Ah, Sicily. The word alone evokes all the senses for an epic Sicilian experience. It offers sparkling Mediterranean waters, cultural treasures, and culinary indulgences.
This island that Homer and Virgil praised was home to Phoenicians, Romans, and Greeks and boasts a landscape of rugged coastline, erupting volcanoes, and flowering meadows.
Sicily is a destination you want to feel in your every pore. One thing remains the same: an authentic Sicilian experience that connects you deeply with local cultures, flavors, and people.
Listed below is an example itinerary in the Mediterranean, which you can customize based on your preferences and budget.
Palermo
Founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th and 8th centuries, Palermo fronts the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Today, visit the colorful stalls of the Il Capo Market, the oldest in the city, where you can sample delicious street food, from arancine to Pani Ca Meusa.
Wander through the traditional Sicilian Old Quarter and baroque palaces, including the Norman Section and the 12th-century Cathedral of Palermo.
If you like, take an afternoon trip to Monreale to admire the Arab-Norman aesthetic of the Monreale Cathedral and Cloister.
Read more: 5 tips for your first visit to Sicily
Realmonte
Explore the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Zeus, and the Temple of the Dioscuri before indulging in a private luncheon in Kolymbetra Garden, surrounded by citrus and pomegranate trees.
En route to Realmonte, visit the Planeta Ulmo winery, where you can learn about the history of Sicilian viticulture at the Iter Vitis open-air museum.
Next, visit the UNESCO-recognized Valley of the Temples, gathering insight at this legendary archaeological site into the presence of ancient Greeks in southern Italy.
Realmonte is also an ideal place to dive into Sicily’s world-renowned olive oil industry. Meet with a local producer, stroll through their olive groves and fields, and on-site sample products, complemented by delectable bruschettas, olives, bread and panelle, arcanine, sliced pizza, Sicilian cheese and salamis, and more.
Ragusa
Move on to Ragusa, with its spectacular early-18th-century cathedral and elegant Bertini, Cosentini, and La Rocca palaces.
Marvel at the three-tiered facade of the Cathedral of San Giorgio and the ornamented balconies and windows of the Idria, Purgatorio, and St. Joseph churches.
From Ragusa, branch out to some of the surrounding late-Baroque towns. Many of these have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO.
Visit the Gli Aromi Farm in Scicli and learn about the local species of the Iblean region.
Taste Modican chocolate made from only cacao and sugar at the oldest pastry shop in Sicily.
Zafferana Etnea
Head into the mountains of Sicily on a private visit to Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Ascend Etna by cable car to a vista 9,500 feet above sea level, from which you can look down into the crater and drink in the expansive views of Eastern Sicily’s coastline.
Explore the “painted” Silvestri Craters at the Sapienza chalet, then move on to the Barone di Villagrande, an elegant wine resort tucked amidst forest and historic vineyards, where you’ll enjoy a five-wine tasting flight and a five-course Sicilian lunch.
Ready to explore the classical crossroads that is Sicily? Reach out to discuss your ideas for an epic experience.