The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily (Sicilia) lies off the toe of Italy (Calabria) and has frequent ferries to the mainland. Towns on Sicily include the capital Palermo, Siracusa (Syracuse), Agrigento (with its Greek temples), Taormina, Catania, Ragusa, Noto, Messina (with ferries to Reggio di Calabria), Cefalu, Trapani, Caltanissenta and Enna.
Sicily has some 5m inhabitants, lively towns and cities, beautiful coastline and beaches, super countryside and a dizzying mix of influences in its cuisine, language and architecture (Arab, Spanish, Norman, Greek, Byzantine, Austrian and more). While having an excellent infrastructure of international airports, good roads and railways, well-equipped resorts and a range of hotels, Sicily retains its idiosyncratic traditions ... and of course it has Mount Etna. The northern coastline has beautiful rocky coves and the lovely resort of Cefalu. There are hydrofoils out to the Aeolian islands. Must-sees also include Taormina and its Teatro Greco; in the south, the Baroque towns of Noto, Modica and Ragusa; Palermo's Capella Palatina, and the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina.
The Sicilian menu is superb for seafood and has plenty of Greek and north African notes, including couscous, orange salads and very good pastries (cannoli). Drink Corvo (red or white), Regaleali (white) and the fortified Marsala wines.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, just to whet your appetite,
as well as links to individual towns in Sicily (top left);
See also Sicily hotels (full listings) and our map of Sicily.
