Palermo is the capital of Sicily, notorious for its mafia glamour. All organized crime aside, Palermo has plenty to offer to the intrepid visitor. Palermo`s Arab-Norman buildings are unique on Earth. There are also plenty of treasures to uncover in i ... more

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, notorious for its mafia glamour. All organized crime aside, Palermo has plenty to offer to the intrepid visitor. Palermo`s Arab-Norman buildings are unique on Earth. There are also plenty of treasures to uncover in its rather forgotten museums. Arabic and North African influences are still visible in outdoors markets such as Vuccirria, and an interesting mélange of Arab, Byzantine, Norman and baroque architectural styles are visible to the trained eye.  (close)

Agrigento, Sicily, was built on top of the ancient Greek colony town of Akragas. It is home to the amazing "Valley of the Temples", a site hosting some of the greatest Greek ruins in the world. Listed as a World Heritage Site, these ruins are ... more

Agrigento, Sicily, was built on top of the ancient Greek colony town of Akragas. It is home to the amazing "Valley of the Temples", a site hosting some of the greatest Greek ruins in the world. Listed as a World Heritage Site, these ruins are some of the best preserved Greek ruins outside Greece proper. Roman and Gothic buildings are also present, but the town`s main attraction remains its Greek heritage.  (close)

Syracuse (Siracusa, in Italian), is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, and was once considered one of the most impressive cities in the Greek World, competing for supremacy with Athens and even taking on the rising powers of Rome and Cart ... more

Syracuse (Siracusa, in Italian), is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, and was once considered one of the most impressive cities in the Greek World, competing for supremacy with Athens and even taking on the rising powers of Rome and Carthage. The multi-millennia decline is rather visible, and the Old City probably the only worth visiting on the small island of Ortygia, abundant in ancient ruins, as well as medieval and baroque buildings.  (close)

Taormina dates back to the 4th century BC, when it was a Greek colony. Dimmed the most beautiful town in Sicily for its location on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea with Mount Etna in the background, it achieved international fame in th ... more

Taormina dates back to the 4th century BC, when it was a Greek colony. Dimmed the most beautiful town in Sicily for its location on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea with Mount Etna in the background, it achieved international fame in the early 20th century when it became a huge magnet for expatriate writers and intellectuals. Countless stores and cafes, along with numerous piazzas and palazzi dating as far back as the 15th century will give you plenty to do and see while visiting.  (close)

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, notorious for its mafia glamour. All organized crime aside, Palermo has plenty to offer to the intrepid visitor. Palermo`s Arab-Norman buildings are unique on Earth. There are also plenty of treasures to uncover in i ... more

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, notorious for its mafia glamour. All organized crime aside, Palermo has plenty to offer to the intrepid visitor. Palermo`s Arab-Norman buildings are unique on Earth. There are also plenty of treasures to uncover in its rather forgotten museums. Arabic and North African influences are still visible in outdoors markets such as Vuccirria, and an interesting mélange of Arab, Byzantine, Norman and baroque architectural styles are visible to the trained eye.  (close)