Lampedusa
On the island's southeastern edge, this cove with clear waters and a small sandy beach is conveniently close to Lampedusa town, though the rocky bottom…
Must-see attractions in Sicily
Gela
Behind Gela's archaeological museum, you can see the scant remains of the city's ancient Greek acropolis. Adding little to the atmosphere are the belching…
Western Sicily
Just in from the waterfront, the ragged remains of Count Roger's Norman castle have definitely seen better days, but their forlorn ruination is…
Cefalù
Apart from a few loose rocks and low crenellated walls, there is nothing left of Il Castello, a Norman castle built atop the old Arab citadel that once…
Stromboli
A major Stromboli landmark, San Vincenzo is the island's main church. In mid- to late afternoon, the square out front becomes a gathering point for…
Catania
Flanking the western edge of Piazza dell'Università, this handsome palazzo includes a courtyard designed by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. The building…
Taormina
Perched atop Monte Tauro are the (inaccessible) ruins of this castle, built between the 11th and 12th centuries. The castle sits on the former site of…
Agrigento
Upstairs at Monastero di Santo Spirito, the small Museo Civico is worth a quick visit as much for the views over the Valley of the Temples as its poorly…
Trapani
This golden-hued 18th-century palace – today a local government building so only viewable from the exterior – is one of Trapani's finest examples of…
Erice
This church is noteworthy for its pair of Renaissance sculptures by the Gagini family: Antonio Gagini's statue of St John the Baptist, and Antonello…
Chiesa della Santissima Trinità alla Badia
Tyrrhenian Coast
Just off the road to Petralia Soprana, this church, originally built as part of a 16th-century Dominican convent, boasts a handsome marble altarpiece…
Syracuse
West of the Roman amphitheatre is the 3rd-century-BC Ara di Gerone II. This monolithic sacrificial altar was a kind of giant abattoir where 450 oxen could…
Fontana del Ratto di Prosperina
Enna
Right on Piazza Crispi is this monumental creation commemorating Enna's most enduring ancient legend.
Catania
The modest, neglected ruins of this Roman theatre, below street level in Piazza Stesicoro, are worth a quick look if you're passing by. Note that opening…
Taormina
Porta Messina was originally named Porta Ferdinanda when opened by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon in 1808. The occasion is commemorated in the plaque above the…
Catania
Designed by the great baroque architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini, this elegant 18th-century palazzo flanks the eastern edge of Piazza dell'Università.
Museo Civico Antonio Collisani
Tyrrhenian Coast
Focusing on the archaeology and geology of the Madonie, this small museum has an impressive display of fossils found in the area and is worth a short…
Taormina
Located just west of the main square, Piazza IX Aprile, this 12th-century clock tower marks the entrance to Borgo Medievale, Taormina's oldest quarter.
Western Sicily
Northernmost of the temples on Selinunte's Acropolis is Temple D, built towards the end of the 6th century BC and dedicated to either Neptune or Venus.
Marsala
Tapestry fans should check out this tiny museum displaying eight 16th-century Flemish tapestries, woven in Brussels for Spanish King Philip II.
Mediterranean Coast
This architectural mish-mash of a church has an odd-looking 13th-century rose window that predates the majolica-tiled dome by some 600 years.
Museo Archeologico Eoliano (Sezione Epigrafica)
Lipari
This small garden littered with engraved stones and a room of Greek and Roman tombs remained indefinitely closed at the time of research.
Central Sicily
Calascibetta's most impressive sight is its 14th-century cathedral. Among its highlights are 18th-century paintings by Ludovico Svirech.
Taormina
Dating back to the 10th century, the crenellated, Arab-influenced Palazzo Corvaja houses the tourist office and occasional exhibitions.
Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Caltagirone
Central Sicily
This small, sadly forlorn museum has an engaging contemporary collection, including works by the renowned local artist Gianni Ballarò.
Central Sicily
Piazza's former town hall (closed to the public), this elegant, late-baroque palazzo (mansion) overlooks Piazza Garibaldi.
Gela
Some 500m from the city walls, next to the hospital, are Sicily's only surviving Greek baths, which date from the 4th century BC.
Marsala
This lovely arcaded palazzo, formerly known as the Palazzo Senatorio (Senatorial Palace), is now Marsala's town hall.
Syracuse
The elegant, 17th-century Palazzo Arcivescovile is home to the Biblioteca Alagoniana and some rare 13th-century manuscripts.
Syracuse
Syracuse's 'drawing room', Piazza Archimede is flanked by Catalan-Gothic palazzi, including Palazzo Lanza-Bucceri.
Central Sicily
The villa's main entrance leads through the remnants of a triumphal arch into an elegant atrium (forecourt).
Central Sicily
This statue depicts Baron Marco Trigona, the man who financed construction of Piazza Armerina's cathedral.
Mediterranean Coast
This 18th-century reconstruction of a 16th-century church sits on the western end of Piazza Scandaliato.
Central Sicily
The facade of this 17th-century church is graced by a magnificently carved, tuff-stone portal.
Western Sicily
Now reduced to a massive pile of rubble, Temple F is one of Selinunte's three eastern temples.
Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani
Messina
This 12th-century church is a fine example of Arab-Norman architecture.
Enna
Surrounded by woodland about 9km south of town is one of Sicily's few natural lakes. It's a popular summer hang-out with a few compact beaches, big resort…
Palermo
The underwhelming market here was once a notorious den of Mafia activity. It's a much more muted affair these days, outshone by its much more spirited…
