Sicilia Off The Beaten Path

  Small boats around Ganzirri lake
by lichinga
 
  • Small boats around Ganzirri lake
      Small boats around Ganzirri lake
    by lichinga
  • Favignana
      Favignana
    by caputomaru
  • FIAT 500
      FIAT 500
    by caputomaru
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by isolina_it
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by croisbeauty
 

Most Viewed Off The Beaten Path in Sicilia

1.

The International Puppet Museum   Palermo

The International Puppet Museum, Palermo

 2 Reviews  We were not able to find a puppet show to attend and so this became the next best thing. This is a remarkable exhibit of a preserved "popular tradition". There are hundreds of marionettes & hand... 

 See All 29 Off The Beaten Path in Palermo

2.

Corleone   Palermo

Corleone, Palermo

 1 Review  With all the money that the European Union has poured into Sicily, it is now easy to speed around the island on good, modern roads. But when old Cliffie lived there, aging Fiat buses were trundling... 

 See All 29 Off The Beaten Path in Palermo

3.

Cattacombe dei Cappuccini   Palermo

Cattacombe dei Cappuccini, Palermo

 3 Reviews  The Capuchin Catacombs is something to se if you are interested in mumified or emlamed bodies and the art. It was scary to visit at first and those who have a weak stomach are suggested not to go.... 

 See All 29 Off The Beaten Path in Palermo

4.

Vucciria   Palermo

Vucciria, Palermo

 3 Reviews  We wandered around the market for a while but it was near the end of the morning so traders were starting to pack up. Compared with the little shops we had used in Cefalu, the quality of fruit and... 

 See All 29 Off The Beaten Path in Palermo

5.

Monreale   Palermo

Monreale, Palermo

 2 Reviews  Should I say Monreale is 'off the beaten path'? I hope not, as Monreale's Cathedral is the most important single masterpiece anybody should visit while in Palermo. Monreale is just 15 km away from... 

 See All 29 Off The Beaten Path in Palermo

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro

by mircaskirca

Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro (The Zingaro Nature Reserve) is a real paradise of nature. It's a protected area spread along a spectacular section of coast on the eastern side of the Golfo di Castellamare, where high wall rock, diving into the blue sea, alternate with 7 km string of coves with many stunning beaches. The altitude of its peaks goes from the 610 m of Pizzo Passo del Lupo to the 913 m of Mt. Speziale. From the sea level to the highest peaks you can meet different kinds of ecosystems, all extremely significant. There are two entrances to the reserve: San Vito Lo Capo (Ingresso Nord) and Scopello (Ingresso Sud). At the San Vito entrance (daily April to mid-Sept 7am-8pm; mid-Sept to March 8am-4pm; entrance 3€ - June 2008) you'll find a car park and hiking information. You can pick up a map of the various trails running through the reserve; Scopello is a ten-kilomethre walk...

Tip Photo
Santa Margerita Belice

by fgfi

Santa Margherita Belice is where writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa spent his summer time. The Gattopardo (The Leopard) his novel, is one of my favourite book. Through the story of Prince Tancredi the writer recreates the fascinating atmosphere of Palermo, and Sicily in general, at the time of the princes and barons. Now you can there find ruines of the old church of Tomasi's palace and a literary park.

Tip Photo
Cimitero Vincolato in Palazzolo Acreide

by picek

Palazzolo Acreide is town with long history in Siracusa province. It begins with settlements of Siculians and becomes more developed in Antiquity when Akrai was founded in 664 BC on a plateau over the river Anapo in Iblean mountains. It is now one of the Unesco sites.We didn't look for archeological site this time but we stoped to see this amazing cemetary at the end of town, not far from the main road.Large vaults of old and noble families are the artwork (see intircate stone carving and sculptures from Christian and antique stories) and fine architecture; many are formed into small chapels and are mostly placed by the wall. Graves of other citizens are simplier graves/tombs covered with stone yet carefully designed and maintained. Cemetary is fairly green and shaded with evergreens, especially with cypress trees which soften the contrast to predominant stone material for graves. The...

Tip Photo
Salita Lucio Marineo, Vizzini

by picek

That colorful flight of steps is located in Vizzini city centre, right next to the remarkable Town Hall at centrally located Piazza Umberto I. Some source said they were completed in 1996; like those of Caltagirone the steps are decorated with majolica tiles. If you take a closer look these are mostly floral patterns, but also scenes from daily life, faces and architecture. It doesn't take hard climb to the top of the stairs where they enter narrow, stone paved street. From there you may continue walking upwards and later return back to the Piazza through some of another side streets - very pleasant ones with lots of history and fine details - and not at all crowded with traffic and people (in the afternoon - but if you wait for evening then it may be different). Back at Piazza you can also notice Verga's House, another nice piece of architecture.2nd photo: walking further from Salita...

Tip Photo
Vizzini, small and charming

by picek

If we weren't missed the sign for Caltagirone we'd probably give that place a miss but I am glad we didn't - we landed with the car directly at its charming core, the Piazza Umberto I. Vizzini is town nestled on the ridge of Iblean Mountains in Catania province, very old place indeed. History tells it was first established in Greek times, when its modern form took place in Middle Ages around the castle. 'Thanks' to the earthquaqe in 1693 it was rebuilt in Baroque fashion and Baroque is easily recognized from religious buildings which are quite plenty in town. If time permits take a stroll through the town. We did it and enjoyed spirits of oldfashioned narrow streets paved with stone, with numerous balconies at facades, interesting doorways and reflections in window glass. On the return back to Piazza we had a cup of coffee - the atmosphere was laid back there; in the afternoon in siesta...

Tip Photo
Scala dei turchi. Amazing place.

by Miguelzgz

One of the most beautifull places we have been. Not crowed as it is not very advertised in Sicily. In fact we went there because a very gentle lady told us about it in a restaurant. When we reached that area, we almost desisted because it was not easy at all to find that village..finally we did it, and it was really, really worthy. Check this link http://sicilia.indettaglio.it/ita/comuni/ag/realmonte/turismo/turismo.htmlOur pictures doesn't show all the beauty of it.We decided to spend some extra money in the hotel there as it was our last nights. The hotes is fantastic, and it was not very, very expensive(it was low season, mid october). Hotel Villa Romana, Porto Empedocle. http://www.tripadvisor.es/Hotel_Review-g652023-d603573-Reviews-Villa_Romana_Hotel-Porto_Empedocle_Sicily.htmlNice restaurant, and more restaurants in the village. Seafood and pasta.

Tip Photo
Don't always believe Guide books

by Chucketti

I think it's a bit too late for Carla to get any use of my experience since I am writing several weeks after her planned trip, but someone else might be interested.I've climbed Etna on October 16 starting from Catania on a public bus going to Rifugio Sapienza via Nicolosi. The bus leaves daily at 8-15 from the Catania train station and you must make it for the return trip by 4-30 PM.I did not have intention to climb to the top, actually - according to the travel guides you can look at excellent views during the Circumetnea train trip.It was a chain of accidental events plus my innate curiosity that ended me on the top.I met another tourist at a museum who said lets go tomorrow but did not show up.At the bus stop in Nicolosi the tourist office insisted that you are not allowed higher than a certain red line on their map without an alpine guide.At the cable car entrance looking at the...

Levanzo

by mircaskirca

Levanzo is the smallest of the three main Egadi Islands. Those who stop over here must love the sea deeply, but they must love land as well. They must be fond of living the nature, of walking or riding a mule along paths winding steeply up to the mountain, they most love people. Outside, in the only road that crosses the land, at Cala Dogana, islanders and foreigners live together. They share their days and their daily things. They talk, joke and tell stories or they simply keep quiet. Those who love Levanzo, love the simplicity of things, that simplicity that is not superficiality, but on the contrary, is the essence of life. Levanzo is a special island, and those who really love it are special people and must know their love will be forever.The town faces the sea, the houses onto the street that is almost a terrace over the small port. Leaving the town for a pleasant walk westward and...

Tip Photo
Scopello

by mircaskirca

The small and quaint village of Scopello perches on a ridge a couple of hundred metres above the coastline. It consists of a little more than Piazza Fontana - a paved square and a fountain - and a couple of alleys running off it. On one side of the square sits the gateway and enclosed courtyard of the village's 18th century baglio (manor house), now the focus of local life. The courtyard buildings house a ceramics workshop, art studio, craft shop, a couple of bars and a pizzeria-restaurant. With the lights on it's a magical place at night, though in July and August you wish it would be a little more quiet. The rest of the year traditional village life is more about people: men playing cards at the tables, people gossiping around the fountain and neighbours helping out in each other's fields. There is nothing really to do except swim in one of the most idyllic coves of the island. Just...

Tip Photo
San Vito Lo Capo

by mircaskirca

The promontory of San Vito Lo Capo shares its name with the beach and the fishing village which developed around an old Saracen fortress, later turned into shrine dedicated to San Vito. San Vito Lo Capo is a charming coastal town in north-western Sicily, located in a valley between spectacular mountains. Extending below Monte Cofano, a high pointed limestone cliff visible from a distance (the mountain is popular with local climbers and is also home to numerous caves), the town is near the Zingaro Nature Reserve and the hamlet of Scopello, where some scenes of the movie Ocean's Twelve were filmed. San Vito Lo Capo, an almost unspoilt gem and the pride of the province of Trapani, is an ancient fishing town with a strongly Arabic flavour which is well worth exploring. Here lights, perfumes and flavours mingle to produce a landscape with typically Mediterranean colours and waters: low white...

Tip Photo
Unique Places in Sicilia

Top 3 Hotels in Sicilia

Hotel Ambasciatori  Palermo

 1 Review and 450 Opinions

 Hotels in Palermo

Liberty Hotel  Catania

 2 Reviews and 198 Opinions  Catania is a rough city in Sicily and the Liberty Hotel is in a bad area of the city. I tried to... 

 Hotels in Catania

Hotel Des Etrangers Et Miramare  Siracusa

 1 Review and 264 Opinions  We are a mother and a daughter who stayed at the Hotel Miramare et Estrangers in August 2009. During... 

 Hotels in Siracusa

1,309 Hotels in Sicilia
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Sicilia attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Sicilia sightseeing.

Experience Sicilia
Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Sicilia
  1. Palermo Off The Beaten Path
  2. Taormina Off The Beaten Path
  3. Catania Off The Beaten Path
  4. Siracusa Off The Beaten Path
  5. Messina Off The Beaten Path
  6. Agrigento Off The Beaten Path
  7. Trapani Off The Beaten Path
  8. Cefalú Off The Beaten Path
  9. Giardini Naxos Off The Beaten Path
  10. Isola Stromboli Off The Beaten Path
  11. Acireale Off The Beaten Path
  12. Isola Lipari Off The Beaten Path
  13. Piazza Armerina Off The Beaten Path
  14. Noto Off The Beaten Path
  15. Isola Vulcano Off The Beaten Path
  16. Isola Panarea Off The Beaten Path
  17. Isola di Pantelleria Off The Beaten Path
  18. Mondello Off The Beaten Path
  19. Isola Salina Off The Beaten Path
  20. Monreale Off The Beaten Path
  21. Enna Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Sicilia

 

Questions and Answers

MikeyST profile photo

Q:  Any recomendations for romantic restaurants in palermo? Or just unusual or unique? 

domenicococozza profile photo

A: Try to get to Porticello, to the east of Palermo. You will need to take a taxi ( about 20 minutes) Ask the driver to take you to Ristorante Francu u Pescatore ( sea... 

Read 2 Replies

postQuestion_button