Destination
Type of Activity
Editors Pick
Read MoreAgrigento: Valley of the Temples
This world-renowned archeological site is a must for travelers interested in Greek history. Divided into an eastern and western zone, the 3,000-acre park boasts eight temples, including the stunning Concordia Temple (the model for the UNSECO logo), which has survived...
Photo by Melissa Biggs Bradley, courtesy IndagareRead MoreBaglio Occhipinti Winery
This is a special winery in a region that is known for its female winemakers and its natural wines. Wine tastings are held in the beautiful main building, and there is a high chance you will meet one of the...
Read MoreBaroque Towns: Noto, Modica, Ragusa
There are eight late Baroque towns in Sicily’s southeast, but the main ones to visit are Noto, Ragusa and Modica. After an earthquake practically leveled these towns in 1693, they were rebuilt in a style that mimics the late Baroque...
Read MoreCaltagirone
The epicenter of ceramics in southeastern Sicily, Caltagirone can be visited en route to Palazzo Amerina. The piece de resistance is a massive staircase whose steps are all lined in the region’s ceramics, done traditionally in swirls of blues, greens...
Read MoreCappella Palatina (Palazzo dei Normanni)
One of Sicily's most-visited sights is the intimate chapel at Palermo's Norman Palace. Commissioned by Roger II in 1130 (but recently restored), the chapel is a breathtaking, multi-tired room of floor-to-ceiling mosaics, inlaid marble floors and a stunning, painted wooden...
Read MoreChiesa di Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (La Martorana)
Another one of Palermo's Byzantine extravaganzas, this centrally located church was originally conceived as a mosque. The gilded mosaics, created by Greek craftsmen in the 12th century, are devastatingly beautiful, making the fact that half the church was turned in...
Read MoreChiesa Immacolata Concezione
The interiors of this unassuming church, smack in the middle of the Capo market between vegetable and seafood stalls, are a prime example of the Sicilian Baroque style. Barely an inch has been left uncovered. It's adorned floor-to-ceiling with marble...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Baroque Towns
While you can easily explore the late Baroque towns of Sicily's southeastern part by yourself, driving in these hilltop villages can be a bit daunting. Those who just want to enjoy the views, as opposed to white-knuckle along tiny hairpin...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Cooking Classes
Sicilian food has a wealth of influences, from Greek to Arabic, and its culinary scene is an absolute delight to explore. Visitors who want to learn how to prepare the deceptively simple, flavorful dishes can sign up for a one-...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Etna Hiking
Brooding, smoldering Mount Etna dominates the entire northeastern region of Sicily. Driving from Taormina towards the south, the recognizable crater seems to follow you, appearing in your rearview mirror like an imposing character from a fairy tale. Outdoor enthusiasts should...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Etna Wineries
Mount Etna's lava-black slopes are rich in minerals, and its verdant landscapes produce top-rated wines. Winery visits are normally by-appointment-only and should be organized well in advance. If you don't speak Italian, it helps to have a guide who can...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Palermo
What's true in most urban centers is doubly so in Palermo: the city is best explored with a guide who can take you off the beaten path and point out the glorious details that make up this hodge-podge of a...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: Temple Tour
Sicily's western trio of Greek cities (today, incredible archeological sites) is made up of Agrigento and Selinunte (both on the southern coast) as well as Segesta, further north and a 1-hour drive from Palermo. With its Concordia Temple, which has...
Read MoreMonreale Cathedral
Anyone staying in or passing through Palermo should stop at Monreale. The town's massive cathedral is one of the world's best examples of Norman architecture, and its interiors—the entire interior surface save for a few small marble areas—are decorated with...
Photo by Melissa Biggs Bradley, courtesy IndagareRead MorePalazzo Butera
This massive 18th-century palace on Palermo’s harbor has been restored and turned into an incredible museum or "cultural laboratory" by an Italian couple, Francesca Agnelli and Massimo Valsecchi, who purchased the building in 2016 and spent a fortune restoring it...
Photo by Melissa Biggs Bradley, courtesy IndagareRead MorePalazzo Castelluccio
The town of Noto is known as one of the most beautiful Baroque towns in existence, and its Baroque buildings are impressive, but the town is also super charming. Not to be missed is Palazzo Castelluccio, an amazing 18th-century Sicilian...
Read MorePalermo Markets
Though not as famous as Catania's fish market, the three Palermo mercati are nonetheless worth a visit. Vucciria used to be the biggest, but nowadays, the neighborhood is crumbling and the market has folded depressingly in on itself, with just...
Read MoreSyracuse & Ortygia
A one-hour drive south from the Catania International Airport, historic Syracuse was the first city settled by the Greeks in 733 BC. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has one of the world's best-preserved Greek theaters, as well...
Read MoreTeatro Massimo
This sprawling neoclassical opera house is one of Europe's largest (clocking in after Vienna's and Paris'). Naturally its history is full of drama and strife: it originally took more than twenty years to build, and between 1974 and 1997, it...
Read MoreTrip Extension: Aeolian Islands
Visitors to Sicily can easily escape to the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago that is made up of seven islands of varying size. Most popular are Panarea and Salina, though the imposing Stromboli volcano also beckons with its cone shape...
Read MoreVendicari Nature Reserve
Located in a prime location between Syracuse and Marzamemi, in easy driving distance to Noto, this stunning nature reserve is a good spot for spending a day by the sea. Imagine 3,700-plus acres of rolling dunes, lagoons, sandy beaches and...
Read MoreVilla Romana del Casale
Located in the town of Piazza Armerina, this Roman villa has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2002. It’s known for expansive mosaics that were buried for centuries and are therefore among the world's best-preserved. The villa...
