Right now I need to convey 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 among the most well-known cities and cities on the coast and within the inside. From wonderful meals to historical 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 enjoying tour information.
I hope this itinerary helps you intend a visit of your personal.
Day One in Sicily: Palermo
After an early flight from London, we arrive in Palermo and take the airport bus to the center of town. It’s a scenic stroll from the cease to our lodge, I Mori di Porta Nuova.
It affords nice worth for cash, too. You possibly can e-book your room right here.
This place sells low cost and cheerful snacks, and my fried eggplant sandwich tastes wonderful with a sprinkle of salt.
It’s an ideal introduction to Sicily’s meals scene, which focuses on simplicity and letting native produce shine.
Talking of which, the subsequent 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 subsequent 3 hours, he guides us across the metropolis as he introduces us to its meals scene.
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 prime.
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 making an attempt them. They’re each bit as scrumptious as we’d hoped.
Meals tour performed, 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.
When the solar begins to sink, we head as much as a well-known rooftop bar in Palermo known as Seven. The very best roof backyard in Palermo, it has spectacular views of town skyline and the mountains within the background.
It’s the proper place to get pleasure from aperitivo because the sundown makes magic within the sky.
From Seven we stroll over to have dinner at a restaurant known as Stuzzicando. This intimate neighborhood place is ready on a aspect avenue within the metropolis middle.
Stuzzicando serves classics like pasta and pizza, and it has an ideal environment. It’s a pleasant place to finish the primary day of our week in Sicily.
Day Two in Sicily: Palermo, Cefalu, and Taormina
It’s sunny out, and the meals is scrumptious (and included with our room charge). We are able to’t consider a greater approach 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.
However the actual deal with is the Cappella Palatina. This Twelfth-century chapel options every part from gorgeous Byzantine mosaics to Norman and Arab design parts. It’s a singular illustration of Sicily’s wealthy cultural historical past.
Leaving the Palazzo dei Normanni, we make our approach to the Ballaro market.
We stroll throughout it, then settle in at just a little 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.
Not removed from the church we sit outdoors for a espresso on the well-known Casa Stagnitta. Our meals tour information had advisable the day earlier than, and we’re excited to strive it. The place affords a powerful number of espresso drinks and candy treats.
From the lodge we make our approach in the direction of the waterfront to get our rental automobile.
Cefalu
As soon as in our trusty car, we hit the highway and drive to the subsequent cease on our itinerary: Cefalu. Given we now have 7 days in Sicily with a automobile, we’re excited to have the ability to see among 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 seaside, take within the waterfront eating places, and see among the historic streets on the town. It’s a good looking place, and we want we may keep longer.
Taormina
However Taormina calls, and we need to arrive earlier than darkish.
We’re welcomed by among the friendliest employees 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 night time outdoors. It’s the proper approach to finish our second day in Sicily.
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Day Three in Sicily: Taormina
The following morning our 7 days in Sicily proceed with a full day in Taormina. Given this is without doubt one of the most visited locations on the island, we will’t wait to see what it has in retailer.
Taormina is the stuff of Italian fairy tales, with historic metropolis gates and an extended avenue lined with high-end outlets and eating places. All over the place there are peek-a-boo views of the Mediterranean Sea, and gardens and historical ruins dotted all through.
We begin our day with a stroll by means of 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 seaside.
After lunch we meander.
We additionally discover the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an historical 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 have been right here.
Once we want a relaxation, we cease for a traditional Sicilian granita at Bam Bar. It’s a pleasant indulgence on a heat day.
We are able to’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 prime. Add to that scrumptious nibbles and complimentary canapes, and that is the proper place to be at sundown in Sicily.
Once we’re performed 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.
Both approach, it’s an ideal finish to the third of our 7 days in Sicily.
Day Four in Sicily: Mount Etna and Taormina
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.
It’s wonderful to be climbing on an energetic volcano, and distinctive to see the realm round it.
After the hike we drive over to an area vineyard known as Emilio Sciacca. This a part of Sicily is legendary for its wines, and we’re excited to sip them on the supply.
We get pleasure from every part 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 right down to the city middle for drinks at a rooftop bar known 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 out of doors desk within the small courtyard.
We tuck into scrumptious native delicacies, together with divine tempura anchovies, seafood carpaccio, and a complete recent 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 Five in Sicily: Siracusa
The following morning we get pleasure from 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 historical Greek and Roman ruins and the gorgeous island of Ortigia. We begin with the previous.
After seeing the ruins it’s a brief drive to Ortigia. We park in one of many huge tons and test into Gran Bretagna Boutique Lodge. Our room is big by European requirements, and we now have just a little balcony. It’s in an ideal location for sightseeing, too.
As soon as we’re settled in, we come upon an area restaurant known as Trattoria del Buongustaio for lunch. At first we’re fearful it’s a bit touristy, however we get pleasure from our meal of conventional pastas at an out of doors desk.
After lunch we spend the afternoon strolling throughout Ortigia. This place is stuffed with historical past, from a cathedral that was constructed on prime 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 means of the slim streets, take in the scene in Piazza Duomo, and take within the fountains and views from the waterfront.
This place is completely charming, and we’re glad we’ve come. It’s certainly one of our favourite stops on our itinerary.
We chase it up with dinner at an area restaurant known as Trattoria La Pigna. We’re surrounded by tables of locals right here, and we discover they’ve all known as forward to order dishes that aren’t on the menu. We maintain 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 performed on the fifth day of our journey to Sicily.
Day Six in Sicily: Siracusa, Noto, and Ragusa
The following morning we get pleasure from 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 charge).
Afterwards we take a look at of our room and drive throughout the bridge into the primary 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 subsequent leg of our 7-day Sicily itinerary: Noto.
Noto
The drive to Noto takes us by means of the inside of Sicily for the primary time since we arrived. The countryside is idyllic, with peaceable farmland on both aspect of the slim roads.
We arrive in Noto mid-morning and park in loads within the historic middle. This place is understood for its Baroque structure as a result of it was re-built after a serious 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 guts of town is small and walkable, and we get pleasure from seeing every part from the historic Porta Reale o Ferdinandea gate to the spectacular Baroque palazzi.
On our stroll we come upon a spot known as Panifico Maidda, which serves ancient-grain bread sfincione. They appear so good we will’t assist however cease to style them, and it’s nicely value it.
The bread alone is scrumptious, and the toppings take these fluffy Sicilian pizzas to the subsequent degree.
Ragusa
Again within the automobile, we drive by means of extra lovely countryside to get to a hilltop city known as Ragusa. Additionally constructed within the Baroque model, this place is understood for meals. We’ve eaten so nicely up till now that our expectations are excessive.
We park in loads in Ragusa Ibla and stroll over to test into our room at A.D. 1768 Boutique Lodge. This place has every kind of favor, 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 means of the Giardino Ibleo backyard, a peaceable place with nice views over the encompassing space.
From there we cease for lunch at just a little place known as Osteria Del Pane Cunzato, which serves panini constructed from historical 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 part from the Fifteenth-century metropolis gate to the gorgeous cathedral. Alongside the way in which we pop into native outlets and take in extra views.
When aperitivo o’clock rolls round, we now have 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 robust aperitivo sport. We sit outdoors and luxuriate in Sicilian wine as we watch the world go by.
When it’s dinner time, we stroll over to Camuri. This place is understood for serving conventional Sicilian delicacies with a recent aptitude.
Our tasting menus embrace a stand-out pasta dish with anchovies that when once more proves Ragusa deserves its status as a culinary hub.
Day Seven in Sicily: Wine Tasting, Avola, and Catania
The following 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 charge). The Sicilian eggs are divine, and so they set us up nicely 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.
Afterwards we sit down for a tasting. We study all concerning 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 residence 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 Road Meals is just a little waterfront restaurant with out of doors seating and scrumptious sandwiches.
We order on the window and tuck into tuna panini as we take in 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 highway journey with a drive to Catania. This metropolis is understood for every part from its historical historical past to its buzzing port.
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.
Outdoors we stroll by means of the fish market by the Giardino Pacini as we make our approach over to the Castello Ursino fortress. Its hulking kind 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 historical occasions. It’s hidden behind a row of buildings, and it’s inspiring to see it once 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 environment.
From BarnAut we go to Scirocco for a fast avenue meals dinner earlier than strolling again to the automobile through 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 one more 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 variety of the highlights.
