10 amazing places to see in Sicily, besides Palermo and Catania

I think there are so many beautiful, less known places you can see in Sicily, besides Palermo and Catania, and that’s why I thought I should share with you 10 amazing places I visited while I was there.

 

 

I lived in Palermo for 5 months, as I studied at the university through an Erasmus scholarship. After the semester has finished, I left Sicily being overwhelmingly in love with it, but not very eager to go back to the big cities of the island.

As the easiest way to get there is by plane and the main airports are situated in Palermo and Catania, most of the people who visit Sicily chose to organize their holiday around the city they land in. But I think there are so many beautiful, less known places you can see in Sicily, besides Palermo and Catania. That’s why I thought I should share with you 10 amazing places I visited while I was there.

As a practical detail, we went there by car, so we’ve been independent from the means of transport. The highways are generally pretty good and free of charge (except from one of them, where you’ll have to pay around 8 euros). You can rent a car very easily and at a reasonable price (around 250 euros for one week).

 

RO: Am locuit in Palermo vreo 5 luni, pentru ca am studiat la universitatea de acolo prin intermediul unei burse Erasmus. Dupa ce semestrul s-a incheiat, am plecat de acolo complet fermecata de Sicilia, dar nu foarte dornica de a ma intoarce in orasele mari ale insulei.

Pentru ca este cel mai usor sa ajungi acolo cu avionul, si aeroporturile principale sunt la Palermo si Catania, majoritatea oamenilor care viziteaza Sicilia aleg sa isi organizeze vacanta in jurul oraselor in care aterizeaza. Dar eu cred ca sunt o gramada de alte orase frumoase si mai putin cunoscute, in afara de Palermo sau Catania, care merita vazute. Asa ca m-am gandit sa va expun 10 locuri minunate pe care le-am vazut in Sicilia si pentru care m-as intoarce acolo oricand. 

Ca si detaliu practic, noi am mers acolo cu masina, deci am fost independenti din punctul de vedere al transportului. Autostrazile sunt gratuite (cu exceptia uneia, unde se platesc vreo 8 euro), si sunt, in general, destul de bune. Inchirierea unei masini se poate face foarte simplu, si la un pret rezonabil (in jur de 250 de euro pentru o saptamana).

 

#1 SCALA DEI TURCHI

 

Scala dei turchi, which in Italian means „the Turkish steps” is a natural marl formation, a sedimentary rock with a characteristic white color and calcareous texture. Legend has it that the Moors used to pass across this place in their frequent raids towards other regions of Sicily, and it’s one of the few places that is even more breathtaking in real life than in photos.

 

RO: Scala tei Turchi, in traducere directa „scara turceasca”, e o formatiune naturala din marna, o roca de culoare alba, specifica si compozitie calcaroasa. Se spune ca pe aici au treceau maurii in drumurile lor frecvente spre alte zone din Sicilia, si este unul din putinele locuri care este chiar mai impresionant in realitate decat in fotografii.

 

#2 HIKING ON ETNA

 

Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. With its 3,295 meters height and unique location (you can actually gaze at the sea while hiking), it’s definitely a must while visiting Sicily. I would recommend taking a 2-day trip with Hiking Sicily, as they are very nice and helpful, and make great trips on the volcano.

 

RO: Etna este cel mai inalt vulcan activ din Europa, si unul dintre cei mai activi din lume. Cu inaltimea sa de 3295 de metri si amplasarea unica (poti sa privesti marea in timp ce il escaladezi), este cu siguranta ceva ce trebuie sa vezi in Sicilia. Eu va recomand o excursie de 2 zile cu Hiking Sicily; au fost foarte simpatici si binevoitori, si organizeaza niste excursii grozave pe vulcan.

 

#3 RISERVA DELLO ZINGARO

 

With its beautiful vegetation and fauna and its non-touristic natural beaches, this is an off-the-beaten-paths trail you should definitely try.

 

RO: Cu o vegetatie si fauna deosebite, si avand niste plaje naturale superbe si foarte putin turistice, Riserva dello Zingaro este unul dintre traseele aproape secrete pe care trebuie sa mergeti neaparat.

 

#4 MODICA AND RAGUSA

 

Modica and Ragusa are two wonderful cities in the mountains, which I personally fell in love with. They are built completely according to the mountain relief, and have beautiful views over the landscape. Modica is also knows for its delicious artisan chocolate.

 

RO: Modica si Ragusa sunt doua orase superbe de care eu personal m-am indragostit. Sunt construite in concordanta absoluta cu relieful montan si ofera vederi foarte frumoase asupra peisajului. Modica este cunoscuta si pentru ciocolata artizanala delicioasa care se realizeaza acolo.

 

#5 CEFALU

 

Cefalu is the perfect seaside town – there’s a nice sandy beach, beautiful small streets to wander, rocky shores to explore and a super cozy central square. While there, be sure to eat the best arrancini in Sicily, at the Helios restaurant.

 

RO: Cefalu este orasul perfect de la mare – are o plaja cu nisip foarte draguta, stradute frumoase pe care sa te plimbi, tarm stancos pe care il poti explora si o piata centrala foarte primitoare. Cand esti acolo, nu uita sa mananci cele mai bune arrancini din Sicilia, la restaurantul Helios.

 

#6 VALE DEI TEMPLI, AGRIGENTO

 

Agrigento was one of the most important cities on the Mediterranean Sea shore, and dates from the year 580 bc, when the Greeks have founded here the Akragas town. The area is now open to visitors, so you have the chance to visit the preserved Doric monuments while surrounded by history.

 

RO: Agrigento era unul dintre cele mai importante orase de pe tarmul marii Mediterane, si dateaza din anul 580 i.Hr, cand grecii au fondat orasul Akragas. Acum, zona este deschisa pentru public, si puteti vizita monumentele in stil doric pastrate, in timp ce sunteti inconjurati de istorie.

 

#7 RISERVA NATURALE ORIENTATA CAVAGRANDE DEI CASSIBILE

 

This one is an amazing trekking trail for the adventure lovers. It’s a nice canyon formed by the Cassibile river, with nice small lakes and waterfalls all over the walking route.

 

RO: Acesta este un traseu minunat, care nu trebuie ratat de catre iubitorii de aventura. Este un canion format de raul Cassibile, avand mici lacuri si cascade pe intreg parcursul lui.

 

#8 OLD CITY OF ERICE

 

A history dating thousands of years ago, the beautiful, close to the sea location, with an elevation of almost 800 meters, make visiting Erice it an unforgettable experience while in Sicily.

 

RO: O istorie de mii de ani, pozitionarea langa malul marii si o elevatie de aproape 800 de metri, fac vizita la Erice o experienta de neuitat.

 

#9 TAORMINA

 

Taormina is the Sicilian city that I love the most. It has a lot of restaurants which serve delicious local food, nice souvenir shops, a beautiful and well preserved Greek theater, a beautiful view over the sea and over the Etna volcano and a great Sicilian atmosphere all over the place. We even went paragliding there, and it was amazing (you can also try it with Etna Fly).

 

RO: Taormina este orasul din Sicilia care mi-a placut cel mai mult. Are o multime de restaurante cu mancare tipica siciliana delicioasa, magazine de suveniruri, un teatru grec foarte frumos si bine pastrat, o priveliste minunata asupra marii si a vulcanului Etna, si o atmosfera siciliana prezenta peste tot in aer. Am zburat si cu parapanta cand am fost acolo, si a fost grozav (puteti incerca si voi zborurile cu Etna Fly).

 

#10 ISOLE EOLIE

 

The Aeolian islands are a volcanic archipelago situated in the Tyrrhenian sea. We visited Lipari and Panarea, but there are many others worth seeing. You can leave the car in the harbor parking lot in Milazzo, take the ferry and then rent a scooter for a really small price.

 

RO: Insulele Eolie sunt un arhipelag vulcanic situat in marea Tireniana. Noi am vizitat Lipari si Panarea, dar sunt multe alte insule care merita vazute. Iti poti lasa masina in parcarea portului din Milazzo, poti lua ferryboat-ul si iti poti inchiria un scuter la un pret foarte mic.

 

We really enjoyed driving around Sicily and escaping from Palermo from time to time, and I would recommend giving a chance to the small cities as well. You’ll love them, I promise!

 

RO: Noua ne-a placut la nebunie sa calatorim prin Sicilia si sa scapam de aglomeratia din Palermo din cand in cand, asa ca va recomand sa oferiti o sansa oraselor mici, de asemenea. Va promit ca o sa ramaneti placut impresionati!