Holidays at the cities of art: organize your cultural holidays in Italy, Sicily is the best destination to visit

Visiting the cultural sites of Sicily means surrendering to a land overflowing with history and culture, a melting pot of many civilizations as its unique artistic heritage testifies. For those looking for a cultural holiday destination, we suggest you explore some of our offers with selected itineraries that will take you on a discovery of the treasures of this island and its millennia of history. Holidays in Italy, in the discovery of the best places in Sicily - and why not –in an original way like cruising the island in an Apecar, or the city of Modica in a Fiat 500?!Sicily, the “island of poets”You were before me, Sicily, a pink cloud of the sea! And in the blue a mountain: snowy Mount Etna. Hail Sicily! Each aura that moves here, that strums a harp or fills a bagpipe, and sings and moves... I had reached the place of the dreamers [...] -"The island of poets", Giovanni PascoliThe largest of the Mediterranean islands, with fourteen satellite islands, mostly collected in three archipelagos (the volcanic Aeolian islands, UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Egadi islands and the Pelagie islands), Sicily is located in a central position in the old "Mediterraneum", for centuries a sea crossroad of trade and relationships between civilizations. This itself brings together seemingly contradictory aspects which have yet so harmoniously fused into a new synthesis, creating a completely unique context both geographically and culturally. A land in which the sea and the mountains have become perfect partners, attracting each year thousands of tourists in search of crystal blue waters or high peaks, like Mount Etna, which watches down on the whole of Trinacria, the name by which the island was known by the ancients for its shape with three points.The pages written by travellers who, from the Seventeenth Century chose the island as the last stop of their "Grand Tour" and their holidays to Italy, are proof of the wonder that struck everyone who visited. It is one of the best holiday destinations: the extraordinary union of works of art, temples, churches, palaces, but also the sea, volcanoes, the colours and scents of orange blossom, cannot fail to leave a mark on you.Still today the energy that Sicily emanates in all its forms strikes the imagination. A volcanic land, that on the slopes of Etna houses some of the finest grape varieties in the whole of Europe, you can see this on Pantelleria the strength of the sun catalyzes the grapes in a mixture of sugars and aromas, creating one of the most evocative dessert wines in Italy.Unique experiences in the discovery of SicilyOne of the best holiday destinations, the curious traveller and those passionate about history, culture and nature, are spoiled for choice in Sicily. What to see in Sicily is not a problem, but having a well-designed itinerary is essential in order to get the very best out of your cultural holiday destination.The itineraries selected by Sicilying are absolutely unique in their thoroughness and intensity of experience; Prepare to be captivated!FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO VISIT PALERMO, Sicilying offers some of the most intriguing historical and cultural holidays in Italy in the capital city of the island. Visiting Palermo means immersing yourself in ancient power and Baroque splendour, relived each day in the cries of the vendors in Vucciria and Ballarò, the two markets where you can find the freshest natural ingredients of Sicilian cuisine. If you're wondering what to visit in Palermo, Sicilying can offer you a one-of-a-kind walking-tour: you will see some of the most famous parts of the city, such as Piazza Verdi, the Capo market, the Immaculate Conception Church, St. Augustine market, Vucciria market, the Quattro Canti, Piazza della Vergogna or Pretoria, Piazza Bellini, Ballaro market and the Cathedral. And all this interwoven with moments of tasting the celebrated street food of Palermo: sfincione, fritters, arancini, bread with meusa (spleen), and in the summer the magnificent granita with brioche!FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO DISCOVER GREEK AND ROMAN REMAINS, Sicily is one of the finest European destinations, where you can experience extraordinary historical and cultural contexts. There is the famous Valley of the Temples surrounding Agrigento, which is home to the most finely preserved Greek temples in the world.There is, in Taormina, the stunning Greek amphitheatre splayed out towards the sea with its view of the volcano, and nearby, in Giardini Naxos, you will find today an archaeological park that preserves the oldest Greek colony on the island.And then there is Segesta, where another beautiful Greek temple creates an almost mythical atmosphere; as in Syracuse, with its legendary Ortigia island, its Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre...FOR THOSE DRAWN TO THE EXTRAORDINARY WEALTH OF SICILIAN BAROQUE, don't miss the chance to go with Sicilying to the discovery of the Baroque of Ragusa Ibla, with its narrow streets and its unforgettable panoramic views. You can find entire cities of Baroque in Sicily; cities of an unique atmosphere, such as in the streets of Modica and Noto.FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LIVE THE INTENSITY OF UNFORGETTABLE LANDSCAPES DURING THEIR HOLIDAYS TO ITALY, Sicily is the land where nature itself explodes among the historical ruins, leaving the traveller with unforgettable sights. As is the case with the Sicilying itineraries in the little villages of Erice and San Vito Lo Capo, both of which leave you with indelible memories of the green of nature, the glow of houses and the blue of the sea. It's as if you're inside that picture postcard you wanted to send your friends! Indeed you can also find yourselves in the dazzling white of the salt marshes close to Trapani, living witnesses of an ancient culture and the presence of man.FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO EXPLORE WESTERN SICILY, Sicilying offers selected itineraries that will take you on the discovery of another facet of Sicily, Trapani and its territory. On one of your holidays to Italy try our intensive week-long tour, during which you'll have the chance to visit the nature reserve of "Monte Cofano", one of the most picturesque places on the coast; discover Erice, the last remaining medieval village in Sicily; do bird-watching at the Lagoon of Marsala and visit one of its most famous islands, the ancient Phoenician colony Mozia; discover the archaeological site of Selinunte, the largest Greek city in Western Sicily, and the Belice Valley. Followed by unforgettable tastings of the famous cous-cous typical of the area, the black bread of Castelvetrano, the “vastedda” of Belice, all made sweeter with fine local wines and traditional sweets.FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO DISCOVER THE REAL SICILY DURING ITALIAN HOLIDAYS, Sicilying will take you on a discovery of the best places to visit in Sicily, to experience alternative and little-known spots, far from Sicily’s of mass tourism; Discover the essence of Sicily.Take for example our tour of Catania, during which you will discover the main streets of the historic city centre - Piazza Duomo and the fish market, via Crociferi and via Etnea, Piazza Stesicoro and the Roman Amphitheatre - but also the real places of Sicilian life, such as the central market and the fish market, where you can taste the local products (“arancini” rice balls, “cipolline” pastries, horsemeat meatballs, “cassata” and “cannoli”) offered by the vendors on the street.FOR THOSE WHO LOVE NOT ONLY THE SEA, from Catania Sicilying offers the unique opportunity to explore Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Etna is also one of the highest volcanoes in the world and in June 2013 it became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.Besides Etna, many other mountain ranges give shape to this beautiful island: the Nebrodi and Madonie Mountains, the southernmost foothills of the Apennines are also national parks that preserve extraordinary fauna and flora. As well as the unforgettable Alcantara Gorges, canyons with rock walls up to 25 metres-high and just 2 metres-wide in the narrowest part, probably formed due to seismic activity.FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GET TO KNOW THE RECENT HISTORY OF THE ISLAND, holidays to Italy and particularly to Sicily also mean the possibility of discovering some important chapters in contemporary history, including the stories of the heroes who gave their lives in the fight against organised crime: the judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, Peppino Impastato, and the sites where these struggles unfurled. You will be able to get to know, thanks to our dedicated tours, a Sicily which goes beyond the clichés and shows its force of rebellion against criminal powers.FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO FINISH THEIR HOLIDAY WITH A SPOT OF SHOPPING, we will accompany you to the largest shopping outlet in Sicily, the Sicily Outlet Village: big brands products at competitive prices, but also eateries that will allow you to spend the day shopping in complete comfort.