On a map, Sicily is the soccer ball Italy kicks. Though Sicily shares an identity with Italy today, the island was not always Italian. In fact, the Mediterranean island has a history as its own country before the fusion with the Republic of Italy in 1861. Today, Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island and the largest part of Italy, but its unique location grants it different landmarks and experiences than those on Italy’s mainland. The region’s unique backstory enhances the region’s most stunning locations. 

1. Palermo

Sicily’s capital, Palermo, is flush with the Tyrrhenian Sea on the northwestern tip of the island. The focal Palermo Cathedral protects royal tombs and serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese. The cathedral has a strong focus on the Virgin Mary’s entrance into heaven. The church’s physical (artistic and architectural) makeup points to its development through the centuries. The church features a blend of Neoclassical, Baroque, Norman, and Gothic designs which also points to the transfer of leadership and Sicily’s identity shifts. 

The Quattro Canti in Palermo is a 24/7 baroque-styled courtyard translating to four corners. According to Sicilian residents, the four corners represent the four seasons, each adorned with a separate, intricate fountain. 

From a bird’s eye view, Palermo appears as a palaced city with a heavy appreciation for Baroque architecture. Countless domes dot the horizon, next to an array of pastel-colored buildings, all dancing on the light blue Gulf of Palermo. 

2. Teatro Antico di Taormina

The Teatro Antico di Taormina is a Greek theater that underwent construction in the third century. The Greeks opened the theater for the presentation for remarkable shows. Six centuries later, following Roman occupation, the theater morphed into a gladiator arena. The theater is divided into three main focal points. The scene, the orchestra, and the cavea. Today, the scene (the stage) and the orchestra blend together into a sand pit with a hole in the middle of the stage. The rock seats surround the scene, and the orchestra faces the Ionian Sea. Remnants of rocky archways circle the outer portion of the Taormina, though little of the original pillars and columns remains in the theater.

3. Zingaro Natural Reserve

After years of pushback and fighting for protection, The Zingaro Natural Reserve is the first Sicilian reserve to snag administration from the Regional Enterprise State Forests. The protected space sprawls from the Western Gulf of Castellammare, a gorgeous cerulean inlet in Sicily overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, to the San Vito lo Capo peninsula. 

Panning back from a zoomed-in shot of the reserve, a curvature of dolomitic rocks coasts the skirts of the reserve. Aside the rock wall, see-through water laps on the shore. Above the water, eagles and falcons make their mandatory loops over the terrain, while hedgehogs and lizards meander through the grassy areas. Other animals like bats, butterflies, weasels, and snakes pop into hikers’ views every so often. 

Visitors choose from a vast selection of activities to deepen their understanding of the Zingaro Reserve. A snorkeling feat showcases the eclectic life dwelling beneath the waters (coral, mullet, wrasse, and damselfish entertain). Boat tours permit the tourists to learn about the protected site from local experts while basking in the light breeze. Hikers witness Zingaro in its prime. Adventurers stand atop the mountain, peering down at the miraculous blue waterways crashing into the steep rock walls. All that occurs as countless species of bats, birds, and other wildlife prowl around you. 

4. Catania

Catania is a real-life example of a phoenix. After a dusting of soot and several eruptions, the city bounced back from ash to a bustling hotspot. Snug against the bottom of Mount Etna is a rustic port city bursting with a variety of pleasantries for all travelers. The location of the city opens up an astounding glimpse of Mount Etna, a famous active volcano attracting thousands of visitors annually. Adventure-seekers trek up the trails to the volcano, coming face to face with fire through their walks. Catania garners its nickname from its unique location at the base of the volcano. Since the town lies on the bottom of the volcano, residents refer to their hometown as “the black city”, thanks to the volcanic stone used to craft the buildings. 

A large part of Sicilian architecture reveals its numerous occupants over the past several generations, displaying elements of Baroque architecture and trails of Roman ruins. Catania breathes Baroque architecture, with basilicas, monasteries, and city squares flexing their mastery of the elaborate, intricate movement. Centered in The Piazza del Duomo, or Catania’s central city square, is the symbol of the Sicilian city, a volcanic rock fountain in the shape of an elephant. A saddle branded with an Egyptian obelisk occupies the elephant's back. Catanian legend believes this elephant harvests magical powers and a psychic sense related to Mount Etna’s eruptions. A bronze-hued church honoring  Sant’Agata, Catania’s patron saint, neighbors the elephant. The church gains its coloring through the fusion of stone and lava that create the building blocks of the cathedral, which mimic the moonlight. The church hosts an annual celebration of Saint Agatha each February. 

Illustrious composer Vincenzo Bellini called Catania his birthplace, and centuries after his death, his hometown celebrates his life through the Teatro Bellini. The opera theater dedicates its live works to Bellini’s legacy, performing his masterworks around a statue erected in his image. Inside the theater, the ceilings arch over murals inspired by Bellini’s compositions. Guests enter the theater to glimpse into his life, but they leave the opera house captivated. 

5. Mount Etna

Did you know that the most active stratovolcano in the world is also the tallest active volcano in Europe? A stratovolcano possesses the characteristics of a cone, starting as a wide mount and thinning out near the pointy summit. Gas becomes trapped inside the magma, bubbling up for intense, sometimes fatal eruptions. Despite Mount Etna’s active status, the site attracts tourists to the spectacle.

Secured cable cars transfer riders up over the volcanic craters, providing them with an aerial view of the 11,000-foot natural phenomenon. Test the hands of fate, as the cable cars have undergone around five rebuilds and rehabilitations from the volcanic eruptions. Will it erupt while you’re in the sky? A tamer solution to witness the volcano is a hike around the premises. A tour guide unravels the history of the Sicilian centerfold for interested explorers. Medium-scale dare-devils strap into a 4×4 Jeep for a bumpy ride around the volcanic valley. 

6. Favignana

The largest island of the lesser-known Egadi islands is Favignana, a butterfly-shaped oasis on Sicily’s western coast. The butterfly shape stems from the isthmus sandwiched between wider wings. Azure water implores the island’s visitors to take a boat ride around the Sicilian paradise or dive below the water for unmatched marine life. Scuba divers and snorkelers swim with tuna, whales, turtles, dolphins, sharks, eels, and octopus, experiencing a clear view of the animals thanks to the unclouded water. Anglers head onto the waters to catch the island’s heavy amounts of red tuna. Prime tuna season occurs between May and June. Fishermen set out nets beginning in April, collecting them in July.  

7. Noto

Enter through the Sicilian paradise through a renowned arch, otherwise known as the Porta Reale or Arch of Ferdinand II. Arch of Ferdinand II reflects three noble symbols of Noto: the pelican, the dog, and the tower. The pelican nods to self-sacrifice: in lore, pelicans would injure themselves so their children wouldn’t starve. The dog highlights a symbol of loyalty, and the tower represents strength. 

Enter through this Sicilian portal onto Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the city’s primary street. Every head turn along Corso Vittorio Emanuele introduces visitors to a new feat in Baroque architecture. Marbled buildings swirl through the streets, entrancing visitors with the Noto Cathedral and the Palazzo Ducezio. The Noto Cathedral flairs its Sicilian baroque design as a bright-demeanored building focusing on curves and ornate statues. 

The Palazzo Ducezio, or Noto’s branch of city hall, is another perfect representation of Sicilian baroque architecture. Curvaceous steps lead up to the entrance of the golden building. On either side of the first-floor archways, pillars pop up, adding a sturdy layer to the municipal building. Inside the palace, pristine tile floors lead to the fresco masterpieces of Greek myths dancing inside the ballroom.  

8. Modica

Flashback hundreds of years with a view of Modica’s storybook design. The city’s infrastructure exhibits pastel orange and yellow baroque buildings, all dwelling near the Marina di Modica, a windsurfer’s dream. The city of Modica fosters a giant reputation as a creator and distributor of chocolate. The city’s history contributes to the chocolate’s delectable, unperturbed taste. When Spain invaded Sicily, one of the ideas they transferred to Modica was the creation of chocolate. 

Travelers who despise taking trains to a destination and a bus to the next revel in the fact that Modica is a walking city. Therefore, you can eat a bar of Modican chocolate while you admire the Sicilian baroque architecture spanning through the Modica Bassa, the lower area of Modica.  Within the Modica Bassa, the city boasts a chocolate museum dedicated to informing visitors of the hand-made chocolate craft. The museum also showcases life-size sculptures made out of the mouthwatering material. 

9. Valley of Temples

Almond trees bespeckle the valley that honors the Greek gods. Eight complete temples worshipping Concordia, Hera, Zeus, Heracles, Castor, Pollux, Hephaestus, Demeter, and Asclepius formulate the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best-preserved temple, the one attached to every Google image search of the Valley of Temples, is the Temple of Concordia. Six Doric columns hold up the front and back sides of the religious monument, and thirteen columns perimeter the sides. Concordia is the Greek Goddess of harmony, intriguing considering her temple was preserved through weather and withering. 

Hera’s (Juno’s) temple takes after Hellenic architecture, attaching pillars and columns to the goddess of marriage, family, and children. The largest Doric temple ever constructed, Zeus’s, echoed God’s image. Zeus is the king of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky. Zeus’s temple differs from the others in that his temple contains a stone carving of a man, exemplifying Zeus’s unlimited power.

10. Caltagirone

Caltagirone charms visitors with its extensive display of ceramics. Locals nickname Caltagirone the city of Sicilian ceramics for its multitude of clay creations scattered throughout the city. Caltagirone’s ceramic collection flexes its Sicilian heritage by favoring sage green and yellow, two colors representative of Sicily. 

Caltagirone residents embellish their living quarters with ceramic plates, vases, and the famous Sicilian pinecone. Multicolored pinecones pop up around Caltagirone, each symbolizing good fortune and immortality. Another feature popular in Caltagirone is the ceramic head. Two stories explain the lore related to these prominent heads prevalent all around Sicily. One finds a legend of a jealous girl who killed her lover after finding out he had a family aside from her. She chopped his head off, turning the decapitation into a basil vase. Soon, her neighbors noticed the beauty emanating from the vase and produced replicas. The other legend describes forbidden lovers both beheaded by their families. The maddened families created vases out of their heads, hanging them on their properties to caution others to stay away from forbidden love affairs. According to Visit Sicily, the latter legend explains why artists mold the ceramic heads in pairs. 

Visit The Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte for a public display of Caltagirone’s ceramic work. Two ceramic shops rise up on either side of the 142-step staircase. Hundreds of tiles latch together, forming patterned ceramic linings on each stair. Upon construction, the staircase attached the older city buildings to the modern buildings and establishments. Today, the staircase is a monument of its own. 

11. Rabbit Beach

From a geographical standpoint, Rabbit Beach is closer to Africa than Italy, so the weather picks up after Africa’s patterns, not Europe's. Rabbit Island is a stranger to rain and a best friend with intense heat. While select tourists prefer the milder, temperate beaches of Sicily, some love the radiant heat and dry weather. The beach mimics other Sicilian beaches with a crystalline complexion and sugar sand, plus loggerhead turtles lay their eggs on the shore. Don’t fret, the turtles are immensely protected as Rabbit Beach is a part of the Island of Lampedusa Natural Reserve. Swimming is the only water activity permitted in this chapter of the Mediterranean. Keeping human activity to a minimum enhances the animal’s safety, forcing visitors to take a moment and breathe in Rabbit Beach’s wondrous setting.

12. Cefalu

Cefalu’s renowned status hails from its history, of course, but also, its megalithic walls. A megalithic wall is a thick stone fortress bordering the entire coastal city with a layer of protection. Another rocky eye-catch is the Rocca di Cefalu, the notable limestone cliff materializing in the center of Cefalu. A Greek myth believes the rock represents a man transformed into an eternal rock as a punishment for hurting Juno’s daughter. A portion of “Cinema Paradiso” was filmed in Cefalu, panning over Rocca di Cefalu.

A gathering of gray steps leads up to the daunting Duomo di Cefalu. A black gate threads the entrance, protecting two statues preceding the Norman-Arab place of worship. Symmetrical pillars flank the open archways on the building’s front side. Within the cathedral’s walls, stained glass windows and complex Byzantine mosaics of Mary and Jesus add to the religious aura. The Northern Italian city recognizes The Tyrrhenian Sea as home base. The translucent, cerulean water delights travelers with impeccable windsurfing, swimming, tanning, and paragliding conditions.