Sicily is not simply a destination — it is a world unto itself. The largest island in the Mediterranean, it has been shaped by centuries of conquest and exchange: Greek temples, Arab domes, Norman mosaics, Baroque facades, and modern dolce vita all coexist under the same sun. To travel here is to move through layers of civilization, geography, and flavor. From Palermo’s palazzi to Noto’s honey-colored piazzas, from the black sands of Stromboli to the luxury retreats of Taormina, Sicily is a journey of endless seduction.
Where to Stay
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Taormina
Perched beside the Greek Theatre, this 19th-century grand hotel is perhaps the most iconic address in Sicily. Terraces open to views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
🌐 belmond.com/hotels/europe/italy/sicily/grand-hotel-timeo
Villa Igiea, Palermo
Restored by Rocco Forte Hotels, Villa Igiea revives Belle Époque glamour on the Palermo waterfront. Frescoed halls and Liberty-style architecture echo its aristocratic past.
🌐 roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/villa-igiea
Seven Rooms Villadorata, Noto
A jewel-box boutique hotel in a Baroque palazzo, with frescoed ceilings and wrought-iron balconies overlooking Noto’s UNESCO-listed streetscape.
🌐 sevenroomsvilladorata.it
Monaci delle Terre Nere, Mount Etna
An eco-luxury estate offering vineyard vistas, organic cuisine, and suites scattered across 40 acres on Etna’s slopes.
🌐 monacidelleterrenere.it
Il San Corrado di Noto
A converted masseria that brings understated modern design to the Val di Noto countryside, complete with private pools.
🌐 ilsancorradodinoto.com
Where to Eat
Ciccio Sultano’s Duomo, Ragusa Ibla
Two Michelin stars, rooted in Sicilian tradition yet entirely contemporary.
🌐 ristoranteduomo.it
Osteria dei Vespri, Palermo
A refined restaurant in a 15th-century palazzo, marrying Palermo’s multicultural flavors with fine dining.
🌐 osteriadeivespri.it
Il Consiglio di Sicilia, Donnalucata
Seafood-focused, soulful cooking overlooking the coast.
🌐 ilconsigliodisicilia.com
Fud Off, Catania
Playful street-food–inspired dining with Sicilian ingredients and natural wines.
🌐 fudoff.it
Pasticceria Cappello, Palermo
Legendary for its setteveli cake — seven layers of chocolate and hazelnut perfection.
🌐 pasticceriacappello.it
The Beaches
- San Vito Lo Capo — visitsanvitolocapo.com
- Scala dei Turchi, Agrigento — visitagrigento.it/scala-dei-turchi
- Isola Bella, Taormina — visitsicily.info/isola-bella
- Vendicari Nature Reserve, Noto — riservadinaturavendicari.it
- Cefalù Beach — visitsicily.info/cefalu
Towns & Cities
- Palermo — chaotic and dazzling, home to the Palatine Chapel, Quattro Canti, Ballarò Market, and Teatro Massimo. visitpalermo.it
- Taormina — hilltop darling with a Greek Theatre, chic boutiques, and world-class hotels. taormina.it
- Noto — baroque jewel glowing in honey-colored stone. comune.noto.sr.it
- Syracuse & Ortygia — Greek antiquity and atmospheric piazzas. visitsyracuse.it
- Ragusa Ibla — a labyrinth of baroque lanes and terraces. comune.ragusa.gov.it
- Cefalù — medieval fishing town crowned by a Norman cathedral. comune.cefalu.pa.it
- Agrigento — Valley of the Temples, one of the greatest Greek sites. valleyofthetemples.com
- Catania — gritty, baroque, and vibrant at Etna’s foot. comune.catania.it
Churches & Museums
- Palatine Chapel, Palermo — Norman-Byzantine mosaics. cappellapalatina.com
- Monreale Cathedral — golden mosaics rivaling Ravenna and Venice. duomomonreale.com
- Cathedral of Noto — reconstructed after 1996, baroque theatricality. cattedraledinoto.it
- Valley of the Temples, Agrigento — Doric temples among olive groves. valleyofthetemples.com
- Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi, Syracuse — one of Italy’s finest archaeological collections. museopaolorisi.beniculturali.it
- Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina — Roman mosaics of extraordinary detail. villadelcasale.it
Shopping
- Ortigia Market, Syracuse — spices, capers, sun-dried tomatoes. mercatodiortigia.it
- Dolce & Gabbana, Palermo — flagship celebrating Sicilian maximalism. dolcegabbana.com
- Ceramics in Caltagirone — Moor’s head vases and painted tiles. caltagironeceramiche.com
- Antique Markets in Palermo — from mirrors to Sicilian carts. mercatodellepulci.it
- A Putia delle Cose Buone, Taormina — gourmet shop of pistachios, Modica chocolate, wines. aputiadellecosebuone.com
The Essence of Sicily
Sicily is an island of juxtapositions: wild and refined, ancient and avant-garde, spiritual and sensual. One can spend the morning among Greek temples, the afternoon on a pristine beach, the evening dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant, and the night strolling through a piazza lit by Baroque facades.
What makes Sicily irresistible is not simply its history or its landscapes, but the way they intertwine. Here, every stone and every flavor tells a story. To travel in Sicily is to surrender to its layers — to let its contradictions and beauty shape you as much as you seek to discover them.
My World of Interiors 