235 Best Sights in Sicily, Italy

You'll need to hire a guide to explore the over 5,000 tombs covering the limestone cliffs that make up this Iron and Bronze Age burial site. On a huge plateau over the Anapo River, the necropolis dates to between the 13th and 8th centuries BC. If you decide not to hire a guide, you'll need to drive to get here. There are two main entrances: one near the town of Sortino and the other from the town of Ferla. The entrance by Sortino involves a good walk down the sides of the gorge while the Ferla entrance is more of a gentle stroll along a well-beaten path. Set aside a minimum of two hours for your visit, but it is better to allocate at least half a day; be sure to wear a good pair of walking shoes and bring plenty of water.

 Siracusa is most famous for its dramatic set of Greek and Roman ruins, which are considered to be some of the best archaeological sites in all of Italy and should be combined with a stop at the Museo Archeologico. If the park is closed, go up Viale G. Rizzo from Viale Teracati to the belvedere overlooking the ruins, which are floodlit at night.

Before the park's ticket booth is the gigantic Ara di Ierone (Altar of Hieron), which was once used by the Greeks for spectacular sacrifices involving hundreds of animals. The first attraction in the park is the Latomia del Paradiso (Quarry of Paradise), a lush tropical garden full of palm and citrus trees. This series of quarries served as prisons for the defeated Athenians, who were enslaved; the quarries once rang with the sound of their chisels and hammers. At one end is the famous Orecchio di Dionisio (Ear of Dionysius), with an ear-shape entrance and unusual acoustics inside, as you'll hear if you clap your hands. The legend is that Dionysius used to listen in at the top of the quarry to hear what the enslaved people were plotting below.

The Teatro Greco is the chief monument in the Archaeological Park. Indeed it's one of Sicily's greatest classical sites and the most complete Greek theater surviving from antiquity. Climb to the top of the seating area (which could accommodate 15,000) for a fine view: all the seats converge upon a single point—the stage—which has the natural scenery and the sky as its backdrop. Hewn out of the hillside rock in the 5th century BC, the theater saw the premieres of the plays of Aeschylus, and Greek tragedies are still performed here every year in May and June. Above and behind the theater runs the Via dei Sepulcri, in which streams of running water flow through a series of Greek sepulchres.

The well-preserved and striking Anfiteatro Romano (Roman Amphitheater) reveals much about the differences between the Greek and Roman personalities. Where drama in the Greek theater was a kind of religious ritual, the Roman amphitheater emphasized the spectacle of combative sports and the circus. This arena is one of the largest of its kind and was built around the 2nd century AD. The corridor where gladiators and beasts entered the ring is still intact, and the seats (some of which still bear the occupants' names) were hauled in and constructed on the site from huge slabs of limestone.

A vast archaeological site in a remote location, Morgantina long provided rich pickings for illegal excavators: when Italian detectives raided an 18th-century villa in Enna belonging to a Sicilian art dealer, they discovered more than 30,000 ancient artifacts, most of them plundered from Morgantina. In 1986, American archaeologist Malcolm Bell, director of Princeton University’s excavations at Morgantina, established that the heads, hands, and feet of 6th-century BC Greek statues of goddesses from a private collection exhibited at the Getty museum outside of Los Angeles also derived from Morgantina. Identified as Demeter and Persephone, the statues were acroliths, with wooden bodies (long rotted away) and marble extremities. Returned to Sicily in 2009 after a lengthy legal battle, they are currently displayed at a small museum in the village of Aidone, beautifully lit and hauntingly "dressed" by Sicilian fashion designer Marella Ferrara.

Equally powerful is the so-called Aphrodite Getty, or Venus of Malibu, bought by the Getty in 1987 for $18 million on the basis of provenance documents that were later proved to have been forgeries. Returned to Sicily in 2011, the hefty maturity of her body, revealed by wind-blown drapery, has led most scholars to identify her as the mother goddess Demeter. Other objects returned from the Getty include the Eupolmos Silver, a set of ritual dining ware, and a head of Hades, identified as belonging to Morgantina when a student working in the site archives discovered a terra-cotta curl of blue-tinted "hair" and suspected that it belonged to a head on display in the Getty. When the curl was sent to the museum, it was found to be a perfect fit, and in 2016 the head was returned to Sicily.

One of Sicily’s best-kept secrets, the archaeological park of Akrai is home to what is said to be Siracusa’s first inland settlement, built to defend its overland trading route from other Greek colonies. You can access the site by a steep but steady 20-minute walk or a five-minute drive. Today, the site contains mainly ruins, but it is well worth visiting simply to see the Teatro Greco, originally constructed in the 3rd century BC to seat 600. Around the site, you'll also find two old stone quarries used to build the settlement, then converted into burial chambers as well as a remarkably well-preserved portion of the stone road into the area. Mount Etna may be seen rising majestically in the distance.

A visit to this winery is a must for wine lovers. The well-maintained cellar offers an excellent tour experience, guided by knowledgeable and friendly staff who will walk you through the Sicilian wine-making process. The tour includes a visit to the sprawling vineyards and an overview of the cellar and its various stages of production, culminating in a tasting of four exceptional, high-quality wines. Visits must be booked in advance, either online or by phone. If you can manage, book the visit in the late afternoon to catch the golden hour against the vineyards and the olive groves. 

Though the bar first opened in 1962—and the building has been around since the 1400s—this little café didn't gain worldwide popularity until Francis Ford Coppola chose it as the setting of significant scenes in The Godfather. In fact, prior to Coppola, the bar didn't even have an official name. He chose "Bar Vitelli" for his fictional café, had the name painted on the exterior wall, and the name has stuck for decades. Here, Michael Corleone famously asked Apollonia to marry him. And most street scenes where Michael is seen walking up the road were filmed on the building's side. The interior of the café functions as a small museum of the filming that happened in Savoca, with film stills and photos throughout. Outside, small tables sit under fairy lights and an arbor of vines. Be sure to order a lemon granita with a splash of Zibbibo, a sweet dessert wine. And though the rest of Sicily serves granita with brioche, here you'll find lightly sweetened "zuccarata" cookies. 

At the oldest winery on Etna, the expansive terrace shaded by oak trees looks out over vineyards and down to the sea. The staff offers friendly and informative tours (with excellent English) followed by a tasting of five wines with food pairings or a more formal lunch. Reservations are required. There are also four charming guest rooms overlooking the vineyards for overnight stays (minimum two nights).

Locals consider this the most important church in Palazzolo Acreide, rebuilt and repaired after the 1693 earthquake. When you enter, usually a volunteer will be available to take you on a brief tour. The main focal points are the relics and the statue of St. Paul paraded annually through the town with alternate moments of piety and raucous pyrotechnics, between June 26 and June 29.

At the foot of Monte Serra in Viagrande, this family-run winery is one of the most internationally significant on Etna, distributing some 170,000 bottles worldwide. And the Benanti family has been instrumental in propagating the viticulture of the volcano. As you arrive at the 19th-century estate for a tasting, you'll easily be seduced by the historic grounds and hills flanked with vines. But their wines, approximately 15 different expressions of Etna, hold the real magic.

When visitors think of classic Sicilian landscapes, they often think of arid, desertlike lands. However, as you head to the island's center, the views you see may encompass much greener rolling hills, frondous trees, and carpets of wildflowers, confirming the island's biodiversity, especially if you are traveling in the spring. West of Caltanissetta is Bosco Gabbara, a natural reserve known for its hiking trails, which are especially popular among locals during the spring and fall. Pack lunch and snacks because there are no restaurants or stops with food along the trails. You may consider hiring a guide who knows the ins and outs of the area.

Housed, perhaps appropriately, in an ex-orphanage in the center of Corleone, the Centro Internazionale di Documentazione sulla Mafia e del Movimento Antimafia, or C.I.D.M.A., chronicles the dark history of the criminal organization that has been identified with Sicily for much of the 20th century and beyond. Most of the story is told through a moving exhibition of black-and-white photographs, almost all taken by Letizia Battaglia, who bravely made it her life's work to record the Mafia's activities in Sicily, in particular the arrests of Mafia operatives and the deaths of their victims. One room holds the vast collection of files used in the Maxi-Trial of Mafia suspects that took place between 1986 and 1992 and led to the murders of the judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who are also remembered here. There is space given to the pentito (informant) Tomasso Buscetta, whose testimony resulted in a slew of arrests, but whose entire family was wiped out by vengeful hitmen. It's a sad and sobering experience to hear about such atrocities, and a visit to the center is best undertaken with a guide, without whose explanations you would miss much essential information. Call ahead to book a guided tour (available in English), and to confirm opening times.

Just a 20-minute drive from Enna, occupying a similarly dramatic crag top, the town of Calascibetta is built atop a honeycomb of caves, most of them hidden from sight as they form the cellars of simple houses. Look closely, however, and you’ll spot some houses built straight into the rock, and keep an eye open if anyone opens a garage door as there may well be a cave inside. An entire network of these caves has been uncovered—and is evocatively floodlit at night—on Via Carcere. Head up to Piazza San Pietro, where there are the ruins of a Norman tower and panoramic views. Follow signs from Calascibetta to the “Villaggio Bizantino,” and you’ll come to a stunning complex of caves overlooking a magnificent valley inhabited (and used as a cemetery) from ancient times until the Byzantine period when some of the caves were turned into tiny churches. The caves continued to be used by shepherds as shelter for themselves and their flocks until relatively recently. Today, the villaggio is run by volunteers, who will organize guided tours and walks in English, and introduce you to some of the local shepherds and cheese makers. It's always open Friday and Saturday, but reach out in advance if you want to visit another day. Not far from the villagio (and clearly signposted from Calascibetta), there is another series of caves (not guarded) at Realmese which you can scramble into and explore alone (but be careful as the rock is slippery). From here, a clearly marked track leads back to the village, a walk of just over 3 miles.

Tucked away in the southern end of the Valley of the Temples complex, you'll find Casa Diodoros, located near the Temple of Concordia. The recently renovated ancient farmhouse serves as the headquarters and exhibition space for the Diodoros project, an agricultural initiative to preserve agriculture, especially the native fruits and vegetables of the area. The house has a small café with an ample patio, away from the crowds, and a stunning view of the rolling fruit groves. The house sells homemade jams, juices, and other products from the fruits grown in the Valley of the Temples. Check the website for tours and cooking classes. 

This husband-and-wife team makes artisanal cheese from the rare breed sheep that graze on their fields, and also grows and collects their own saffron to make a distinctive local cheese, Piacentino Ennese, flavored with saffron and studded with black peppercorns. If you want to watch the whole cheese-making process, you will need to book several days ahead and be prepared to rise well before dawn. Otherwise, give them a ring and pop by for a morning bowl of hot ricotta curds with fresh bread. Groups of nine or more can book a lunch or an aperitif.

A visit to this fantastic castle, the biggest in Sicily and one of the grandest in all of Italy, is like stepping into the Middle Ages, complete with a well-stocked medieval armory, creepy dungeon prison, and elegant upper-level rooms decorated with detailed woodwork carving and majolica ceramic floors. The castle was the property of the Chiaramontes, once a powerful Sicilian aristocratic family. The views of the Rosamarina artificial lake and valley below are breathtaking.

In all of Sicily there may be no spot more scenic than atop this crumbling hilltop fortification reached by a set of steep staircases rising out of the town center. From here you can gaze upon two coastlines, smoking Mount Etna, and the town spilling down the mountainside. Mention of its foundations go back to the 4th-century Hellenistic Siceliote inhabitants; it was remodeled by 9th-century Byzantines and then the Normans, but all that stands today are remains of the 16th-century castle walls. Come during daylight hours to take full advantage of the vista.

This impressive castle fortress was built in 1316 by the Ventimiglia family. With its four imposing watchtowers, it was once the center of Castelbuono and helped the town become the administrative and defensive capital of the Ventimiglias' vast kingdom. Later it also became the prestigious residence of the family. In 1684, the interior was renovated to accommodate the family, and a new chapel was added and filled with decorative stucco embellishments by Sicilian master sculptors Giuseppe and Giaconoo Serpotta and Antonello Gangini; the chapel is now the town's grandest wedding venue. Other parts of the complex house various collections of the civic museum, including rooms dedicated to the history of the castle and town, archaeological finds, sacred art, modern and contemporary art (1905--2017), and often thought-provoking changing exhibitions. One intriguing room displays 40 works by the Castelbuonese artist Paolo Cicero (1885--1931), containing allusions to his relationship with infamous English occultist Aleister Crowley, who established a spiritual center in Cefalù.   

Ragusa Superiore's gargantuan 18th-cathedral was built in the then-nascent Quartiere Patro, after the destruction of a previous incarnation dedicated to San Giovanni in Ragusa Ibla was destroyed by the 1693 earthquake. Beyond the ornate late-Baroque facade, the three-nave, Latin cross interior is bathed by sunlight from the impressive cupola.  Amid 13 chapels and two altars, rich details abound: paintings and statuary spanning the centuries, rococo stuccowork, and a Neapolitan nativity scene. Pride of place goes to a vibrant wooden statue of San Giovanni carved in 1861 on a flamboyant gilded base, which is paraded through town each June 24. Those who are fit and have a head for heights should scale the narrow, 129-step staircase to the 160-foot-high campanile. After catching your breath, admire the church's four bells and enjoy fabulous views over Ragusa and beyond. Across the road, the Museo della Cattedrale displays pious relics and an interesting collection of maps.   

Noto's domed cathedral is an undisputed highlight of the extraordinary Baroque architecture for which the town is world-famous. Climb the monumental staircase to get a glimpse of the interior—restored over a 10-year period after the dome collapsed in 1996—which is simple and unloved by some (its newness and painting style may appear strange at first) compared to the magnificent exterior, but still worth a look. Indeed, it's become so popular that an entrance fee has been introduced, mainly to help the informative volunteers to cope with the foot flow.

This imposing 1337 Norman tower is attached to the facade of Gangi's "Mother Church," the Chiesa di Saint Niccolò of Bari, with a square bell tower built upon three levels and arabesque arched windows. It was part of the feudal kingdom of the Ventimiglia family, who left marks of their wealth and dominance all over the island. After an extensive renovation, it now houses a permanent exhibition of local artists and Christmas nativity models. The church itself is filled with artwork from the 17th and 18th centuries, including eye-catching sculptures by Filippo Quattrocchi (1738--1813). Descend into the crypt and the macabre catacombs to meet the mummies of 60 priests from Gangi.

Polizzi is full of churches, each one filled to the brim with fascinating artworks, but this one is probably the most gorgeous of all. Its Norman-era foundations have been built upon several times since, including Gothic-era additions by the Ventimiglia dynasty. The centerpiece is an astonishing Renaissance triptych of the Madonna and Child (late 1400s)  by an anonymous, though possibly Flemish, artist. It's sometimes attributed to (though more likely influenced by) the celebrated Flemish painter Rogier Van Der Weyden (1399--1464). As astonishing as it is to see this priceless work of art from northern Europe housed in a church in Polizzi Generosa, its presence gives you a sense of how much wealth was brought to the town thanks to its royal patrons.

Sicilian carts—brightly painted and led by either a horse or donkey—were an important part of Sicilian history in the 19th and early 20th centuries (at least until the advent of the truck), and they have become a symbol of the island, often sold in miniature form as tourist souvenirs. For fascinating insight into the crafts and their role in Sicilian history, this workshop-museum, which is run by Biagio and Damiano, is a cultural highlight. They'll take you through the fascinating history of the cart, its place in Sicilian society, and the many skills involved in decorating them, including those eye-popping painted designs that advertised the wares transported and status of the driver. A visit can also be part of a 75-minute tour that takes in two other nearby sights: the Circolo di Conversazione (1850), an exclusive club with frescoed ceiling, scene of debate, intrigue, and card playing that is reserved for Ragusa's nobility to this day; plus the lavish Palazzo Arezzo di Trifiletti. Talk to Biagio about a visit to the Antico Mercato ( Via del Mercato 124–144), where botteghe (craft workshops)—including those devoted to sculpture, blacksmithing, and a puppet theater—are run by young artisans to help keep these traditions alive, often accompanied by tables of bountiful food and wine by Putia del Vino wine bar, under the market's beautifully restored arcades.

For a walk on the moonlike surface of Etna, visit the Silvestri craters on the southern side of the volcano, near Nicolosi. Located at an altitude of roughly 6,200 feet, these five extinct craters formed during the 1892 eruption. Just a few meters away, across from Rifugio Sapienza, you'll find the Funivia dell'Etna (€50 round-trip), a cable car that carries you 8,000 feet up to Monte Montagnola, where you can hike further with a guide or go skiing in winter. 

Also known as the faraglioni, these ancient volcanic islets are so dramatically stunning they have inspired writers throughout the centuries. Homer set Odysseus's battle with the cyclops here in the Odyssey, contending that the angered and freshly blinded cyclops Polyphemus hurled giant hunks of rock from Etna to the sea to destroy Odysseus and his ship. Sicilian writer Giovanni Verga set his most famous novel, I Malavoglia, on the island of Lachea, the largest of the isles. Today the area is a protected marine preserve. You can kayak or swim the waters or take a short boat taxi to Lachea to visit the Lachea Island Museum of Sea Studies, which highlights the flora and fauna of the area in a tiny museum perched near the top.

Only a 20-minute drive from the city along an olive-tree-lined country road, you'll find this family-owned winery. Not only does it specialize in traditional Sicilian grapes such as Grillo and Nero d'Avola, but it also experiments with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Local artwork lines the tasting room walls as well as the attached La Cantina Restaurant. Wine tasting is by reservation only. The restaurant is only open during the high season, but you can experience the wines and the food at a sister restaurant in Sciacca, La Stranizzein Sciacca, year-round. 

Founded and still run by the Rallo family, whose involvement in wine production dates from 1851, the Donnafugata Winery is open for tastings and tours of its cantina (wine cellar); reservations are required and can be made online or by phone. It's an interesting look at the wine-making process in Sicily, and it ends with a sampling of several whites and reds, an optional food pairing, and a chance to buy a bottle. Don't miss the delicious, full-bodied red Mille e Una Notte, and the famous Ben Ryè Passito di Pantelleria, a sweet dessert wine made from dried grapes.

Cefalù is dominated by a massive headland—la rocca—and a 12th-century Romanesque Duomo, which is one of the finest Norman cathedrals in Italy. Roger II began the church in 1131 as an offering of thanks for having been saved here from a shipwreck. Its mosaics rival those of Monreale. (Whereas Monreale's Byzantine Christ figure is an austere and powerful image, emphasizing Christ's divinity, the Cefalù Christ is softer, more compassionate, and more human.) At the Duomo you must be respectfully attired—no shorts or beachwear permitted. Three themed tours explore the Duomo complex, taking in the museum, cloisters, roof, and towers (from €10).

The reconstruction of Messina's Norman and Romanesque cathedral, originally built by the Norman king Roger II and consecrated in 1197, has retained much of the original plan—including a handsome crown of Norman battlements, an enormous apse containing glittering mosaics, and a splendid wood-beamed ceiling. The adjoining bell tower contains one of the largest and most complex mechanical clocks in the world: constructed in 1933, it has a host of gilded automatons (a roaring lion and crowing rooster among them) that spring into action every day at the stroke of noon, lasting for 12 minutes. Don't miss the chance to climb the bell tower itself. As you head up the internal stairs, you'll see the system of levers and counterweights that operates the movements of the gilded bronze statues that parade through the open facade high over the Duomo's square. At the top, an open-air terrace offers 360-degree views of Messina and the strait.

 Monreale's splendid cathedral is lavishly executed with mosaics depicting events from the Old and New Testaments. It's a glorious fusion of Eastern and Western influences, widely regarded as the finest example of Norman architecture in Sicily. After the Norman conquest of Sicily, the new princes showcased their ambitions through monumental building projects. William II (1154–89) built the church complex with a cloister and palace between 1174 and 1185, employing Byzantine craftsmen.

The major attraction is the 68,220 square feet of glittering gold mosaics decorating the cathedral interior. Christ Pantocrator dominates the apse area; the nave contains narratives of the Creation; and scenes from the life of Christ adorn the walls of the aisles and the transept. The painted wooden ceiling dates from 1816–37 while the roof commands a great view (a reward for climbing 172 stairs). The wood and metal organ, the only one in Europe with six keyboards and 10,000 pipes, was restored after lightning damage in 2015, and played by Mick Jagger on a private visit in 2021.

Bonnano Pisano's bronze doors, completed in 1186, depict 42 biblical scenes and are considered among the most important medieval artifacts still in existence. Barisano da Trani's 42 panels on the north door, dating from 1179, present saints and evangelists. To visit, book a spot on www.coopculture.it at least a week in advance.

This Baroque beauty and so-called Mother Church of Modica Alta is reached by climbing 250 steps that crisscross in a monumental staircase leading up to the main doors. Dating back to medieval times—and after a series of calamities, including the 1693 earthquake—its present form took shape during the 17th and 18th centuries, largely under Spanish rule. The imposing 200-foot-high facade and tower were remodeled by Rosario Gagliardi (1698–1762); the church was finally crowned by an iron cross in 1842. You'll want to linger amid the white-stuccoed, eggshell blue and gold-leafed interior, taking in the artistic flamboyance of its five naves and numerous chapels, which are surrounded and supported by 22 Corinthian columns. One chapel houses the equestrian statue of San Giorgio that is paraded through Modica every April. A towering polyptych attributed to Bernardino Nigro (1538–1590) consists of nine Biblical scenes capped by a lunette of God and two golden adoring angels. Don't miss the meridian sundial with the signs of the zodiac near the the main altar; it was designed by the mathematician Armando Perini in 1895. Mass is held year-round on Sunday at 11 am, daily at 7 pm from April through October, as well as 7:30 pm in July and August; from November through March, the daily evening mass is at 6 pm.  For the best views in town, climb the campanile. (For a cacophonous experience, you can also time your ascension to 30 minutes before mass when the mighty bells chime. Cover your ears, though.)