Sicily

Sicily is an autonomous region of Italy, with the largest surface area. It is composed of the large island located in the southern tip of the country and the smaller isles located near and around it. Largely agricultural, it is also a region of Italy that is rich in art, cuisine, and architecture.

Sights & Activities

Those interested to explore some of the ancient sites of Sicily can head out to the city of Agrigento, located in the southern coast of the region. The city was founded by ancient Greeks who call the area Akragras. The ancient city is located in an area called the Valley of the Temples, named because of the presence of seven temples known to be constructed during 6th and 5th centuries BC. It is accessed a short drive south of the city proper. All the temples were constructed in Doric style and some still have parts that are well-preserved. Because of their inherent historical values, the temples are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Visitors can still behold the Temple of Concordia in almost of its entire form, due to the conversion of the structure into a Christian church sometime in the 6th century AD. Catacombs were built in the area around the temple, used by the early Christians. Other temples in the area are the Temple of Giunone, the Temple of Hercules, and the massive Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Another UNESCO World Heritage site is the Villa Roman del Casale, located outside the town of Piazza Armerina. The villa contains numerous Roman mosaics, said to be the most numerous and the most complex in the world. Only some parts of the villa have been excavated, including the atrium, private apartments, thermal baths, and a basilica. It was speculated that the villa served as the administrative center of a latifundium, equivalent to the modern day estate.

Those interested in historic architectural would find the Val di Noto as ideal holiday destination. Located in the southeastern part of Sicily, it is composed of towns that were also included in the UNESCO World Heritage list for the numerous Baroque-style buildings and Baroque art in it. These towns include Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Modica, Catania, Palazzolo Acreide, Noto, Scilcli, and Ragusa.

The administrative center of Sicily is the city of Palermo, located in its northern coast. One of its architectural gems is the San Giuseppe dei Teatini, a 17th century church that is considered a fine example of Sicilian Baroque architecture. Inside are impressive frescoes and stuccoes made by notable artists like Paolo Corso and Guiseppe Velasquez. The church’s most precious artifact, however, is the wooden crucifix made by Fra’ Umile of Petralia. The church is located at the Piazza Pretoria.

Another impressive religious structure in Palermo is the Palatine Chapel, located at the Piazza dei Parliamento. This Byzantine structure bears beautiful mosaics, some dating back to the 12th century. There are also several fine artworks contained within the chapel.

One attraction that is unique to Palermo is the Marionette Museum, located along Via Butera. This museum showcases hundreds of puppets that were used in this form of traditional entertainment. Some of the puppets are considered antiques, originating from the Norman times. There are also puppets collected from other parts of the world.

Those with an interest for the macabre can heads out to the Capuchin Catacombs, accessed via the Piazza Capuchin. This subterranean attraction displays thousands of mummified remains of nobles in the city since the 16th century up to 1920. The mummification process was developed by the Capuchin friars themselves, after which the mummies were hung on the walls dressed in their best clothes.

Weather

Being in the Mediterranean, Sicily enjoys a mild climate, rarely experiencing extreme weather conditions. The coastal areas of the region can get hot during summer, with the temperature cooling as one goes inland, particularly in the mountainous parts. Snow may sometimes occur in high altitude places, though the coastal parts only get an average of 10°C of temperature in winter. Spring brings a much more comfortable temperature, making it the ideal season for visit.