Sicily, or Sicilia as it’s called in Italian, is the soccer ball-shaped southern island of Italy. Tourism to Sicily has increased in recent years, In fact, the island welcomed 5.5 million tourists in 2023, which was a 14.5% increase from 2022, according to this Reuters article. For comparison, the island’s total population is 4.8 million.
Italy is already well known for attracting visitors for its history, architecture, food (oh, the food), scenic views, and people. Still, just what is it that draws more and more visitors to Sicily? And how does it compare to visiting other parts of Italy? Italy Dreams wanted to explore these questions a little further to help give you guidance for your next trip planning to Sicily. Andiamo!
- Sicily blends together an amazing mix of cultures.
Over time, Sicily was conquered by a massive mix of civilizations, including the Arabs, Greeks, Normans, Romans, the Spanish, and more.
“The result is a fascinating Mediterranean mosaic, a cultural ‘cocktail’ that is worth the journey,” says Daniele Panzarin, CEO of the Venice-based destination marketing company (DMC) Target Travel, which specializes in tailored and luxury travel experiences around Italy.
So, you’ll see this blend of cultures in Greek ruins in places like the Temple of Segesta, the Middle Eastern couscous dishes found around the island but especially in Trapani, and more. And Italian influences? Yes! There are many of those, too, of course. Yet you’ll often find people from Sicily identify first as Sicilian because of their unique history and heritage.
2. You’ve got all types of geography in a relatively small space.
Whether you want mountains or lovely beaches, small towns or bigger cities, you can find it in Sicily. For good measure, there’s a volcano thrown in there as well–the famous Mount Etna. “Locals simply call it ‘a Muntagna,’ or ‘the Mountain,’” Panzarin says. “It’s the island’s symbol, its heartbeat and soul, ever-present in the lives of Sicilians.”
You may be able to find this blend in other Italian regions, but it’s often surprising to people that so much geographical diversity is available in a relatively small space. If you were to drive straight through from east to west, it would take you about 3 ½ hours or north to south in 2 ½ hours, for context.
“Compared to other regions, Sicily really offers everything: culture, great food, ancient history, beautiful natural landscapes, the sea, and volcanoes,” says Manuela Mocci, operator of Byways of Italy, a Rome-based DMC that creates customized Italy travel itineraries. Plus, friendly people, she adds.
3. The food experience is off the charts.
Let’s be fair. The food experience anywhere in Italy will likely be off-the-charts delicious. This may not be that different from elsewhere in Italy, but the quantity and quality in Sicily can still be a shock.
“You can eat delicious food all over Italy, but in Sicily the portions are huge, and the variety is just as impressive,” Mocci says. We won’t judge if you choose to eat a huge portion!
There’s also a major connection to eating local. “Sicilian cuisine is a celebration of authenticity and deep ties to the land,” Panzarin says. “It’s always been a zero-kilometer cuisine, and often even less. Many trattorias and restaurants cook with produce from their own gardens or from local farmers.”
Here are just some of the Sicilian foods you can try (we’ll explore these in more detail in a future article):
- Arancine, or rice balls
- Sfincione, a thick and spongy pizza often served as street food
- Cannoli, the famous dessert item stuffed with fresh ricotta and topped with chocolate chips or pistachio (heaven help us, those must be so good)
- Marsala dessert wine (Sicily has many wineries for various types of wine)
- Pistachios, which are grown near Mount Etna
- Blood oranges
- Granita, a shaved ice dessert that’s sometimes also eaten for breakfast in the summer
- Couscous alla Trapense (a couscous dish)
- Pasta con le sarde, or pasta with sardines and fennel (as you may imagine, there are many fish and seafood dishes here)
- Pasta alla norma, a pasta with tomato sauce and fried eggplant
- All sorts of sweet treats with funny names, just too numerous to list here
Hungry yet? We are!
Street food is well-known in Sicily. “It’s an authentic, affordable, and delicious way to experience Sicilian flavors, much more common than in many Italian regions,” Mocci says.
4. There are lots of smaller islands that you can explore.
When you think of Sicily, you probably think of the main island. Yet did you know that there are several islands that you can visit? They include the Aeolian Islands (made of seven islands, each with its own unique character), Ustica, the Egadi Islands, the Pelagie Islands, and Pantelleria. These islands are accessible by boat or ferry with varying distances from Sicily. For instance, Ustica is 60 kilometers from Palermo (on Sicily’s west coast), while Pantelleria is a six-hour ferry ride from Trapani. If you want a more remote experience, consider checking out one of these islands.
Tips for Your Sicily Visit
Now that you know more about Sicily and perhaps you’re searching online for flights there, we wanted to share a few tips for trip planning. Here are a few suggestions to ensure you’ll have a great trip to Sicily:
- Consider joining a tour. Although Sicily is safe and you can explore it on your own, there’s something to be said about relying on expert guidance. “A thoughtfully planned itinerary or a local guide allows you to experience its soul through art, history, and cuisine,” Panzarin says. Doing a tour also can save you planning time, if you don’t have the time or patience to map out an itinerary for yourself and your travel companions.
- Think about weather. Just like anywhere in the world, weather is a factor for your visit. Most agree that the best times to visit are mid-September, October, and the spring months. July and August can be tough because of how hot it gets. However, this doesn’t mean you should rule out a winter visit. “Traveling from November to March can still be a good option because prices are lower, there are fewer crowds, and the weather is still mild,” Mocci says. Just find out the schedule in advance of any must-see destinations, as sites often have fewer hours in off-season.
- Consider renting a car outside of the cities. Highway driving in Sicily is usually easy, so it’s common for visitors to rent a car and explore more. However, travel experts often advise against renting a car when in bigger cities like Palermo and Catania as driving there can be chaotic. Driving also can be a challenge in some mountainous areas with hairpin turns. You can use trains or buses to some extent in Sicily, but options may be limited compared with other Italian regions. A private drive is another option, although it will cost more.
- Learn a little bit of Italiano. This is always helpful when traveling in Italy for obvious reasons. Yet compared to big cities like Florence, Rome, or Venice, knowing a little Italian can be even more helpful. In some Sicilian small towns, English may be less common. “Locals will appreciate the effort, and small towns are amazing,” Mocci says. The Sicilian language is also widely spoken in Sicily; it has its own distinct grammar and pronunciation from Italian.
- Consider using guidebooks in addition to online videos and articles for Sicily info. Rick Steves Sicily and the Lonely Planet Sicily guide are particularly useful.
- Have fun! “People are generally more open, friendly, and curious towards visitors,” Mocci says. “This attitude is very present, most locals are welcoming, helpful, and generally interested in others.”
In future articles, we’ll share more details about Sicily’s specific destinations and, of course, the food. Ci vediamo in Sicilia/see you in Sicily!
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