City: Sicily
Top Things to do in Sicily
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Sicily, Italy
Sicily (/ˈsɪsɪli/ SISS-i-lee; Italian: Sicilia [siˈtʃiːlja], Sicilian: Sicìlia) is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an autonomous region of Italy, in Southern Italy along with surrounding minor islands, officially referred to as Regione Siciliana.
Restaurants in Sicily
1. Spiaggia dei Conigli
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6,217 reviews
Reviewed By GcRedaelli - Dublin, Ireland
The best beach of the island by far, but also the busiest one. By walk it takes about 15 minutes from the street down to go there. It opens at 8.30. If it is constantly rated the best beach in 'Europe' it must be a reason! The water and colour of the sand are so unique. Speechless. Lampedusa has also the advantage of having a convenient airport to travel from Catania or Palermo, and the norther airports on summer time.
2. Duomo di Messina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,240 reviews
This Cathedral, a fine example of Sicilian Norman architecture, has retained its original medieval lines even after a long history: built under Roger II, consecrated in 1197, destroyed in the 1908 earthquake and rebuilt.
Reviewed By Adventure_Steph_H - Bristol, United Kingdom
We visited Messina on a rainy day which meant that there were not very many people about. The clock tower is a beautiful structure and parts of it move as it chimes on the hour. Inside the cathedral the striking feature are the wooden beams across the ceiling with beautiful detailing on them. Its definitely worth a visit whilst in Messina although when we visited we had to split it into two parts as when we first visited at about lunchtime they closed the cathedral but were able to return later in the afternoon.
3. Ortigia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15,488 reviews
This offshore island was occupied by the Greek colonists who fortified it and constructed the earliest structures, including the temples of Athena and Apollo, whose remains can still be seen today.
Reviewed By pedrol366 - Madrid, Spain
This is a really beautiful island next to Siracusa (you can access it by car) with really beautiful streets, a magnificent Piazza del Duomo with beautiful buildings and where you can enjoy Sicilian gastronomy. Its streets are full of wonderful corners, shops and restaurantes... it is worth a visit if you are in the eastern part of Sicily
4. Cattedrale di Palermo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,166 reviews
This cathedral was started in 1185 by the norman archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio. You can visit the Royal and Imperial tomb of Frederik the II, the urn with the relics of the patron Saint of Palermo Santa Rosalia, plus a treasury with a precious medieval crown and a crypt from the VII century. The church is free to enter, there is a ticket to access the monumental area composed by royal tombs, treasury, crypt and the roof.
Reviewed By israroz - Ra'anana, Israel
The location of the large and impressive building of the Palermo Cathedral is the place where a basilica was built in early Christianity and with the Muslim conquest of Sicily on the ruins of the Basilica a Muslim mosque was built, many Muslim motifs have survived to date and can be seen in several places in the Cathedral. The cathedral is rich in exceptionally large and remarkably interesting variety of works of art from different historical periods. Roof climbing provides the climbers a wonderful rooftop views of Palermo. Sunset hours are highly recommended. “NOT 2 B MISSED”
5. Public Gardens (Parco Duca di Cesar)
6. Bell Tower and Astronomical Clock (Orologio Astronomico)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,439 reviews
Reviewed By stewartc640 - Chatham, United Kingdom
We passed the Messina cathedral Bell tower whilst on a one day stopover in Messina. We were doing a self-guided walking tour armed with a fairly basic tourist map and had just arrived in the port. The bell tower and its associated cathedral sits in the reasonably spacious ‘Piazza del Duomo di Messina’ just inland from where the cruise ship docked. It is known for its animation occurring when the clock strikes particularly at 12 noon. Unfortunately, this is the time our ship docked so we missed what we have been told is quite a sight. We did get to see a shorter animation at one o’clock though. The bell tower is separate from the cathedral, and had ‘golden’ statues on various levels as well as other parts of the animation. The Piazza is quite busy and there are many sightseeing tours for tourists departing from here either on busses or ‘Dotto’ trains. There are also some souvenir shops and street traders here where tourists can buy mementoes of their visit to Messina, we tend to purchase porcelain thimbles on our travels and these were available here too.
7. Duomo di Cefalu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,291 reviews
An amazing trip in the Beauty! Visit the Cathedral, explore the Itinerary with the Towers, the Roofs, the Treasure and the Canonical Cloister! Live the Beauty! • VISIT ITINERARIES ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED •
Reviewed By SallyF906 - Northampton, United Kingdom
Situated at the top of the Piazza Duomo, the cathedral was built in 1131 by King Roger II after he was saved from a storm at sea and safely landed in Cefalu. It is built in complex architectural style - Norman but carried out by Arab and Byzantine craftsmen. The facade is flanked by two large bell towers which can now be visited for a small fee - something I wish we had done. Entrance to the cathedral is free but you can also pay to get closer to the mosaics and to visit the cloister - worth the money. The entrance doorway is within three arches at the top of a flight of stone steps. The interior has 3 naves separated by columns made of granite and marble. The wooden ceiling has painted beams with an Islamic influence. High up in the apse is the most famous feature - the Byzantine mosaic Christ Pantocrator - this is stunning and definitely worth paying a few euros to get a more close up view. This work predates the mosaics in Monreale cathedral by 20 to 30 years. Surrounding this are mosaics of the Virgin Mary, Archangels and Apostles. You can now also visit the recently restored cloisters and you pass through several rooms before you reach this which are full of interesting paintings and religious artefacts.
8. Chiesa del Gesu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,250 reviews
Reviewed By edinburgher2 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Tucked away in a side street in old Palermo and in close proximity to Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria and Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (La Martorana) so very easy to visit all three. We didn’t visit the crypt or the museum, only paid the E2 to visit the church interior. Entering inside, expect one of these “jaw -dropping moments” as the interior is almost overwhelming. The more you look at individual carvings, the more detail you see and the skill of the carvers is obvious. Hours could be spent here. Cannot recommend this enough. The high ratings are totally justified.
9. Poggioreale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 122 reviews
Reviewed By elana25
IL ‘68 CULTURA E SAPORI..."THE '68 CULTURE AND FLAVORS ... Cultural Association " This cultural association arranged a tour of the ruins of Poggioreale, as well as, a tasting of local foods. The group included myself and 7 family members from the United States and members of my family that live near Poggioreale. For 6 of my family members this was the first trip to Sicily. The members of Il ’68 arrived at the meeting point in their vintage Fiat and we followed them to the ruins. An architect and another guide led us on a tour of the ruins – so informative and professionally presented. Then we were delighted to enjoy a tasting of local food with family members under a pavilion very near the entrance to the ruins. After the tasting we were given more information on the devastating earthquake of 1968. This earthquake wreaked havoc on the Belice Valley – the home of my ancestors. Il ’68 presented us with souvenir plaques with various images of our ancestral home, Salaparuta – located very near the ruins for Poggioreale. If you are planning a visit to this area I would highly recommend this cultural association to provide a slice of Sicily that you will always remember. Thank you for making a wonderful day for my family.
10. Scala dei Turchi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,807 reviews
Scala dei Turchi Scala dei Turchi La Scala dei Turchi seen from the beach State Italy Italy Region Sicily Sicily City Realmonte Mass of Mediterranean water Coordinates 37 ° 17'23.92 "N 13 ° 28'21.95" ECoordinate: 37 ° 17'23.92 "N 13 ° 28'21.95" E (Map) Location map Location Map: Sicily IslandScala dei TurchiScala dei Turchi La Scala dei Turchi is a rocky wall (cliff) that rises above the sea along the coast of Realmonte, in the province of Agrigento. It has become over time a tourist attraction both for the singularity of the cliff, white in color and the peculiar shapes, and following the popularity acquired by novels starring the commissioner Montalbano written by the writer empedoclino Andrea Camilleri, in which such places are cited country commissioner, to be framed with Porto Empedocle..
Reviewed By GcRedaelli - Dublin, Ireland
When you walk on Scala dei Turchi you think for a moment that you are Arizona or in Iceland... all so white marble rock rich of geological signs where the water arrived in the different period, really breathtaking also a bit dangerous... pay attention when you walk all around! Best timing very early in the morning to avoid people or late afternoon to admire the sunset! Highly recommended!
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