Vacation Rentals in Sicily

Sicily is at the same time the largest island of Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. Together with some offshore islands, the island forms the autonomous region of the same name. Sicily lies southwest of the tip of Italy's boots, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Messina, and once belonged to a land bridge between Europe and Africa. The capital of the island with almost 5 million inhabitants is Palermo.

Sicily has the approximate shape of a triangle. The Tyrrhenian Sea extends off the north coast, the Ionian Sea off the east coast, and the Strait of Sicily lies between the southwest coast and Africa. The north and east are characterised by cliffs, and mountain ranges run through the interior. The highest mountain of the island, the volcano Etna, rises on 3345 meters height. It is the highest active volcano in Europe.

In the north, on Monte Pellegrino, in the bay called Conca d´Oro (Golden Shell), lies Sicily's capital Palermo. A stroll through the city leads to places of interest such as the Norman Palace, the church of Sant Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Teatro Massimo. The cathedral Maria Santissima Assunta from the 12th century is also one of the most important sights.

The historic city of Syracuse - Siracusa in Sicilian - is still marked by its Greek past. Here, on the south-east coast of Sicily, you can visit the temple of Athena, built around 600 BC. Today it is surrounded by the Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Colonne. The archaeological park of Neapoli contains further evidence of Greek and Roman antiquity, such as an amphitheatre or the altar of Hieron.

The city of Ragusa, located in northeastern Sicily, is the capital of the province of the same name. The eastern district of Ragusa Ibla has retained its medieval character to this day. The Ragusa superiore district, on the other hand, was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693 in the Baroque style. The Duomo San Giorgio is considered one of the showpieces of the Sicilian Baroque.

The river Alcantara rises on the south side of the Monti Nebrodi near Floresta and flows south of Taormina into the Ionian Sea. Since 2001, the landscape around the river has been protected by the Parco fluviale dell'Alcantara Natural Park. The course of the river has created deep gorges, which today are a popular destination for excursions.

Pizza and pasta - these are national dishes of Sicily. But how varied the Sicilian cuisine really is, you will get to know on a trip to the heart of the island. In the town of Enna, Restaurante Ariston serves regional dishes in an elegant setting. If you want to cook in the holiday apartment, stock up on regional specialities at the La Vucciria market in Palermo's old town.