As we speak I wish to carry you my itinerary for 7 days in Sicily. One week on this a part of Italy is a perfect period of time to see the highlights and discover a number of the most well-known cities and cities on the coast and within the inside. From superb meals to historic ruins, lovely seashores, and an energetic volcano, there are many enjoyable issues to do on the most important island within the Mediterranean Sea. I’ve included a map, too.
7 Days in Sicily
My different half and I’ve booked a visit to Italy to spend 7 days in Sicily beginning in Palermo. He’s been right here earlier than, so he’s taking part in tour information.
He’s deliberate an incredible Sicily street journey itinerary for us, and we’re wanting ahead to spending per week seeing a number of the greatest locations on the island. After our superb journey to Rome and Naples, we will’t wait to discover one other a part of Italy collectively.
Sicily is understood for every thing from the superb avenue meals markets in Palermo to the volcanic exercise on Mount Etna, the superb seashores on the coast, and the gorgeous views in Taormina.
Add to that nice native wine and historic structure that ranges from historic Greek to Baroque, and there’s loads to like about this place.
I hope this itinerary helps you propose a visit of your personal. You’ll be able to alter it to suit your pursuits and journey model, however should you’re like me it will provide you with a stable overview of what you are able to do on this a part of Italy with one week Sicily.
Oh, and should you’re asking your self “is 7 days sufficient in Sicily?”, you’ll get a really feel for the reply as you learn this put up. Whilst you can’t see all of Sicily in per week, you’ll be capable of discover a whole lot of the most well-liked locations on the island.
Day 1 in Sicily: Palermo
After an early flight from London, we arrive in Palermo and take the airport bus to the center of the town. It’s a scenic stroll from the cease to our lodge, I Mori di Porta Nuova.
Proper subsequent to one of many historic metropolis gates, this place is a candy boutique lodge with fairly rooms (ours has a balcony!) and a lovely rooftop terrace. It presents nice worth for cash, too. You’ll be able to e book your room right here.
After getting settled in, we begin our journey with a fast chunk at a roadside stand referred to as Nino u Ballerino. This place sells low cost and cheerful snacks, and my fried eggplant sandwich tastes superb with a sprinkle of salt.
It’s an incredible introduction to Sicily’s meals scene, which focuses on simplicity and letting native produce shine.
Talking of which, the following merchandise on our itinerary is a avenue meals tour of Palermo with an area information. We meet him on the buzzing Capo market, the place the locals are dancing to dwell music within the streets.
For the following 3 hours, he guides us across the metropolis as he introduces us to its meals scene.
We tuck into every thing from golden arancine rice balls with pistachio filling to a cone of fried seafood with purple prawns, calamari, and small “fish fries”.
We additionally style fried tuna balls with pistachio and wild fennel (sure, there’s a whole lot of fried meals right here), Sicilian caponata, and chickpea fritters referred to as panelle.
However the actual native delicacy right here is an offal sandwich full of spleen. It tastes similar to mushrooms, and it’s scrumptious with some cheese sprinkled on high.
In between bites, our information takes us by the town and factors out highlights just like the eye-catching Quattro Canti intersection. We additionally see the Fontana Pretoria fountain and the Chiesa di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria church in Piazza Pretoria.
We spherical out our avenue meals tour of Palermo with cannoli. They’re traditional Sicilian sweets, and we’ve been wanting ahead to attempting them. They’re each bit as scrumptious as we’d hoped.
Meals tour achieved, we proceed the primary of our 7 days in Sicily with a stroll alongside the port. Marina, the most important musical dancing fountain in Italy, is right here. As we stroll round it, we take within the buzzing waterfront scene with its modern bars and eating places.
When the solar begins to sink, we head as much as a well-known rooftop bar in Palermo referred to as Seven. The best roof backyard in Palermo, it has spectacular views of the town skyline and the mountains within the background.
It’s the proper place to take pleasure in aperitivo because the sundown makes magic within the sky.
From Seven we stroll over to have dinner at a restaurant referred to as Stuzzicando. This intimate neighborhood place is ready on a aspect avenue within the metropolis heart.
Stuzzicando serves classics like pasta and pizza, and it has an incredible ambiance. It’s a pleasant place to finish the primary day of our week in Sicily.
Day 2 in Sicily: Palermo, Cefalu, and Taormina
When morning comes, we proceed our itinerary for 7 days in Sicily with breakfast on the rooftop at I Mori di Porta Nuova. It’s sunny out, and the meals is scrumptious (and included with our room fee). We will’t consider a greater technique to begin our day.
After trying out of the lodge, we do some sightseeing in Palermo. We’re proper by the cathedral on Through Vittorio Emanuele, so we pop in for a fast go to.
Probably the most architecturally vital buildings in Sicily, the Normans constructed Palermo Cathedral on high of a mosque in 1184. It’s superb to see the historic interiors and marvel on the historical past.
From the cathedral it’s a brief stroll by the Villa Bonanno park to the Palazzo dei Normanni (Norman Palace).
As soon as the seat of the kings of Sicily, this enormous place is dwelling to tranquil gardens and a shocking historic carriage that makes me wish to channel my interior Disney princess.
However the actual deal with is the Cappella Palatina. This Twelfth-century chapel options every thing from gorgeous Byzantine mosaics to Norman and Arab design components. It’s a novel illustration of Sicily’s wealthy cultural historical past.
We spend time admiring the chapel earlier than strolling by the historic rooms and absorbing the scene within the grand loggia.
Leaving the Palazzo dei Normanni, we make our technique to the Ballaro market. Set on a slender avenue within the metropolis heart, this place is buzzing with distributors promoting every thing from contemporary fish to ripe tomatoes and fried eggplant.
We stroll all over it, then settle in at slightly desk behind one of many stalls to eat lunch. Quickly we’re tucking right into a feast of eggplant, panelle, grilled artichokes, and a plump spinach arancina.
After lunch we proceed our Sicily itinerary with some extra sightseeing. We pop into the small Chiesa San Cataldo, which dates again to 1154 and serves as a notable instance of Arab-Norman structure.
Not removed from the church we sit outdoors for a espresso on the well-known Casa Stagnitta. Our meals tour information had really useful the day earlier than, and we’re excited to strive it. The place presents a powerful number of espresso drinks and candy treats.
After espresso we stroll down Through Maqueda and thru an antiques market earlier than choosing up our luggage at I Mori di Porta Nuova. From the lodge we make our approach in the direction of the waterfront to get our rental automobile.
On the way in which we go by the well-known Teatro Massimo theater, which featured within the final of The Godfather films (all of which we watched earlier than our journey).
Cefalu
As soon as in our trusty car, we hit the street and drive to the following cease on our itinerary: Cefalu. Given we’ve got 7 days in Sicily with a automobile, we’re excited to have the ability to see a number of the coastal areas between Palermo and the opposite main stops we’ve deliberate.
Cefalu is a coastal metropolis in northern Sicily. It’s well-known for its Twelfth-century Norman cathedral, which options Byzantine mosaics and imposing towers.
Our go to to Cefalu is a fast one, however we handle to stroll alongside the seashore, take within the waterfront eating places, and see a number of the historic streets on the town. It’s a lovely place, and we want we may keep longer.
Taormina
However Taormina calls, and we wish to arrive earlier than darkish. After driving by what looks like one million tunnels and paying a number of street tolls, we wind our approach as much as the highest, high, high of the well-known city on the east coast of Sicily.
We arrive at Lodge Villa Ducale simply earlier than darkish, and I handle to get a couple of pictures of the superb views because the lights twinkle within the distance.
We’re welcomed by a number of the friendliest workers we’ve encountered on our travels. They present us to our room, which has a balcony overlooking Taormina and the neighboring city of Giardini Naxos. We adore it already.
We’ve booked dinner on the lodge, and our window desk within the eating room has extra sweeping views. We tuck into smoked fish starters and wealthy pasta mains as we watch blue hour fade into evening outdoors. It’s the proper technique to finish our second day in Sicily.
Day 3 in Sicily: Taormina
The subsequent morning our 7 days in Sicily proceed with a full day in Taormina. Given this is among the most visited locations on the island, we will’t wait to see what it has in retailer.
After an enormous buffet breakfast with a view at Lodge Villa Ducale (it’s included with our room fee), we stroll down a zig-zagging staircase close to the Castello di Mola fortress and Chiesa Madonna della Rocca chapel to get to the center of city.
Taormina is the stuff of Italian fairy tales, with historic metropolis gates and an extended avenue lined with high-end outlets and eating places. In every single place there are peek-a-boo views of the Mediterranean Sea, and gardens and historic ruins dotted all through.
We begin our day with a stroll by the Villa Comunale di Taormina. The backyard is peaceable, and it’s enjoyable to absorb the views of the seashores from the partitions.
From there we stroll down stairways punctuated with viewpoints to get to the seashore. The well-known Isola Bella is right here, and we’re excited to take our footwear off and stroll on the pebbles throughout the watery straight to get to the presqu’ile.
We spend time absorbing the solar earlier than strolling the brief distance to the cable automobile to get again to the middle of Taormina. We store at an area ceramics place referred to as Manago Ceramiche Siciliane and discover a number of the aspect streets after we arrive.
Quickly we get hungry, so we tuck into lunch at an outside desk on the steps at Trattoria Tutti Cca. We will’t resolve whether or not my gnocchi with purple prawns and pistachios is healthier than his traditional Pasta alla Norma, however they’re each scrumptious.
After lunch we meander. We stroll down Corso Umberto between Porta Catania and Porta Messina, window store, and take a look at the San Domenico Palace 4 Seasons lodge the place the second season of White Lotus was filmed.
We additionally discover the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an historic Greek amphitheater constructed within the third century BC. The ruins are spectacular, and it’s inspiring to assume that each the Greeks and the Romans had been right here.
Once we want a relaxation, we cease for a traditional Sicilian granita at Bam Bar. This place additionally featured in White Lotus, and we sit at an outside desk to take pleasure in raspberry shave ice with cream and candy brioche. It’s a pleasant indulgence on a heat day.
We will’t assist following it up with one other deal with. We stroll over to Don Diego, a gelato place close to one of many city’s historic gates. It’s our first gelato of the journey, and it’s scrumptious.
After a day relaxation at Lodge Villa Ducale, we stroll again into city for aperitivo on the sweeping terrace at Grand Lodge Timeo.
Our cocktails are spectacular. His is served in a smoke-filled glass dome, and mine comes with a foam pyramid on high. Add to that scrumptious nibbles and complimentary canapes, and that is the proper place to be at sundown in Sicily.
Once we’re achieved with our drinks, we head to dinner at Tischi Toschi. This family-run restaurant in Taormina is ready on a aspect avenue, and its rustic inside and excessive ceilings welcome us in.
It’s all about native delicacies right here, and we love every thing from the pastas to the seafood.
Afterwards we benefit from the complimentary shuttle to Lodge Villa Ducale to get again to our room with out strolling up the town stairs (though we may use some train to burn off all of the energy!).
Both approach, it’s an incredible finish to the third of our 7 days in Sicily.
Day 4 in Sicily: Mount Etna and Taormina
The subsequent morning we get up early and luxuriate in breakfast with a view earlier than getting picked up from the lodge for a tour of Mount Etna.
Our information drives us down by Taormina and Giardini Naxos earlier than working his approach as much as the volcano. It’s superb how the panorama modifications from seaside to vineyards to mountain terrain so shortly.
Earlier than we get to our closing vacation spot, we cease for a fast break at a lodge within the woods to have a espresso and use the restrooms. It’s quiet and funky right here, and the chalet makes us really feel like we’re within the Alps.
Not removed from the lodge we arrive at a trailhead. Our information takes us on a stroll alongside the Monti Sartorius path. We’re excited to hike over the pebbly lava on Mount Etna.
From comparatively flat terrain with native natural world to the 7 craters shaped through the 1865 eruption, we expertise a spread of topography whereas our information tells us in regards to the volcano and its historical past.
It’s superb to be mountaineering on an energetic volcano, and distinctive to see the realm round it.
After the hike we drive over to an area vineyard referred to as Emilio Sciacca. This a part of Sicily is legendary for its wines, and we’re excited to sip them on the supply.
We tuck right into a sizeable three-course lunch within the tasting room, the place a spread of pure rose, orange, white, and almond wines is paired with the meals.
We take pleasure in every thing from an antipasti platter to fava bean pasta and cannoli whereas we’re right here. It’s an effective way to expertise native produce and get a really feel for the terroir.
Taormina
After lunch the tour continues as we head again to Taormina. We arrive at Lodge Villa Ducale within the late afternoon and spend time having fun with the views from our balcony.
When night comes, we stroll all the way down to the city heart for drinks at a rooftop bar referred to as Sky in Lodge Continental. It has sweeping views of Mount Etna and the Bay of Naxos, and we get a front-row seat for aperitivo and cocktails.
Afterwards we head to dinner at Osteria Rosso di Vino. This native place is tucked away on a aspect avenue, and we sit at an outside desk within the small courtyard.
We tuck into scrumptious native delicacies, together with divine tempura anchovies, seafood carpaccio, and a complete contemporary fish. The meals is great and the service spot-on, and it finally ends up being certainly one of our favourite meals of the journey.
Day 5 in Sicily: Siracusa
The subsequent morning we take pleasure in an early breakfast earlier than trying out of our room at Lodge Villa Ducale and persevering with our itinerary for 7 days in Sicily with a drive to Siracusa (Syracuse).
This metropolis on the east coast of Sicily is understood for its historic Greek and Roman ruins and the gorgeous island of Ortigia. We begin with the previous.
The Parco Archeologico della Neapolis in Siracusa is among the most vital archaeological websites in all of Italy, and we spend an hour taking it in.
From the Greek theater to the Anfiteatro Romano and a novel limestone quarry, we’re awed by the historical past right here.
After seeing the ruins it’s a brief drive to Ortigia. We park in one of many huge heaps and examine into Gran Bretagna Boutique Lodge. Our room is big by European requirements, and we’ve got slightly balcony. It’s in an incredible location for sightseeing, too.
As soon as we’re settled in, we come upon an area restaurant referred to as Trattoria del Buongustaio for lunch. At first we’re anxious it’s a bit touristy, however we take pleasure in our meal of conventional pastas at an outside desk.
After lunch we spend the afternoon strolling throughout Ortigia. This place is stuffed with historical past, from a cathedral that was constructed on high of a Greek temple to the hulking Castello Maniace fortress on the ocean.
We tour the Galleria Regionale di Palazzo Bellomo to get a really feel for the native historical past, stroll by the slender streets, absorb the scene in Piazza Duomo, and take within the fountains and views from the waterfront.
This place is totally charming, and we’re glad we’ve come. It’s certainly one of our favourite stops on our itinerary.
After an compulsory gelato at a spot referred to as Don Peppinu, we stroll over to the waterfront for aperitivo at one of many many bars with views. It’s referred to as Sorelle, and we take pleasure in cocktails and snacks because the solar begins to set.
Afterwards we wish to strive extra Sicilian wine, so we head to an area wine bar that will get good opinions. Enoteca Solaria has a country ambiance and we settle in at an outside desk to sip a glass of Etna’s most interesting.
We chase it up with dinner at an area restaurant referred to as Trattoria La Pigna. We’re surrounded by tables of locals right here, and we discover they’ve all referred to as forward to order dishes that aren’t on the menu. We preserve that in thoughts for subsequent time.
We nonetheless tuck into scrumptious pasta dishes from the menu as we marvel in any respect we’ve seen and achieved on the fifth day of our journey to Sicily.
Day 6 in Sicily: Siracusa, Noto, and Ragusa
The subsequent morning we take pleasure in scrumptious cappuccinos on the breakfast buffet at Gran Bretagna Boutique Lodge (as with the opposite locations we’ve stayed, the morning meal is included in our room fee).
Afterwards we take a look at of our room and drive throughout the bridge into the principle a part of Siracusa to see one very last thing: a Caravaggio.
The well-known artist painted the Burial of Saint Lucy whereas he was in Siracusa in 1608, and it’s in its unique location within the Basilica of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro.
Positioned within the Borgata space, the church is a brief drive from Ortigia. We make a fast cease inside to admire it, then hop again within the automobile for the following leg of our 7-day Sicily itinerary: Noto.
Noto
The drive to Noto takes us by the inside of Sicily for the primary time since we arrived. The countryside is idyllic, with peaceable farmland on both aspect of the slender roads.
We arrive in Noto mid-morning and park in loads within the historic heart. This place is understood for its Baroque structure as a result of it was re-built after a significant earthquake in 1693.
After stopping for a fast espresso at Caffe Sicilia, we go into the cathedral and stroll across the streets to absorb the gorgeous structure.
The center of the town is small and walkable, and we take pleasure in seeing every thing from the historic Porta Reale o Ferdinandea gate to the spectacular Baroque palazzi.
On our stroll we come upon a spot referred to as Panifico Maidda, which serves ancient-grain bread sfincione. They give the impression of being so good we will’t assist however cease to style them, and it’s properly price it.
The bread alone is scrumptious, and the toppings take these fluffy Sicilian pizzas to the following degree.
Ragusa
Again within the automobile, we drive by extra lovely countryside to get to a hilltop city referred to as Ragusa. Additionally constructed within the Baroque model, this place is understood for meals. We’ve eaten so properly up till now that our expectations are excessive.
We park in loads in Ragusa Ibla and stroll over to examine into our room at A.D. 1768 Boutique Lodge. This place has every kind of fashion, from the leafy inside courtyard to the painted ceilings and the cool visitor lounge. Our room even featured within the Monetary Occasions.
After getting settled, we head out to discover Ragusa. First we wander by the Giardino Ibleo backyard, a peaceable place with nice views over the encompassing space.
From there we cease for lunch at slightly place referred to as Osteria Del Pane Cunzato, which serves panini constructed from historic grain bread and cannoli constructed from cow’s milk ricotta (in different components of Sicily it’s constructed from sheep’s milk).
Each are scrumptious, and we love the husband-and-wife workforce that owns the place. The meal proves why Ragusa is understood for meals as a lot as it’s for Baroque structure.
Talking of structure, we spend the afternoon strolling round to absorb every thing from the Fifteenth-century metropolis gate to the gorgeous cathedral. Alongside the way in which we pop into native outlets and absorb extra views.
When aperitivo o’clock rolls round, we’ve got cocktails at Officina 31. Our gin and tonics are made with native Sicilian gin, and so they go down a deal with with views of the cathedral.
From there we head to Enoteca Il Barocco, an area meals store with a powerful aperitivo sport. We sit outdoors and luxuriate in Sicilian wine as we watch the world go by.
When it’s meal time, we stroll over to Camuri. This place is understood for serving conventional Sicilian delicacies with a up to date aptitude.
Our tasting menus embody a stand-out pasta dish with anchovies that when once more proves Ragusa deserves its status as a culinary hub.
Day 7 in Sicily: Wine Tasting, Avola, and Catania
The subsequent morning we get up early and luxuriate in a tremendous breakfast at A.D. 1768 Boutique Lodge (as with the others, it’s included in our room fee). The Sicilian eggs are divine, and so they set us up properly for the day forward.
Wine Tasting
It’s the final of our 7 days in Sicily, and we’re beginning it with a wine tasting we’ve booked at Zisola Property. We drive again to Noto and pull into the vineyard simply in time for our tour.
We’re welcomed by the pleasant resident canines earlier than we’re taken by the vineyards and across the wine-making amenities by a bunch.
Afterwards we sit down for a tasting. We study all in regards to the native terroir as we sip a flight of Nero d’Avola, Catarratto, Petit Verdot, and different varieties. It’s an effective way to study Sicilian wine on the supply, and we choose up a pair bottles to take dwelling with us on our approach out.
Avola
On the suggestion of our host on the vineyard, we cease within the seaside city of Avola for lunch. Osciale Avenue Meals is slightly waterfront restaurant with outside seating and scrumptious sandwiches.
We order on the window and tuck into tuna panini as we absorb the Sicilian solar. They’re as scrumptious as we’ve heard, and we’re glad we’ve made a detour to strive them.
Catania
From Avola we proceed our Sicily street journey with a drive to Catania. This metropolis is understood for every thing from its historic historical past to its buzzing port. We park in loads by the practice station and stroll into the town heart to do some sightseeing.
We hit up the Giardino Bellini gardens and the Roman amphitheater earlier than making our approach down Through Alessandro Manzoni to get to the Fontana dell’Elefante (Elephant Fountain) and the cathedral.
We pop into the latter, standing in awe of the inside even after all of the church buildings we’ve seen on our journey.
Exterior we stroll by the fish market by the Giardino Pacini as we make our approach over to the Castello Ursino fortress. Its hulking type is spectacular, and we really feel an actual sense of historical past as we stroll round it.
From the fortress we dive even deeper into Catania’s historical past. We go to the Teatro Romano di Catania, which dates again to historic instances. It’s hidden behind a row of buildings, and it’s inspiring to see it after we enter.
After leaving the ruins we wave to the well-known Porta Garibaldi gate earlier than settling in for a drink at BarnAut. This cool place close to the fortress has good cocktails and nice ambiance.
From BarnAut we go to Scirocco for a fast avenue meals dinner earlier than strolling again to the automobile by way of Palazzo Biscari. We want we had time to see the port, the monastery, and the opposite palazzi, however we’ll have to save lots of them for an additional go to.
We drop off the automobile at Catania airport and board our flight to London wanting to remain longer and see different components of Sicily. We’ve had a tremendous journey, and we all know there’s extra of the island to find. We’re already planning our subsequent go to.
One Week in Sicily
I hope you’ve discovered my itinerary for one week in Sicily useful for understanding how one can spend your time on this a part of Italy. It’s a tremendous place, and seven days is sufficient time to see a whole lot of the highlights.
Sicily Itinerary Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of our Sicily itinerary. You’ll be able to see it right here. I hope it helps you propose an incredible journey to the island!
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