Why go en Sicile?
The good reasons to go en Sicile
Active volcanoes to watch
Etna and Stromboli, volcanoes in eruption with incandescent lava, are easily observed.
Dream beaches
Favignana, Syracuse and the Zingaro reserve boast wonderful turquoise beaches.
Greco-Roman temples to visit
Especially in Agrigento, the monumental Valley of the Temples is incredible.
Islands frozen in time
Charming and picturesque, the Aeolian Islands have remained on the fringe of the city's tumult.
A gastronomy full of flavours
Sicily is a land of epicureans and slow food enthusiasts, and offers a plethora of local recipes.
A charismatic, jovial people
Sicilians are friendly, joking and talk with their hands!
Unique mineral wines
Wines from Marsala, Nero d'Avola, Etna and the Aeolian Islands are all highly reputed.
Incredibly beautiful cities
Palermo, Syracuse and Catania, but also Ragusa, Noto, Cefalù, are historical jewels.
An affordable and nearby destination
One plane ride and you're there! The low cost companies serve Palermo as well as Catania.
Contrasting landscapes
Their diversity is rich, the surroundings of Etna have nothing to do with the rest of the island.
Good to know when visiting la Sicile
Timetable
The opening hours of museums and tourist offices are similar to those in France. The same goes for churches and cathedrals. Many cultural institutions are closed on Mondays.
To be booked
The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the archaeological park of Neapolis in Syracuse are the two historical sites that should be booked online in advance to avoid waiting in line for the entrance. It is strongly recommended to book a guided climb or excursion to Mount Etna and Mount Stromboli, especially in high season, as the guides are very busy.
Budget & Tips
Admission generally varies from €2 to €10. Discounts are available for under-18s from all over the European Union, over-65s and students. What's more, since 2015, most museums have been taking part in the ministerial #DomenicalMuseo initiative, which offers free admission to museums (but also archaeological parks, monuments, galleries and gardens) every first Sunday of the month.
Main events
Heritage Days, a Europe-wide event that opens the usually closed doors of historic monuments and buildings to the public, are known in Italy as "Giornata FAI di Primavera" in June and "Giornata FAI d'Autunno" in October.
Guided tours
Etna and the Aeolian Islands are the main destinations for treks that require a guide and logistic organization. Indispensable for volcano ascents.
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Discover la Sicile
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, ahead of Sardinia and Malta, has been a land of great strategic importance since antiquity. Colonized by the Greeks, then the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Normans, the Spaniards, and other invaders afterwards, it has forged its history, its identity, its architecture and its people in this fascinating civilizational mille-feuille. Discover its history, its population, its ways of life, its arts and crafts, its natural resources, its religions and beliefs... But also its geography, its natural wealth to better understand this destination with its picturesque and surprising facets and prepare your stay with useful knowledge. The volcanism of the island, or rather of its smoking giant Etna and its little brother Stromboli, is a specific attraction of the destination that we detail in these pages.
