Highlights
Food & Drink
Go local and try ice-cream dolloped into a brioche-style bun, cannoli (fried wafers filled with ricotta cheese and candied fruit) and Pasta alla Norma, using tomatoes for lava, aubergines for cinders and ricotta for snow to replicate Etna. Seafood and shellfish are especially popular and menu picks include hot and spicy tuna or swordfish, or anything with sardines – like pasta, fennel, capers and pine nuts. Another favourite is cassata, a ricotta cake and ice-cream rolled into one. By far the best outdoor food market is La Vucciria in Palermo, overflowing with sun-ripened produce, freshly caught fish, pistachios, almonds and charismatic stallholders. Around Mount Etna, you will find fabulous wineries, such as La Planeta, which offers tours, tastings and lunches.
Boat Trips
Discover the island’s picturesque coastline aboard a traditional Sicilian boat, heading to places like the Blue Grotto, Isola Bella, the Gulf of Giardini Naxos, the Fortune Cave and Siren’s Bay. Just off the coast are the Aeolian Islands, a paradise of exceptional beauty surrounded by sparkling seas. Consider an outing by private yacht and discover the volcanoes of Stromboli, the lush foliage of Salina and picture-perfect Panarea. Then drop anchor in a secluded bay for a lazy lunch on deck, or head ashore to get to know these delightful islands better and sample authentic fish dishes in family-run trattorias.
Film Fans
Fans of 'The Godfather' trilogy will be thrilled to set foot in Savoca, around twenty minutes’ drive from Taormina. This pretty, hilltop village was featured in the first film as the tranquil backdrop for the courtship between Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) and his first wife, Apollonia. Trace their steps over a refreshing drink or lemon granita at Bar Vitelli, where Michael asked Apollonia's father to meet his daughter, then amble to the church of St. Lucia where the couple were married.
Natural Wonder
At 3,323 metres high, Mount Etna is the highest volcano in Europe and one of the most active. For a close-as-possible encounter, there are sightseeing tours that take you along the Alcantara canyon, passing by wonderful waterfalls and villages and farms perched on Etna’s lower slopes, then climbing higher to some of the lava caverns, including ‘Grotta dei Ladron’. At Taormina Mare, you can see beautifully clear waters filled with marine life and delightful for a refreshing dip. There are sea caves to discover around the bay and there’s a wonderful walk to the island of Isola Bella, following a narrow path of sand that changes shape with the tides. The island is a protected nature reserve and area of outstanding natural beauty.
Sciacca
Sciacca is an old fishing port a little off-the-beaten track and easily explored on foot, its historical centre lined with churches, monuments and typical ceramics shops. Should you wish to explore further afield, local points of interest include thermal springs and baths (open in summer), the UNESCO Heritage-listed Valley of the Greek Temples at Agrigento, the Selinunte archaeological park and La Planeta winery.
Music
In Taormina, there’s a magnificent Ancient Greek amphitheatre that’s been lovingly preserved. During the summer months, it hosts a variety of outdoor shows and concerts, ranging from opera to pop. There’s something quite magical about the venue that encircles visitors, yet is open to the evening sky – not to mention Mount Etna as a resplendent backdrop.
History
Don’t miss the extraordinarily well-preserved ruins of Agrigento's three major Doric Temples, straddling a high ridge and beautifully illuminated at dawn and dusk. Another gem is the Valley of the Temples, site of Akragas, one of the most powerful cities of Ancient Greece, not forgetting Morgantina, featuring stunning mosaic floors from 5th century BC. Next, discover the huge temple of Segesta and the ruins of Selinunte (a town founded in 628BC) – yet more impressive feats from the Ancient Greek world and intricately carved with exquisite sculptures. In Palermo, see the curious jumble of Arab domes, Norman cathedrals, 19th century theatres and Baroque façades, a sign of the numerous invasions over the centuries, while its Capuchin Catacombs house a creepy collection of 8,000 embalmed bodies…
Towns and Cities
Spectacularly perched atop Monte Tauro, offering sweeping vistas down to the Gulf of Naxos and across to the snow-topped peak of Mount Etna, Taormina is simply magnetic. Here, in this incredibly chic town, you will find ample high-end shops, plus sophisticated restaurants and cool bars to while away evenings, Sicilian style. At the capital of Palmermo, stop by the famous food market, or head outwards for about an hour’s drive to find the pretty coastal town of Cefalù, a great spot to nab a table and linger over lunch at one of the many seafront restaurants. If you visit the coastal city of Syracuse, you will discover perhaps the most elegant and civilised city in present-day Sicily, with a beautiful Baroque cathedral and the stunning Temple of Athena.