Sicily is located in the Mediterranean Sea, just off the tip of the toe of mainland Italy; it is the largest of the islands in the sea and is an autonomous region of Italy. The island is a rough triangle in shape and its terrain is mostly hilly, there are mountain ranges that run along the northern coast of the island and these are Madonie, Nebrodi and Peloritani. Mount Etna dominates the eastern coastline and the lower-lying Hyblaean Mountains are in the southeastern region.
Sicily and its surrounding islands all have very active volcanoes; Mount Etna is not only the tallest in Europe but is one of the most active in the world as well. The region also contains the Aegadian Islands, the Aeolian Islands, Pantelleria and Lampedusa.
Everything about this island is inviting and the sheer wealth of places to visit, its warm dry climate, fantastic cuisine and beautiful scenery make it a perfect place for holiday. The island boasts a total of 5 world heritage sites; Valle dei Templi in Agrigento is not only the national monument of Italy, but is a huge tourist attraction as well. The Necropolis of Pantalica is a range of tombs that dates back from the 13th to the 7th centuries BC and totals well over 5000.
There are many archaeological sites here too, such as the Doric temple in Segesta and the Megara Hyblaea, which is located close to Augusta. The island has a staggering 21 castles to explore, some in better repair than others. Schisň Castle dates back to the 13th and 14 centuries and overlooks the bay of Giardini Naxos. Castello Maniace in Syracuse is a castle and a citadel and was erected between 1232 and 1240. Zisa is located in the island’s capital of Palermo and was constructed during the 12th century, although it has some repair work done over the years. It is today open to the public and houses pieces of Islamic art, tools and artefacts from the area.
When visiting any foreign country it is always a good idea to give at least one local dish a try; a very popular sweet dish to try here is Cannoli, which is a tube shaped pastry filled with sweet fillings and topped with ricotta cheese. Each area of the island has its own speciality, so look out for it and give it a try.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Sicily? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Sicily and villas in Sicily that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
