Giuseppe Piazza
The Mediterranean's largest island is a cradle of civilization. Shaped by its past and the earth-moving volcano Mt. Etna, Sicily has an on-the-brink feel. Since the beginning of human history, every European empire has marched through Sicily, leaving its mark. As the German writer Goethe said: 'To have seen Italy without seeing Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all - for Sicily is the key to everything.'
Photo Caption: The pace of life is a little slower in Italy's deep south; here, the coast near Taormina, Sicily.
You'll be aware of the smoldering presence of Europe's largest, highest, and most active volcano everywhere in Sicily, but for jaw-dropping views take the cable car up and walk on the black lava moonscape. You'll feel the heat at your feet, hear the hiss of belching steam, and marvel at the sight of the contrasting green-cloaked mountains and blue waters far below.
Photo Caption: View of Sicily's volcanic Mt. Etna.
Photo by Dean Ferguson/Frommers.com Community
The Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie is Sicily's greatest national park sprawling across 39,679 hectares (98,049 acres). Walk in the traces of wild cats under the beady eye of soaring eagles and marvel at the profusion of wild flowers - including delicate rare orchids and bluest blue myosotis. Unforgettable.
Photo Caption: Parco Naturale Madonie (Madonie Regional Natural Park) in Sicily.
Called the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean, you'll be bewitched by the dramatic contrast between the glowering black lava, dazzling white-domed "dammusi" houses, and swimming pool blue seas. It's the island of choice for celebrities and the floral-shaped capers are the best you'll ever taste.
The dramatic Gola di Alcantara gorge carved by the river Alcantara is framed by extraordinary black basalt rock formations. Paddle in protective rubber boots in the icy waters and scramble along the river bed up to the waterfall.
Photo Caption: The Gola di Alcantara (Alcantara Gorge) in Sicily.
Enjoy an aperitivo at sunset, looking out from the candlelit roof terrace of the divine Villa Carlotta across the sea in one direction and Mt. Etna in the other—life doesn’t get much more blissful than this.
Standing alone, high on a hill on the edge of a ravine, the Temple at Segesta is probably the world's most stunningly sited classical monument. It's also one of the most perfect Doric temples ever built, and to see it glow pink at sunrise or sunset is one of Sicily's most romantic visions.
Photo Caption: The Doric temple of Segesta in Sicily.
Buried under mud for hundreds of years, excavations began in 1950 to reveal these Roman mosaics of stunning quality and color. Full of life, humor, sensuality—and famously depicting the world's first bikinis—the villa and its treasures are Sicily's most important Roman site.
Make an appointment with death, Sicilian style. In the Catacombe dei Cappucini catacombs the mummified bodies of 8,000 Palermitans, dressed in their Sunday best, supposedly grin at you. This must be among the world's most macabre sights, and it may sound prurient, but it's an extremely popular attraction - especially with teenagers - but definitely not for the squeamish.
Photo Caption: Many of the mummified corpses in the Catacombe dei Cappuccini remain fully clothed centuries after death.
This 'garden of stone' is of a soft peachy-golden color in, arguably, the most beautiful of Sicily's Baroque towns.
Photo Caption: Giardino di Pietra in Noto, Sicily.
Discover the delights and complexities of this fragrant wine and be amazed by the variations in taste from sweet to spicy and dry. Then meander through the Moorish warren of little streets that are reminiscent of a North African town, where Garibaldi landed with his Thousand in 1860 and started his campaign to make it the first city of a united Italy.
Photo Caption: Florio Winery in Marsala, Sicily.
The 12th-century Monreale cathedral is smothered in glistening Byzantine mosaics - the world's second largest mosaic-covered surface after Istanbul. A full 2,200kg (4,850 lbs) of pure gold were used in the mosaics that depict stories from the Old and New testaments, created by Byzantine and Arab artisans. Even the cloisters outside, which represent the flowering of Islamic architecture, are often referred to as a 'preview of Paradise'.
Photo Caption: Detail of mosaics along cloister columns at Monreale's Arab-Norman cathedral.
Photo by Agent Cody/Frommers.com
Raw, writhing, and colorful, La Pescheria is as much a place to immerse yourself in for the full Sicilian experience as it is for the glistening bounty of the sea. In the surrounding alleyways, there's an Aladdin's cave of delights for take-home souvenirs from mounds of aromatic spices to ubiquitous Sicilian carts.
Photo Caption: Catania's famous fish market, La Pescheria.
In the 8th-century BC, Mózia island of the Phoenicians was Italy's most important trading post. Enjoy a picnic among the aloe-fringed paths and ruins in this tranquil spot.
Photo Caption: Windmills in Mózia, Sicily.
The setting ticked all the boxes for the Greeks for whom the sea and sky were the natural theatrical backdrop, especially when overseen by a volcano in the shape of Mt. Etna. The originally 3rd-century BC Teatro Greco theater is sheer drama of the purest kind. Treat yourself to an open-air performance during the summer festival.
Photo Caption: A view of Taormina, Sicily from the Greek Theatre.
Even the moonbeams are likely to be eclipsed by the fireworks from the summit of the very active Strómboli volcano. If you're lucky you may witness 'strombolian' explosions - outbursts of lava ejected high into the air. See glowing red-hot lava as it snakes down the Sciara del Fuoco (Slope of Fire), and hear the hiss as it meets the sea.
Photo Caption: Eruptions at night on the isle of Stromboli, Sicily.
Photo by C.Mueller-Planitz/Frommers.com Community
Go west to the northernmost tip of the island and be immersed in the soft pinky-white sands that arch along this promontory, backed by jagged cliffs, and fringed by azure seas. You'll be far from alone in high season when Sicilians like their beaches hot and sociable, but off season you could almost have it to yourself.
Photo Caption: San Vito lo Capo's crescent beach is part of the tranquil, authentic Sicilian experience to be found on the western side of the island.
Favignana (also called La Farfalla after its 'butterfly' shape) is the largest of the Egadi Islands. The swimming here in crystalline bays is truly spectacular, and there's even a Grotta degli Innamorati (Lovers' grotto) to explore.
Photo Caption: Cala Rossa on Favignana Island. Egadi Islands, Sicily.
Photo Caption: The pace of life is a little slower in Italy's deep south; here, the coast near Taormina, Sicily.
Photo Caption: View of Sicily's volcanic Mt. Etna.
Photo by Dean Ferguson/Frommers.com Community
Photo Caption: Parco Naturale Madonie (Madonie Regional Natural Park) in Sicily.
Photo Caption: The Gola di Alcantara (Alcantara Gorge) in Sicily.
Photo Caption: The Doric temple of Segesta in Sicily.
Photo Caption: Many of the mummified corpses in the Catacombe dei Cappuccini remain fully clothed centuries after death.
Photo Caption: Giardino di Pietra in Noto, Sicily.
Photo Caption: Florio Winery in Marsala, Sicily.
Photo Caption: Detail of mosaics along cloister columns at Monreale's Arab-Norman cathedral.
Photo by Agent Cody/Frommers.com
Photo Caption: Catania's famous fish market, La Pescheria.
Photo Caption: Windmills in Mózia, Sicily.
Photo Caption: A view of Taormina, Sicily from the Greek Theatre.
Photo Caption: Eruptions at night on the isle of Stromboli, Sicily.
Photo by C.Mueller-Planitz/Frommers.com Community
Photo Caption: San Vito lo Capo's crescent beach is part of the tranquil, authentic Sicilian experience to be found on the western side of the island.
Photo Caption: Cala Rossa on Favignana Island. Egadi Islands, Sicily.