Sicily

Sicily is the largest region of Italy and the largest island of Mediterranean Sea.

Located in centre of the Mediterranean, its culture is due to the important influences of the neighbouring people such as Greeks and Arabs LINK Arabian Sicily, Greek Sicily

Its capital is Palermo, a Phoenician city conquested by all the rules arrived in the islands during the centuries.

Sicily was the destination of Grand tour of Sicily during the XVIII-XIX centuries, the education voyage of young aristocratic englishes. LINK Gran Tour of Sicily

Land of conquest, Sicily has attracted attention for its richness, beautifulness and fertility.

Sicily and its Rulers

Sicily was conquested by Greek on the VIII BC.
Today many Greek monuments live again as attestation of the importance of this dominance.
Link Greek Sicily

After Roman Empire conquest, Sicily became a Province.
The Lex Rupilia gave to Sicily the recognition of its nationality and an own legislation.

Under Arab dominance Sicily have had a flowering time and was known as the “Mediterranean Paradise”. Culture, food, new cultivation products arrived on the island and their effect are present today. Link Arabian Sicily

Land of encounter of different cultures and ways of life, Sicily is one of the most eclectic and rich culture zone of the Mediterranean sea.

What to know of Sicily

Historic attractions:

-Agrigento and Temples Valley

-Archaeological Greek site of Segesta

-Syracuse and its Greek theatre, Regional Archaeological Museum, Neapolis archaeological Park. Link Syracuse Attractions

-Catania and Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre, Castello Ursino LINK Catania Attractions

-Archaeological site of Pantalica LINK One day bike tour Necropoli of Pantalica

-Noto ruins LINK Attractions

-Taormina LINK Taormina

-Modica LINK Modica

-Etna villages. Do a unique tour bike visiting the most famous attractions combined with food tasting. Link Etna Villages, Lnk Etna villages one day bike tour, Wine road of Linguaglossa link

Natural attractions:

-Sicilian volcanos
Sicily and islands in the nearness are place of intense volcanic activity.
The most famous sicilian volcanos are Etna and Stromboli. Link Volcano ETna , Link Volcano Stromboli
You can do an excursion, but the best thing is climbing Etna by bicycle, following different itineraries of Etna Park or Etna villages.
Link Etna tour bike, Link Etna villages one day bike tour
During the XIX century, in the Sicily Channel Ferdinandea island emerged, because the volcanic activity under the sea.

-Vendicari natural reserve Link Vendicari Natural Reserve

-Sicilian summer resort such as Marina di Ragusa, S.Vito Lo Capo, Catania plaja beach, Mondello in Palermo, taormina and “Isola Bella”,

-Nebrodi Mounts LInk Natural Regional Parks

-Iblei Mounts Link East Sicily bike tour

-Island such as Eolie arcipelago, Ustica, Pantelleria

-Sicily is the place of important parks: Alcàntara Natural Regional Park, Etna Natural Regional Park, Madonie Natural Regional Park, Nebrodi Natural Regional Park. Link Natural Regional Park

-Who loves sea can do a tour bike along the Jonic coast, visiting Acicastello and Acireale Link

Sicily food

During your tour bike you will cross places that can give unique tastes. Every village or city has its speciality that you can taste also during night life riding with your bike. Sicily food Link

Local food is known all over the world, and the it is the result of the influences of Greeks and Arabs dominances.

Worth a taste Granita. Its better expression is in the east coast in places such as Catania, Acireale, Acitrezza, but also the south east part of the island has its merit.
Taste the famous “Minnulata”, almond granita with croissant.
Almond milk is another Sicily speciality.

-Modica Chocolate Link Modica

-Pasta alla norma and Arancini Link Sicily Food

-Another interesting thing is a “wine road” tour bike along the only wine road of Sicily in Linguaglossa.
Link Wine road of Linguaglossa.

Sicily folklore

-S.Agata Festivity, Catania patron saint feast Link Catania Attractions

-S.Rosalia Festivity, Palermo patron saint feast.

-Sicilian Carnevale in Acireale, Misterbianco, Sciacca

Famous sicilian people
Sicily is the land of the culture, literature and music, in fact here is the native place of Nino Martoglio, Luigi Pirandello, Giovanni Verga, Vincenzo Bellini.
But also modern music has its representative sicilian artists such as, Mario Biondi, Roy Paci, Uz, Carmen Consoli, Mario Venuti.

Tour bike

-The best activity you can do in Sicily is biking. Many foregin tourists visit the island riding through the roads that connect the variuos and different attractions, joining natural and historic attractions.
Link East Sicily Biking,
Link Etna tour bike,
Link Etna villages one day bike tour,
Link One day bike tour Necropoli of Pantalica,
Link One day bike tour Noto-Avola,
LInk One day west Sicily bike tour

-You can bike along the Sicily cycle tracks Link

You can bike along the amazing jonic coast to see “Timpa di Acireale” and taste its Granita Link Jonic coast

What to Know
After having seen the attractions and the itineraries it is useful consult some suggestions. General tips LInk, Destination guide Link
Before coming here the best thing you can do is read some review of who has come here. What other tourists say lInk