10 must see places in Sicily

Sicily is not only the largest island in the Mediterranean - it is the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean. Tourists love it for its wonderful landscapes, over 300 sunny days a year, the temperature that rarely drops below 20°C during the day, the famous - and still active - Etna volcano, stunning beaches, hospitable and warm inhabitants and delicious food. Anyone who has been here once will probably come back.

It is difficult to list all the places worth visiting, but you can try to establish a strict (though of course subjective) list of the 10 "best". Check if what we found interesting matches your experience.

What to see around Trapani

The north-western areas of Sicily are dotted with atmospheric villages, old ports and beaches where you can relax, sunbathe and admire the sunsets. Those who plan to explore this area and love independent travel will probably want to find a campsite. Sicily has a lot to offer in this regard. Although those vacationing in the eastern part of the island have the greatest choice, caravanners have also been considered in the north. Waiting for them, among others, year-round Camping Village la Pineta , located less than 40 km (east) from the capital of the region, Trapani. It invites you to plots, rooms and bungalows. There is also a restaurant serving classic Sicilian cuisine.

Tourists who love active recreation will be especially pleased with the choice of this campsite. There are numerous sports equipment rentals (including bicycles, sailboats, diving and windsurfing equipment), a tennis court and sports fields.

San Vito Lo Capo – the most beautiful beach

Village la Pineta is less than a kilometer from one of the most beautiful corners of Sicily. What are we talking about? About San Vito Lo Capo , the beach surrounding the town of the same name. The town is not the oldest - most of the buildings come from the 18th century, although you can also find traces of settlement from the 4th century BC, but there is a beach... Loose white sand, azure water, vast shallows and palm trees... The landscape resembles the tropics , so no one is surprised that in the peak season it is difficult to find a free place here. If someone would like to admire the beauty of San Vito Lo Capo without the crowds, it is best to visit in May or April. The water is not as warm as in summer, but you can enjoy the views in peace.

In numerous rankings, the beach is considered the most beautiful in Italy and even in all of Europe. It stretches on a promontory jutting out into the Tyrrhenian Sea, between the Zingaro and Monte Cofano reserves. The latter is often visited by walkers, cyclists, alpinists and climbers who want to see the caves, quarries, defensive towers and shrines standing among the lush maquis.

Scopello – a settlement from the past

45 km from the campsite, on the southern edge of Zingaro, there is a small town that looks as if time had stopped there at the beginning of the 20th century. This is a charming Scopello , built on the site of a former Arab homestead, around a former farm (Baglio). Once upon a time, the so-called tonnara, a tuna processing plant, and today it is a private area that can be visited for a fee (a separate part). However, the beach is generally accessible and is crowded with vacationers during the season. Faraglioni di Scopello, located in a beautiful bay, can be accessed from two sides: from the land and from the sea. This is how tourists who set off by boat from San Vito Lo Capo often come here. Around the bay there are stately defensive towers from various eras, which once protected the inhabitants against pirates.

Apart from the beach, the town itself is crowded in summer. Visitors sooner or later end up in one of the restaurants or bars located on Baglio or in the square in front of it. There are souvenir shops and a ceramics workshop here. Those who prefer to focus on admiring the landscapes can go beyond the buildings to see the panorama of the Castellammare del Golfo bay. You can also see the green Zingaro reserve below.

Ghosts of the past – Trapani and Erice

Guests of the la Pineta campsite have to cover a roughly similar distance (only from the other, western side of the headland) to reach the next place on the "must see" list. This is Erice , a town located on a hill, over 700 m above sea level. The journey here itself arouses a lot of emotions thanks to the steep and winding climbs. Many people won't need coffee once they get out of the car. But it's worth it, because tourists will see medieval architecture, and every step will be a temptation to reach for the camera and capture the views.

The Trepani Gate leads into the town, and the outlines of the Royal Cathedral can be seen overhead. Above the roofs of the buildings, the silhouette of the Norman Castello di Venere, or Castello Del Bailo, can be seen. The castle is an excellent viewpoint of the entire area - on clear days you can even see Mount Etna from there. In nearby shops you can buy local products such as cheeses, pesto sauces and wines for which Sicily is famous.

Approx. 12 km (taking SP31) separates Erice from Trapani . Its architecture combines the styles of several eras into an intriguing and eye-pleasing mixture. There are legends that claim that the settlement was founded by refugees from Troy. Sicilian diversity is especially visible in the old part, where temples and tenement houses from different historical periods stand next to each other. Interesting balustrades, balconies and decorations on the walls of the buildings catch the eye of walkers. You can feel the appetizing smells everywhere, coming from the restaurants and confectioneries hidden in the narrow streets.

A major attraction are the saline lakes located approximately 3 km from the city. Salt has been mined here since the times of the Phoenicians. Admission is paid, but remember to wear appropriate clothing - it is very windy in the saltwater areas. And if someone loves fish dishes, they should visit the fish port.

After feasting your eyes and taste buds, it's time for the next stage of the journey. We pass Palermo and head to the north-central part of the island.

Cefalù – the city under the hanging rock

Approx. 50 km east of Palermo there is a town that was once one of those settlements that were built for residential and defensive purposes. It fulfilled both functions perfectly - on one side it was surrounded by the sea, on the other it was cut off by a steep cliff. Thanks to this rock formation , Cefalù is sometimes referred to as the city under the hanging rock. When we add walls and fortifications to the natural conditions, we get a powerful medieval fortress that easily protected its inhabitants from enemy attacks.

The city's showcase is the corpulent, squat cathedral dating back to the 12th century, one of the most beautiful on the entire island. The local beaches are also beautiful and have excellent infrastructure. Cefalù itself is beautiful, full of impressive white houses that sit tightly next to each other on narrow and winding streets. It's a picturesque place worth spending more than a few hours there.

And here we come to the issue of accommodation. A good idea would be to stop at Village & Camping Rais Gerbi . The facility is located approx. 14 km west of the town. Holidaymakers have pitches for campers and trailers at their disposal, and they can also rent an igloo-shaped bungalow. The amenities include a seawater swimming pool and a restaurant praised by guests.

Mazara del Vallo – a marvel of baroque architecture

Among typical Italian landscapes you can feel like you are in an Arab country. Here in Sicily. Just visit Mazara del Vallo , one of the largest fishing ports in Italy, located at the mouth of the Maara River, in the western part of the island. The old part of the city (kasbah) is crossed by narrow streets interspersed with arches, giving the impression that we are in Morocco, not Italy. In turn, European influences can be found near the center, where there is a 12th-century cathedral, Piazza della Rebubblica and the town hall.

Mazarra del Vallo will charm anyone who gives it a chance and will not come to the conclusion that it would be better to devote time to larger centers such as Palermo or Syracuse. It is worth taking a leisurely stroll, feeling the specific atmosphere (and not just the smell coming from the port), slowing down and forgetting that you are in Europe.

Camping enthusiasts don't have to look long for them - Sporting Club Village is waiting for them on the outskirts of the city. It offers access to the beach, swimming pools and sports fields, and several accommodation options, from spacious plots to mobile homes and villas.

Southern Sicily

Those who dream of a holiday in the south of Sicily should consider arriving at the beginning of spring. When the almond trees covering it are covered with pink flowers, the island amazes tourists. An additional advantage of a spring trip is pleasant, but not hot weather and no crowds. Where can you stay to have a good starting point for trips? For example, in Viale Emporium (province of Agrigento), where the year-round Camping Valle dei Templi is located, popular among others. by families with children.

There is a restaurant, a swimming pool, a playground and other attractions on its premises. The facility invites guests to plots, rooms, cottages and bungalows. There is also a camping site here.

Agrigento – the last Greek colony in Sicily

Approx. 7 km north of the campsite is the town of Agrigento . In the ancient past, it was a stronghold that was supposed to protect Sicily from the Carthaginians. Today, it is a destination for thousands of tourists and, at the same time, an active archaeological site. During the peak season, there are more visitors than residents on the streets. The most interesting part is the Old Town, covered with a network of streets with stairs leading sometimes down and up.

It is worth getting to know Agrigento before heading to one of the greatest attractions on the island - the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi).

Valle dei Templi – Valley of the Temples

Seven monumental Greek buildings, built around the 6th and 5th centuries BC, are a must-see on the tourist map of Sicily. It was entered into the UNESCO World Heritage Register. Each of the temples in the complex was built in the Doric style and was a place of worship of deities such as Juno, Hercules, Olympian Zeus, Castor and Pollux, as well as Vulcan and Asclepius.

The Archaeological Museum, located approximately 1 km from the valley, collects many artifacts found during the excavations.

Turks Stairs – the whitest white

When we go about 15 km west of Agrigento, we will see an amazing natural rock formation whose color is called by many the whitest of whites. This is Scala dei Turchi, the Stairs of the Turks , an approximately 90-meter high cliff made of limestone sedimentary rock, which gives it its white color. Centuries of erosion and the action of sea waves have given it the characteristic shape of stairs, reminiscent to some of the arena in an amphitheater. The blinding whiteness is due, on the one hand, to the building material (marl), and, on the other hand, to the intense work of the sun, which brightened the naturally gray rock.

There are legends among the inhabitants that in ancient times pirates (Turks - hence the name) moored their ships at the foot of the cliff and then climbed it and plundered the surrounding settlements.

Southeast of Sicily – Ragusa and Modica

Following the southern coast of the island towards the east, after covering approximately 130 km (from Agrigento) we will reach the cities of Ragusa and Modica. The first one is located on the Monte Iblei hill, surrounded by greenery. Like the other towns in the Noto valley, it is distinguished by the extraordinary beauty of its baroque old part. It is an attractive tourist town with European and Arab influences. Many places deserve attention, especially the interior of the Basilica di San Giorgio and the Giardino Ibleo gardens, from which there is a view of Ragusa. It is also worth seeing the Baroque Cosentini Palace and the Church of Santa Maria delle Scale.

Approximately 5 km away, in Contrada Buttino, there is the famous Grotta delle Trabacche, a cave that served as a tomb in Roman times.

The next stage of the trip is Modica , a city located approximately 15 km from Ragusa. Once, due to its strategic location between two gorges, it was one of the most important cities in Sicily. Then earthquakes and floods came, time has left its mark and today the center is no longer as important as it used to be. However, many historic buildings have been preserved there, mainly from the Baroque period.

Those who would like to get to know this area better can stay, for example, at Camping Baia dei Corali . It is located in Punta Braccetto, approximately 30 km southwest of Ragusa. It offers guests fully equipped pitches for campers or trailers. Tourists also have the option of pitching a tent.

Eastern Sicily – a tourist hotspot

Without a doubt, Sicily is a popular holiday destination, but there are places on the island that are more popular than others. To such an extent that during the season it is practically impossible to find accommodation without prior (sometimes much earlier) reservations. Such centers include Taormina , located on the Monte Tauro hill. In the summer, it experiences a real siege - mainly by Italians. Off-peak, the streets are a bit lighter (and a lot cheaper). Wandering through Taormina, we can admire the coast and the Etna volcano visible in the distance. The most famous building is the Greek theater (Via Teatro Greco), perhaps not the largest on the island, but certainly the best situated.

Is there any accommodation for camper owners nearby? Of course, the Lido Paradiso campsite is located about 6 km north. It offers plots, rooms and bungalows for rent.

It is worth mentioning that about 50 km south of Taormina lies Catania , known among others. from the Pescheria fish market, the Elephant Fountain protecting against all disasters, and the largest religious building on the island - the Church of St. Nicholas on Piasek and the Benedictine monastery.

A camper in Sicily

Caravanners know that the freedom of traveling in your own camper cannot be measured in money. Knowing that we can go wherever we want, whenever we want and don't have to worry about having a roof over our heads is a huge plus. We are only limited by time (vacation date) and our own imagination. Best of all, you can also afford it even if you don't have a home on wheels. Nothing stops you from taking advantage of the opportunity offered by renting a camper .

With the help of our ready-made camper routes around Sicily, this trip will be an unforgettable experience. Routes in the form of e-books can be obtained in our store GłosKamperem.pl. " 5 camper routes - Italian islands " is a collection of 5 routes, two of which lead around Sicily.