Sicilia - A Mediterranean pearl

Villa Tellus - Siracus

Sicily Cultural Bounty

With Sicily’s beaches, mountains, parks, and sister islands you could stay busy for a week without even touching on its cultural bounty. That said, you just can’t miss out on the incredibly rich historical record written with stone on this island. By the way, renting a villa is a wonderful way to explore the regions an dlive as a local. There are too many archaeological sites to mention here, but consider one of these as a starting point, then move on to the cathedrals before you relax on the beach:

Ortigia - Siracusa

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Incredible Archaelogical sites

Teatro Greco-Romano—Built in 4 BC by the Greeks and renovated as an amphitheatre under Roman rule, this Corinthian-columned space continues to host opera and theatrical performances with a magnificent Mediterranean view in the background. Be sure check out the Festival Taormina Arte, set on this historic stage, which runs from May to August with dance, music, and theatrical shows.
Tempio & Teatro Greco di Segesta—This limestone beauty is comprised of 36 columns, which are all excellently preserved though the temple was inexplicably never completed around them. The restored theatre stands nearby and also draws the eye with its expansive view.
Parco Archeologico della Neapolis—In Syracuse, you’ll find the largest Greek Theater on the island, which summons visions of the powerful culture that once thrived here and rivaled Athens in its heyday. Classical plays are still performed in this stunning historical setting.
Villa Romana del Casale—The most impressive parts of this sprawling villa are its 37,700 sq. ft. of intricate mosaics that illustrate the hunting and athletic practices in the Roman way of life over two millennia ago.

Villa Bianco - Trapani

Splendid Cathedrals to visit from your Villa rental

Oratorio del Rosario di San Domenico—This Palermo cathedral is adorned with sculptures and elaborate biblical scenes depicted with inlaid marble and mother-of-pearl in the Rococo style
Monreale Duomo—Monreale’s 12th century church has both Arabic and Norman characteristics and with 21,000 sq. ft. of mosaics, it is described as one of the loveliest churches in all of Italy.

Wonderful beaches

Lido Mazzaro—To reach this beach you’ll take the funicular from the arty village of Taormina and descend the 15 minute stretch to the beach. This area has a resort atmosphere with bars, restaurants, and umbrellas, chaise lounges, and water sports equipment for rent. Picturesque Isola Bella, “the pearl of the Ionian Sea”, is a tiny island and nature reserve off this beach which is connected at low tide by a small strip of sand. There’s good snorkeling around it too.
Giardini-Naxos,—Here’s a spot near Taormina between Capo Taormina and Capo Schisò for great swimming and water sports, and nice little restaurants along the beach.
Mondello Lido—Soft white sand and wonderful seafood restaurants await you at this beach which is just 9 km outside Palermo.
Spiaggia Sabbie Nere—For something different, head out by boat to Vulcano, one of the Aeolian Islands, where you’ll find the striking black sand beach of Spiaggia Sabbie Nere.

Villa Scicli - Ragusa

Sicilian Delicacies you must try

Seafood is an important and primary staple here, as is the case on many islands. However, since pork and beef are raised on inland farms, you’ll also see them listed as menu choices as well. Like in the rest of Italy, pasta is king and durum wheat represents a good percentage of Sicily’s crops.

With its diverse cultural history, it isn’t surprising that many foods that are served throughout Sicily have roots in foreign lands. Legend has it that Arabs fetched down snow from Mt. Etna, flavored it with sugarcane and jasmine, and presented it as the first granita! Consider these imports:

Arabian sugarcane, raisins, oranges, and lemons
Greek olives and grapes, along with pruning and wine-making techniques
Spanish tomatoes and figs

Sicilian coastline fishermen

Some of our favorite Sicilian specialties

In Sicilian restaurants, here are several dishes you are likely to see:

Caponata—an antipasto dip made with eggplant, olive, tomato, and garlic
Arancini—a mixture of rice and a variety of fillings including cheese,prosciutto, and vegetables, which is formed into balls and deep fried
Spaghetti alle Seppie—spaghetti with a sauce of black cuttlefish ink
Insalata di Mare—a seafood salad of squid, octopus, clams, and carrots

Villa Viagrande - Catania

Wine and other drinks

Sicily is also a large producer of wine, of which up to 70% is white. Probably the best known beverage here is a regional liqueur called Amaro Averna, which continues to delight locals with its characteristic bittersweet taste, and still made from its original 19th century recipe. Citrus peels, herbs, and caramel comprise its ingredients. You can try it served on the rocks and you may see it as a cocktail component.

Well, fellow travelers, this concludes our whirlwind tour of Sicily. I hope these descriptions have enticed you and that Sicily has earned a spot on your list of places to visit!