walls, exposed beams, terracotta floors and traditional rugs.
Ballerò, Palermo

Palermo’s most interesting market sells fish, produce and household goods.
Be Seen

Wear the latest fashions including high, spiked heels for girls and high, spiked hair for guys.
Beaches

The bathing establishments found on most beaches offer chair and umbrella rentals, and many rent out pedal boats and watersports equipment such as windsurfing boards. Kids love snorkelling in Sicily’s clear waters, where an entire ecosystem of fish and shellfish live near the shoreline. Masks, flippers, floating boards and other snorkelling equipment can be purchased from even the smallest of shops in seaside villages (see Beaches).
Beaches

Long sandy beaches line the western coast of Sicily, reaching up to the huge stretch of sand at San Vito Lo Capo. Pebble beaches are found to the northwest, on the coast of the Golfo di Castellammare.
Belice Valley

Near its mouth the wide, fertile Belice Valley is long, low, flat, and very good for farming; it’s covered with a patchwork quilt of wine vineyards, olive groves, melon vines and citrus fruit trees. It is traversed by a typical Sicilian highway, raised on tall stilts.

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Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under €50
- €50-€100
- €100-€150
- €150-€200
- over €200