62 Best Sights in Sicily, Italy

Designed by Rosario Gagliardi in 1738 (and completed in 1791), Ragusa's main cathedral, a fine example of the Sicilian Baroque, was further modified in the 19th century with the addition of a Neoclassical cupola. The flamboyant convex facade with bell tower rises 203 feet, looking like a wedding cake from the sloping piazza below to provide sightlines for the 141-foot dome. Although visitors enter via side entrances, the ornate portal frames wooden doors that are decorated with six episodes in the martyrdom of San Giorgio, all carved by Fiorello (1793). The three-nave interior is more subdued in comparison and contains numerous paintings and statuary by mostly 18th-century Sicilian artists, as well as an impressive 3,383-pipe Organum Maximum made in Bergamo in 1881; that alone is well worth hearing and a reason to visit. But you may wish to linger to take in the artworks and sunlight-bathed atmosphere from 20 vibrant, stained-glass windows, each detailing more saintly scenes and allegories.

The main Norman cathedral of Caccamo, the original church was built in the 1400s by the Chiaramonte family and filled with artwork from many Sicilian Renaissance masters. The building was expanded and rebuilt in the 1600s in the elaborate Sicilian Baroque style and still houses all the paintings from the previous structure and other artwork from abandoned or destroyed churches in the area.

There's no doubt that the highlight of Castel di Tusa is its beaches, which stretch out from the beginning of the Tusa Cape in the east and end on the other side of the town at the Lungomare di Tusa. The beaches here vary from rocky, pebbly ones to golden sandy ones. Generally, Sicilian beaches are rustic with minimal facilities. Sicilians like to find a secluded spot to swim and sunbathe and might bring something for a picnic along with a simple beach umbrella. The same can be said for Tusa beaches: very basic but with crystal clear waters. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming; walking.

Capo d’Orlando has a long strip of beachfront to explore, stretching out in both directions along the coast. The lungomare is the town's main strip, with plenty to entertain tourists in the high season, including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and kiosks where you can buy anything needed for a day on the beach. The promenade is especially popular in the cooler post-sunset hours, when locals and tourists alike enjoy a passeggiata, bike ride, or jog. At the eastern end near the lighthouse, the path ends, but you can carefully walk by the road as far as San Gregorio, famed for the 1960s smash hit "Sapore di Sale," and its eponymous gelateria. Farther on is the sleek but soulless marina, which opened in 2017 and is lined with some interesting vessels, a motel, and a handful of uninspiring shops and eateries.

The exterior of this church may seem a bit run-down, but take a step to see the intricate details and explosions of excessive ornamentation. The old monastery dates back to 1450 and is a testament to the wealth derived from the lands and agricultural wealth of Polizzi Generosa. The church is filled with elaborate stonework and intriguing canvases, most strikingly San Benedetto in trono fra i Santi Mauro e Placido by Giuseppe Salerno (1573--1633). Of particular note is the exquisite floral ironwork in the upper choir, a 15th-century statue of Santa Margherita replete with dragon's tail by Domenico Gagini, and a well-preserved and vibrant majolica tile floor.

A 20-minute drive from Caltabellota, the sleepy village of Burgio is home to this cultural treasure, a former convent that is now a museum dedicated to the region's ceramics. It perches on a picturesque hilltop overlooking the village, as well as the surrounding orange and olive groves, and Caltabellotta in the distance. Inside, you can explore the fascinating history of the local pottery and its distinctive colors, with some examples dating back to the 1600s. Ask for a guide at the reception to get the most out of your visit. A bonus is that the museum is open on Sunday, when some of the other smaller villages in the area seem to come to a standstill. 

You might even have a prince show you around this private palace, which is still inhabited by descendants of the original Biscari family. While only a few of the 600 or so rooms are open to the public, the handful are well worth a visit. Foremost is the highly decorated and frescoed ballroom---a prime example of Sicilian Rococo style, which is overlooked by an oval minstrels' gallery and lit by Venetian chandeliers. Leading on from here is a unique staircase, which seems to float on waves, a rosewood-paneled dining room, and a marble bath used to cool the place down, rather than for bathing. Note that the palace offers tours only for a short period from 10 to 1.

This secluded natural sea pool is located at the end of Milazzo's long, wild cape. A meandering rustic path will take you on a 20-minute walk down to the unique natural rock formations that create pools of variable depths. You're able to swim in them, but there are no changing rooms, toilets, or places to buy food or drinks so be sure to bring everything you need.

Located in the geographical heart of the Parco delle Madonie about a half-hour north of Petralia Sottana, the hamlet of Piano Battaglia makes a good day trip for anyone hoping to have a true mountain experience. This is where locals, and many Palermitani, come to enjoy the mountains, whether it's skiing in the winter or picnicking in the summer. The visitor center is a good place to find out about any number of summer and winter activities, including snow tubing, sleighing, skiing, mountain biking, and hiking excursions, and to have a snack at Café Fun Park.

The center of this piazza has a Baroque fountain, the Fontana di Diana, festooned with fainting sea nymphs and dancing jets of water. Look for the Chiaramonte-style Palazzo Montalto, an arched-window gem just off the piazza on Via Montalto.

This square is the civic center of town and is home to the local town hall, a neo-Gothic style palace that was once a Carmelite convent. Surrounding the piazza, there are important aristocratic palaces, including the Palazzo Pottino, which contains the grand, frescoed, 19th-century Salone Delle Feste, which hosted a dinner dance for Umberto di Savoia, Crown Prince of Italy. The palazzo is open to the public on various Sundays.

While the whole of Noto can make you feel that you are on a film set, its central plaza trumps the lot for stage-set impact. Piazza Municipo is home to three of the grandest buildings in Noto, including Palazzo Ducezio, now home to the local town hall, that forms the plaza's main part. If you climb to the top of the ornate staircase to the north you will find Cattedrale di San Nicolò while on the western side of the palazzo is Palazzo Landolina, which was once home to one of the most powerful families in Noto, the Sant'Alfano family.

This central square houses an elaborate 18th-century Baroque water fountain whose mountain water source has been vital for centuries. The Fontana dei Quattro Cannoli was once the social and commercial heart of the medieval city.

In town, head straight for Via Roma, which leads to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele—the center of Enna's shopping scene and evening passeggiata. The attached Piazza Crispi, dominated by what used to be the grand old Hotel Belvedere, affords breathtaking panoramas of the hillside and smoking Etna looming in the distance. The bronze fountain in the middle of the piazza is a reproduction of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's famous 17th-century sculpture The Rape of Persephone, a depiction of Hades abducting Persephone.

For a quick beach escape from Agrigento, head to Punta Bianca Beach, a natural reserve along the coast. Like most natural reserves on the island, the access road is in poor condition, so be patient while driving. The bumpy ride is worth it when you catch the breathtaking views from the hill overlooking an abandoned stone house that stands against the white stones. The best time to go is in the afternoon to catch the golden hour and sunset. The short hike to the beach is enjoyable and not too challenging, even for children. The reward? A truly incredible and secluded beach experience. Best for: solitude, sunset, walking. Amenities: none.

One of a pair of pylons (the other is across the strait in Villa San Giovanni, Calabria) that carried electricity across the strait from 1955 to 1994, this steel tower stands 761 feet over the most northeastern point of Sicily. Though the pylons are no longer officially in use, they do have protected historic monument status and are used to gather meteorological data. Access to the 1,000-odd steps to the top is closed to the public. 

The lovely historic center of Ragusa, known as Ibla, was completely rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1693. Its tumble of buildings are perched on a hilltop and suspended between a deep ravine and a sloping valley. The tiny squares and narrow lanes make for pleasant meandering, but expect plenty of stairs.

Dedicated to Thomas à Becket, the English saint famously martyred after provoking the fury of Henry II, Marsala's imposing Duomo is located in the heart of the old town, dominating a stately piazza that is also flanked by the 18th-century town hall. The church's grand Baroque facade is matched by its spacious and airy interior. A painting behind the altar depicts the murder of St. Thomas, while chapels on either side of the nave contain much work by Sicily's prolific Gagini family of sculptors.

The cape that gives this town its name has a long sandy beach on a promontory overlooking a bay in the Gulf of Castellammare. San Vito Lo Capo is famous for its North African couscous, made with fish instead of meat. In late September it hosts the 10-day Cous Cous Fest ( www.couscousfest.it), a serious international couscous competition and festival with live music and plenty of free tastings. San Vito is also one of the bases for exploring the Riserva dello Zingaro; this nature reserve—one of the few stretches of coastline in Sicily that is not built-up—is at its best in late spring, when both wildflowers and birds are plentiful.

A steep, half-hour walk (or a very twisty drive) from Acireale's center, this picturesque harbor, with lava stone steps leading to the water, is filled with fishermen unloading brightly colored boats. Inexpensive lunches are served in the many restaurants along the harbor; your fresh fish dish is priced by weight.

This good, sandy beach lies between the nature reserves of Foce del Platani and Torre Salsa and is easily reached by car. It comes with a handful of lidos where you can eat and drink well and rent sun loungers in season. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

Panarea is known more for its boat culture than for an abundance of beaches. But the crescent of golden sand, gently lapping waves, and shallow waters at Zimmari make it a popular beach for sunbathing and taking a dip. From San Pietro, it's an easy 20- to 30-minute stroll as you meander south through the winding streets and continue on the path above the coastline. You'll know you've arrived when the path ultimately ends. Amenities: sunbeds and umbrellas to rent; snack bar. Best for: snorkeling, swimming.

Only the most intrepid beachgoers will seek out Spiaggia della Calcara. Located on the northern tip of the island, it's reachable by winding through the streets of Iditella, continuing down a dirt path, and then through some hearty shrubs. But your reward is a practically private beach of small stones with spectacular views of rocky outcroppings in the sea (not to mention a reprieve from the chaos of the vacationers who fill the island each summer). Just be sure to wear sturdy shoes to get down and back up the path; this is not a beach for flip-flops. Amenities: none. Best for: sunbathing, swimming.

From the port of Levante, walk five minutes in the direction of Porto di Ponente, past the stone tinged yellow with sulfur that radiates constant heat. Or really just follow your nose as the natural hot springs of Vulcano have a very distinctive odor. Once you arrive at this little stretch of beach, you'll notice the water gurgling in pockets at the edges, creating natural rock-enclosed hot tubs. Even though the official fanghi (mud baths) have been closed for the last few years, you can still experience the warmth of the water coming from the hot springs at the nearby beaches.

A short 15-minute walk from the port, this wide beach features soft, powdery, black volcanic sand that sits in sharp contrast to the clear crystalline waters. Along the strand, you'll find various beach clubs set up during the summer months with chair and umbrella rentals. It's advised to wear a dark-colored swimsuit as the black sand has been known to discolor fabric.

The curvy, rustic roads to Spiaggia di Piana Grande lead to an off-the-beaten-path beach. It's not the typical Sicilian crowded summer beach; it has a humble chiosco (beach kiosks) serving fresh fried fish, a rocky coastline, and pristine blue waters. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming, walking.

This beach of sandy red-gold dunes offers lots of fascinating sea plants and flowers growing straight out of the sand. There are no facilities, so bring provisions and sun protection. Also note that the beach is at the Foce del Belice Natural Reserve, so you will have to walk a quarter of a mile to get there. It's lovely for beach walks and bird-watching (look out for kingfishers, egrets, and herons) as well as swimming. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming; walking.

The area around Piscità and Ficogrande is full of narrow side streets that lead down to the sea, where you'll find an assortment of different coves, inlets, and lavic outcroppings. Just head downhill from the principal streets and you'll eventually hit water. The largest beach area is Spiaggia Nera on the island's northeastern coast, where the black sand and stones sit in stark contrast to the aquamarine waters. 

Scattered through the piazza just across the bridge to Ortigia are the ruins of a temple dedicated to Apollo, which dates back to the 6th century BC. A model of this is in the Museo Archeologico. In fact, little of this noble Doric temple remains except for some crumbled walls and shattered columns; the window in the south wall belongs to a Norman church that was built much later on the same spot.

If you need a dip in the Mediterranean after a morning of sightseeing, Tonarella offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty that is easily accessible from the city center. Explore the ancient "tonnara," a traditional tuna fishing system still in use today, with its fascinating network of nets and platforms. Relax on the mixed sand and pebble beach, and swim in the calm waters; it's the perfect spot for children and those who prefer not to fight the waves. With several nearby beach clubs offering refreshments and delicious food, you can easily spend a whole day enjoying this unique coastal destination.