The Sicilian town of Agrigento is known far and wide for its unique tourist attractions. The so-called “Valley of the Temples” stands out in particular – an elevated plain, on which archaeologists have been able to uncover remains of the original town of Akragas. The ruins and findings, the impressive basic structure of a town that has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1997, can be viewed by visitors. Those interested can also visit an arc ...   more about Agrigento

Nobody really knows when the Sicilian town of Caltanissetta was actually established. However, it is considered to have been originally founded by the Sicanians at least 1000 years before Christ. During the Arabic colonisation of Caltanissetta the rulers erected a giant fort-like castle that still exists today, although it has experienced some changes. ...   more about Caltanissetta

In terms of population, Catania is the second largest town in Sicily with almost 300,000 residents. Catania was founded in about 800 B.C., and over the following centuries became a very important maritime trading town. The region was also used by the Arabs for the production of agricultural goods. In the 17th century, Catania experienced two blows in a very short period of time: first of all Mount Etna erupted, wreaking havoc all throughout the ...   more about Catania

Enna is a pretty little town in the heart of Sicily. It is a perfect starting point for excursions to other Sicilian destinations and is visited by a lot of independent travellers. The nearby Pergusa Lake is a peaceful, tranquil place to take a holiday. Alongside a number of weekend properties belonging to Enna residents, here you will also find little hotels and farms that accommodate travellers. The Lago di Pergusa is a natural lake and conser ...   more about Enna

The origins of Messina go back to at least 730 B.C. After the Romans conquered Sicily during the first Punic War in the 3rd century B.C., Messina played an important role as a seaport and trading town. During its long history, Messina has unluckily been harangued by a series of misfortunes: a terrible plague epidemic in the 18th century lead to the death of over 40,000 people; in 1783 an earthquake killed 12,000; and about 60,000 residents peris ...   more about Messina

Palermo was founded in the eighth century B.C. and is today the capital of Sicily. Just like the rest of Sicily, Palermo became part of the Roman Empire in the year 254 B.C and in the 12th century it was conquered by the Normans. This opened the way to Palermo becoming Sicily’s capital. The town was heavily damaged during the Second World War, and after that the city was ruled by the Mafia for a number of years. This situation changed in the 198 ...   more about Palermo

The settlement of the region around Regusa can be traced back to the 3rd century B.C. In the year 868 the town was conquered by the Arabs after which Ragusa was conquered by the Normans, then the House of Hohenstaufen, followed by the Aragonese. At the end of the 17th century the town was levelled by an earthquake and all traces of life up until then were destroyed before the town was ultimately completely rebuilt. Since 1927 Ragusa has been the ...   more about Ragusa

Syracuse was settled in the 14th century B.C. The town’s development was originally steered by the island of Ortygia, which extends from the mainland and was once one of the most important islands in Sicily. Its significance diminished during the 9th century, after Palermo advanced to becoming the most powerful town after its conquest by the Arabs. The face of Syracuse was then altered dramatically in the 17th century, after a number of new, for ...   more about Syracuse

Taormina is very popular with tourists due to its pristine surroundings and romantic atmosphere. The countryside around Taormina is gorgeous and seems to have been left untouched by history. The climate here is very pleasant and not as hot as in other Sicilian regions. Taormina is located in the east of Sicily and experts have estimated that it was founded around 1300 B.C. The town was completely destroyed in the 10th century following an uprisi ...   more about Taormina

The Aeolian Islands, also referred to as the Lipari Islands, are a group of seven islands home to around 14,000 people. These islands belong officially to Sicily and are located in the Tyrrhenian Sea. They were settled many millennia ago and integrated into the Roman Empire in 252 B.C. At the end of Roman rule the islands fell into decline as they were increasingly used by pirates as a place to disappear for a while, and in the 16th century they ...   more about The Aeolian Islands

Trapani has been in existence from time immemorial. The Phonecians in particular were responsible for the development of this town around the 9th century B.C. when Trapani was as an important seaport. Trapani suffered bitterly during the Second World War, when heavy air raids almost completely devastated the area. After rebuilding in the following decades, Trapani once more managed to rehabilitate itself economically. Trapani has become an impor ...   more about Trapani