Cidade Turismo
Italy
Sicília

Sicília · Italy

Sicília

The largest island in the Mediterranean: Palermo with Arab-Norman heritage, the Greek temples of Agrigento, Cefalù by the sea, the Etna, Taormina, Catânia and Siracusa.

Ilhas

In the photo: Tempio della Concordia, Agrigento

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Sicília is the largest island in the Mediterranean and an autonomous region of Italy, separated from Calabria by the Strait of Messina. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards have passed through here, and each left a mark on the architecture, the food and the dialect. Doric temples, golden mosaics, baroque churches and street markets appear along the same itinerary.

Palermo, the capital, is the gateway on the western side. The cathedral, the Palazzo dei Normanni with the Cappella Palatina, the Martorana and the Duomo di Monreale form the Arab‑Norman ensemble recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the cathedral of Cefalù. Cefalù is about an hour by train, sitting between the beach and a rock nearly 270 meters high. To the south, Agrigento holds the Valle dei Templi, with the Tempio della Concordia, and the Scala dei Turchi on the neighboring coast.

On the eastern side, Catânia is the baroque city at the foot of the Etna, the active volcano that dominates the landscape at over 3,300 meters. Taormina perches on a hill above the Ionian Sea, with the ancient theatre facing the volcano. Siracusa has the island of Ortigia and the Neapolis archaeological park, with the Greek theatre.

Food is part of the trip: arancina, cannolo, granita with brioche, caponata and fresh fish. The pace is slower than in northern Italy, and many places close in the early afternoon.

This destination brings together 6 cities: Catânia, Palermo, Agrigento, Cefalù, Siracusa, Taormina.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Sicília is
PalermoCatâniaAgrigentoCefalùSiracusaTaormina

Contornos: ISTAT, limites administrativos 2026, CC BY 4.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Sicília

✈ Aeroporto di Catania-Fontanarossa Vincenzo Bellini (CTA) · 5 km to Catânia

Confirm before booking. The quickest route is a domestic flight from Rome or Milan to Palermo (PMO) or Catânia (CTA). There are also Intercity trains from Rome that cross the Strait of Messina by being loaded onto a traghetto (ferry), and overnight ferries from Naples, Civitavecchia and Genoa to Palermo.

Suggested arrival point: Catânia

Palermo
Sicília · Sicília Capital

Palermo

Palermo is the capital of Sicily and the city of the Arab-Norman UNESCO World Heritage ensemble: the cathedral, the Palazzo dei Normanni with the Cappella Palatina, the Martorana, San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Zisa and the Duomo di Monreale. It has the Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, the Teatro Massimo, the museums of Palazzo Abatellis and Salinas, the Catacombe dei Cappuccini, the Ballarò market, the sanctuary of Santa Rosália and the beach of Mondello.
Siracusa
Sicília · Sicília

Siracusa

Siracusa, in southeast Sicily, was founded by Greek settlers from Corinth in the 8th century BC and came to rival Athens. It is the city of Archimedes. The old town is on the island of Ortigia, with the Duomo built over a Greek temple, the Fonte Aretusa and the Temple of Apollo. On the mainland, the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis has the Teatro Greco and the Orecchio di Dionisio, and the Museo Paolo Orsi houses the island's archaeology. Noto, the Baroque town, is nearby.

The local experience

Things to do in Sicília

Cattedrale di Palermo
Palermo · Sicília · Cathedral

Cattedrale di Palermo

The cathedral of Palermo, built beginning in 1185, mixes Norman, Catalan Gothic and Neoclassical styles. It houses tombs of kings and emperors and the silver reliquary of Santa Rosália.

Duomo di Cefalù
Cefalù · Sicília · Cathedral

Duomo di Cefalù

Norman cathedral begun in 1131 by Roger II, with two towers on the façade and the Christ Pantocrator in a golden mosaic in the apse. UNESCO World Heritage.

Ortigia
Siracusa · Sicília · Historic neighborhood

Ortigia

The island where Siracusa was founded, with narrow streets, Baroque palaces, the Temple of Apollo, the street market, the seafront and the Castello Maniace at the tip.

Piazza del Duomo e Fontana dell'Elefante
Catânia · Sicília · Square

Piazza del Duomo e Fontana dell'Elefante

The main square of Catânia, surrounded by Baroque buildings, with the Fontana dell'Elefante, the lava-stone elephant that is the symbol of the city.

See 38 more places in Sicília
Teatro Antico di Taormina
Taormina · Sicília · Archaeological site

Teatro Antico di Taormina

Greco‑Roman theater high above Taormina, with Etna and the Ionian Sea in the background. It is the second largest ancient theater in Sicily and still hosts performances in summer.

Valle dei Templi
Agrigento · Sicília · Archaeological site

Valle dei Templi

The archaeological park of ancient Akragas, with Doric temples from the 5th century BC, including the Tempio della Concordia, one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cattedrale di Sant'Agata
Catânia · Sicília · Cathedral

Cattedrale di Sant'Agata

The cathedral of Catania, dedicated to the patron saint Santa Águeda. Baroque façade by Vaccarini, Norman apses of lava stone and the tomb of Vincenzo Bellini.

Corso Umberto
Taormina · Sicília · Street

Corso Umberto

Taormina's main street, between Porta Messina and Porta Catania, with Piazza IX Aprile, Palazzo Corvaja, the Duomo and the Roman Odeon a few steps away.

Duomo di Siracusa
Siracusa · Sicília · Cathedral

Duomo di Siracusa

The cathedral of Siracusa, on the Piazza Duomo in Ortigia, built over the Temple of Athena from the 5th century BC. The Greek Doric columns remain standing within the walls.

Museo Archeologico Regionale Pietro Griffo
Agrigento · Sicília · Museum

Museo Archeologico Regionale Pietro Griffo

Archaeological museum next to the Valle dei Templi, with the original telamon from the Tempio di Zeus, Greek vases, the Efebo of Agrigento and pieces from ancient Akragas.

Palazzo dei Normanni
Palermo · Sicília · Palace

Palazzo dei Normanni

Royal palace of the Normans, seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. On the first floor is the Cappella Palatina, from 1140, covered in Byzantine mosaics and with a wooden ceiling in an Arabic style.

Rocca di Cefalù
Cefalù · Sicília · Lookout

Rocca di Cefalù

The 268‑metre rock above the town, with a trail to the ruins of the Tempio di Diana, remains of walls and a medieval castle, and views of the cathedral, the roofs and the sea.

Fonte Aretusa
Siracusa · Sicília · Monument

Fonte Aretusa

A freshwater spring by the sea in Ortigia, with papyrus plants and ducks, linked to the myth of the nymph Aretusa. It lies on the seafront, beside the Foro Italico promenade.

Giardino della Kolymbethra
Agrigento · Sicília · Garden

Giardino della Kolymbethra

Garden in a small valley within the Valle dei Templi, with orange trees, almond trees and ancient olive trees, and underground water galleries dating to the Greek period. Managed by the FAI.

La Pescheria
Catânia · Sicília · Market

La Pescheria

Catania's fish market, next to the Piazza del Duomo, with noisy stalls selling fish, seafood, fruits and vegetables in the surrounding alleys.

Museo Mandralisca
Cefalù · Sicília · Museum

Museo Mandralisca

Museum in the house of Baron Enrico Pirajno di Mandralisca, with Antonello da Messina's Portrait of an Unknown Man, a Greek krater with a tuna seller and collections of shells.

Quattro Canti
Palermo · Sicília · Square

Quattro Canti

The baroque intersection of Palermo's two main streets, Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, with four curved facades decorated with fountains, statues of kings and patron saints.

Villa Comunale di Taormina
Taormina · Sicília · Garden

Villa Comunale di Taormina

Public garden on terraces above the sea, created in the late 19th century by the Englishwoman Florence Trevelyan, with brick and stone structures and views of the bay of Naxos and Mount Etna.

Isola Bella
Taormina · Sicília · Nature reserve

Isola Bella

Small islet covered in vegetation in the bay of Mazzarò, linked to the beach by a strip of sand and pebbles that the tide covers and uncovers. It is a nature reserve with a house-museum.

Parco Archeologico della Neapolis
Siracusa · Sicília · Archaeological site

Parco Archeologico della Neapolis

The large archaeological park of Siracusa, with the Teatro Greco cut into the rock, the Latomia del Paradiso with the Orecchio di Dionisio, the Ara di Ierone and the Roman amphitheatre.

Piazza Pretoria
Palermo · Sicília · Square

Piazza Pretoria

Square next to the Quattro Canti featuring the Fontana Pretoria, a Renaissance marble fountain with dozens of statues, made in Florence in the 16th century and reassembled in Palermo.

Scala dei Turchi
Agrigento · Sicília · Lookout

Scala dei Turchi

White marl cliff formed in terraces above the sea, on the coast of Realmonte, about 15 km from Agrigento. Access to the rock is controlled; the entire cliff can be seen from the neighbouring beaches.

Spiaggia di Cefalù
Cefalù · Sicília · Beach

Spiaggia di Cefalù

The city's sandy beach, which stretches west from the historic center, with the old houses and the Rocca in the background. At the tip, the Bastione di Capo Marchiafava is a lookout for the sunset.

Via Etnea
Catânia · Sicília · Street

Via Etnea

Catania's main street, which starts at the Piazza del Duomo and climbs straight toward the Etna, with Baroque churches, shops, cafés and the garden of the Villa Bellini.

Castelmola
Taormina · Sicília · Village

Castelmola

Medieval village atop a rock about 500 metres above sea level, above Taormina. It has castle ruins, stone streets and wide views of the coast and Mount Etna.

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio
Palermo · Sicília · Church

Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio

The Martorana, a church from 1143 with Byzantine gold-background mosaics, including Rogério II crowned by Christ. Beside it, the small San Cataldo, with red domes.

Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena
Catânia · Sicília · Monastery

Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena

One of the largest monastic complexes in Europe, rebuilt in Baroque style after the 1669 lava flow and the 1693 earthquake. Today it houses faculties of the University of Catania.

Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi
Siracusa · Sicília · Museum

Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi

One of the largest archaeological museums in Europe, with pieces from prehistory to the Greek and Roman periods of eastern Sicily, including the Vênus Landolina.

Noto
Siracusa · Sicília · Historic city

Noto

Baroque town about 35 km from Siracusa, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake in golden limestone. It has the Cattedrale di San Nicolò and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Teatro Massimo
Palermo · Sicília · Architecture

Teatro Massimo

The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, opened in 1897, is the largest opera house in Italy. Guided tours visit the auditorium, the boxes and the Pompeian hall.

Teatro romano di Catania
Catânia · Sicília · Archaeological site

Teatro romano di Catania

Greco-Roman theatre in the middle of the historic centre, with lava stone seating surrounded by houses, and the small Odeon next to it.

Castello Ursino
Catânia · Sicília · Castle

Castello Ursino

Castle built by Frederick II in the 13th century, surrounded by the lava of 1669. It houses the Museo Civico, with archaeology, sculptures and paintings.

Mercato di Ballarò
Palermo · Sicília · Market

Mercato di Ballarò

The oldest street market in Palermo, in the Albergheria district, with stalls selling fish, fruit and vegetables and Sicilian street food such as panelle and arancine.

Duomo di Monreale
Palermo · Sicília · Cathedral

Duomo di Monreale

The Norman cathedral of Monreale, 8 km from Palermo, begun in 1174 by Guilherme II, has about 6,400 m² of gold mosaics and a cloister with 228 double columns.

Etna
Catânia · Sicília · Volcano

Etna

The highest active volcano in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the southern side: Rifugio Sapienza, the Crateri Silvestri and the cable car; access to the summit craters follows the rules set by the authorities.

Catacombe dei Cappuccini
Palermo · Sicília · Historical site

Catacombe dei Cappuccini

Underground galleries of the Capuchin convent where, from the late 16th century to the early 20th century, thousands of dressed bodies were preserved and displayed.

Chiesa di San Giovanni degli Eremiti
Palermo · Sicília · Church

Chiesa di San Giovanni degli Eremiti

12th-century Norman church, with five red domes of Arabic inspiration and a small cloister with a garden of orange trees and Mediterranean plants.

Palazzo Abatellis
Palermo · Sicília · Museum

Palazzo Abatellis

15th‑century Catalan‑Gothic palace that houses the Galleria Regionale della Sicilia, including the Triumph of Death fresco and Antonello da Messina's Virgin Annunciate.

Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonino Salinas
Palermo · Sicília · Museum

Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonino Salinas

One of Italy's main archaeological museums, in the former convent of the Olivella, with the metopes from the temples of Selinunte and Punic, Greek and Roman pieces from Sicily.

Santuario di Santa Rosalia
Palermo · Sicília · Church

Santuario di Santa Rosalia

Sanctuary in a grotto on Monte Pellegrino, 600 meters above Palermo, where Saint Rosalia lived, patron saint of the city. The road up there has views over the gulf.

Mondello
Palermo · Sicília · Beach

Mondello

Palermo's beach, in a gulf between Monte Pellegrino and Monte Gallo, with pale sand, clear water and the old liberty‑style bathing establishment built over the sea.

La Zisa
Palermo · Sicília · Palace

La Zisa

Summer palace of the Norman kings, begun by Guilherme I around 1165, with the muqarnas fountain room. It houses a museum of Islamic art.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

April to June and September to October usually offer good temperatures for cities, ruins and the sea. July and August are very hot, especially in Agrigento and inland, and the beaches get crowded. Winter, from December to February, is mild on the coast with more rain; there can be snow high on the Etna.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

With one week you can do Palermo (two or three days), Cefalù, Agrigento and a stretch of the east like Taormina and the Etna. With ten to fourteen days you can see the island at a relaxed pace: Palermo, Cefalù, Agrigento, Siracusa, Catânia, Taormina and the volcano. If you only have four or five days, stick to one side: the west from Palermo, or the east from Catânia.

Which city to stay in

In Palermo, the historic centre between the cathedral, the Quattro Canti and the Teatro Massimo allows you to do almost everything on foot; the Politeama and Via Libertà area is more modern and orderly. In Cefalù, the old town next to the Duomo and the sea. In Agrigento, the upper town on Via Atenea, or country houses near the Valle dei Templi. In the east, Catânia is the most practical base for the Etna, Taormina sits high above the sea and Siracusa has accommodation on the island of Ortigia.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Sicília

Can you go by train from Rome to Sicília?

Yes. The Intercity and Intercity Notte trains from Rome run along the coast to Villa San Giovanni, where the carriages are loaded onto a traghetto and cross the Strait of Messina in about 30 minutes. On the other side, the line splits towards Palermo along the north coast and towards Catânia and Siracusa on the eastern side. The journey to Palermo takes most of the day or the whole night.

How many days to allow for Sicília?

One week is the minimum to see both sides of the island without rushing: Palermo, Cefalù and Agrigento in the west, and Taormina, the Etna, Catânia or Siracusa in the east. With ten to fourteen days the trip is more relaxed. In four or five days, pick one side only.

Do I need to rent a car in Sicília?

It helps, but it's not mandatory. Regional trains link Palermo with Cefalù and Agrigento, and intercity buses run many routes, including Palermo–Catânia. A car makes a difference for the Scala dei Turchi, the interior and the villages around the Etna. In the centres of Palermo and other cities there are ZTLs (limited traffic zones): leave the car outside the historic centre.

What is the best time to go to Sicília?

April to June and September to October usually combine enough warmth for the sea with pleasant temperatures for visiting the ruins. July and August are very hot and crowded. In winter, from December to February, the coast is mild but some boats and tours are reduced.

Do I arrive via Palermo or via Catânia?

It depends on your itinerary. Palermo is the best gateway for Cefalù, Monreale and Agrigento. Catânia is closer to the Etna, Taormina and Siracusa. A good plan is to arrive at one and depart from the other, crossing the island by bus, train or car—about 2h30 to 3 hours between the two cities.

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