Insight Guides Explore Sicily (Travel Guide eBook)

By Insight Guides

Insight Explore Guides: pocket-sized books to inspire your on-foot exploration of top international destinations.

Experience the best of Sicily with this indispensably practical Insight Explore Guide. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see attractions like Palermo, Mount Etna, Siracusa and the Aeolian Islands, to discovering hidden gems, including the Zíngaro Nature Reserve and the medieval town of Erice, the easy-to-follow, ready-made walking routes will help you plan your trip, save you time, and enhance your exploration of this fascinating island.

·       Practical, pocket-sized and packed with inspirational insider information, this will make the ideal on-the-move companion to your trip to Sicily 
·       Enjoy over 13 irresistible Best Routes to walk, from the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento to Catania and Taormina 
·       Features concise insider information about landscape, history, food and drink, and entertainment options
·       Invaluable maps: each Best Route is accompanied by a detailed full-colour map, while the large pull-out map provides an essential overview of the area
·       Discover your destination's must-see sights and hand-picked hidden gems
·       Directory section provides invaluable insight into top accommodation, restaurant and nightlife options by area, along with an overview of language, books and films 
·       Inspirational colour photography throughout

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Insight Guides
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781789198355

Insight Guides

Pictorial travel guide to Arizona & the Grand Canyon with a free eBook provides all you need for every step of your journey. With in-depth features on culture and history, stunning colour photography and handy maps, it’s perfect for inspiration and finding out when to go to Arizona & the Grand Canyon and what to see in Arizona & the Grand Canyon. 

Book preview

How To Use This E-Book

This Explore Guide has been produced by the editors of Insight Guides, whose books have set the standard for visual travel guides since 1970. With ­top-­quality photography and authoritative recommendations, these guidebooks bring you the very best routes and itineraries in the world’s most exciting destinations.

Best Routes

The routes in this book provide something to suit all budgets, tastes and trip lengths. As well as covering the destination’s many classic attractions and the itineraries track lesser-known sights. The routes embrace a range of interests, so whether you are an art fan, a gourmet, a history buff or have kids to entertain, you will find an option to suit.

We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments – options are shown in the ‘Food and Drink’ box at the end of each tour.

Introduction

The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink, shopping and more, while a succinct history timeline highlights the key events over the centuries.

Directory

Also supporting the routes is a Directory chapter, with a clearly organised A–Z of practical information, our pick of where to stay while you are there and select restaurant listings; these eateries complement the more low-key cafés and restaurants that feature within the routes and are intended to offer a wider choice for evening dining. Also included here are some nightlife listings, plus a handy language guide and our recommendations for books and films about the destination.

Getting around the e-book

In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

Maps

All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

Images

You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

© 2019 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

Table of Contents

Recommended Routes For...

Baroque at its best

Castles

Island hoppers

Markets

Mosaic art

Top museums

Top temples

Volcanoes and views

Explore Sicily

Geography and layout

Climate and when to visit

The Sicilians

The Mafia

The new Sicily

Food and Drink

Local cuisine

Where to eat and drink

What to eat

Antipasti (starters)

Il primo (first course)

Il secondo (main course)

Contorni (vegetables)

Street food

Dolci (desserts)

Drinks

Vino (wine)

Soft drinks

Shopping

Shopping hours

Antiques

Pottery and ceramics

Papyrus

Crafts

Food and wine

Fashion

Anti-mafia shopping

Entertainment

Classical drama

Film

Festivals

Nightlife

Outdoor Activities

Beaches

Water sports

Hiking

Skiing

Cycling

Golf

Culture and History

Early settlers

Romans, Arabs and Normans

Spanish rule

From Unification to the present

History: Key Dates

Early history

Medieval Sicily

Spanish rule to Unification

Modern Sicily

Western Palermo

Piazza Pretoria

La Martorana and San Cataldo

The Albergheria Quarter

San Giovanni degli Eremiti

Palazzo dei Normanni

Cappella Palatina

Royal Apartments

Cattedrale

Eastern Palermo

Oratorio di Santa Cita

Oratorio del Rosario di San Domenico

Around San Domenico

The Vucciria

La Kalsa

Piazza Marina

Galleria Regionale della Sicilia

The Foro Italico

Cefalù

Il Duomo

Mosaics

The Old Quarter

La Rocca

Parco Regionale delle Madonie

Monreale, Segesta and Zíngaro park

Monreale

Cathedral facade

Cathedral interior

Tower, terrace and cloisters

Segesta

Scopello

Zíngaro Nature Reserve

Castellammare del Golfo

Trápani and Erice

Trápani

The centre

The modern town

Erice

The centre

Castello di Venere

Along the African Coast

The Salt Road (Trápani to Marsala)

Mozia

Marsala

Archaeological Park of Lilybaeum

Mazara del Vallo

Selinunte

Parco Archeologico

The temples

Marinella

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento

Valle dei Templi

Eastern Zone

Tempio di Ercole

Tempio della Concordia

Tempio di Giunone

The Western Zone

Tempio di Giove

Tempio di Dioscuri

Giardino della Kolymbethra

Museo Archeologico

Modern Agrigento

Enna and Villa Romana

Enna

Aidone

Piazza Armerina

Villa Romana

Mosaics

Siracusa

Parco Archeologico della Neapolis

Teatro Greco

Latomie

Basilica and catacombs of San Giovanni

Museo Archeologico

Ortigia

The centre

Piazza del Duomo

Papyrus Museum

South of Piazza del Duomo

The waterfront

The Val Di Noto

Noto

Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Piazza Municipio

Palazzo Villadorata

Cava d’Íspica

Módica

Corso Umberto I

Módica Alta

Scicli

Ragusa

Ragusa Ibla

Catania

Taormina

The Centre

Palazzo Corvaja

The Greek Theatre

Naumachie and Piazza IX Aprile

Piazza del Duomo

Giardino Pubblico

Taormina by night

Mazzarò and Bella Isola

Castelmola

Exploring Etna: Foothills and Ascent

Ascent of Etna

Southern approach – Rifugio Sapienza

By foot

Northern approach – Piano Provenzana

What to see

The Aeolian Islands

Lípari

The Citadel

Archaeological Museum

Marina Corta

Vulcano

Panarea and Strómboli

Strómboli

Salina

Accommodation

Palermo

Mondello

Cefalù

Punta Secca

Scopello

Trápani

Erice

Mazara del Vallo

Selinunte

Agrigento

Piazza Armerina

Siracusa

Noto

Módica

Ragusa

Chiaramonte Gulfi

Catania

Taormina

Aeolian Islands

Restaurants

Palermo

Mondello

Cefalù

Monreale

Castelbuono

Alcamo

Trápani

Erice

Marinella di Selinunte

Agrigento

Licata

Piazza Armerina

Siracusa

Noto

Ragusa

Chiaramonte Gulfi

Catania

Taormina

Capri Leone (Messina)

Aeolian Islands

Nightlife

Palermo

Taormina

Catania

A-Z

A

Age restrictions

B

Budgeting for your trip

C

Children

Climate

Clothing

Crime and safety

Customs

E

Electricity

Embassies and consulates

Emergencies

Etiquette

G

Green issues

H

Health

Pharmacies and hospitals

I

Internet facilities

L

Left luggage

LGBTQ travellers

Lost property

M

Media

Money

Currency

Changing money

Credit cards

Cash machines

Taxes

Tipping

O

Opening hours

P

Police

Post

Public holidays

Major holidays and festivals

R

Religion

T

Telephones

Mobile (Cell) phones

Time zones

Toilets

Tourist information

Transport

Arriving by air

Arriving by rail

Arriving by sea

Arriving by car

Transport around Sicily

Travellers with disabilites

V

Visas and passports

W

Wine resort tours

Websites

Women

Language

Useful phrases

General

At a bar/restaurant

Numbers

Getting around

Online

Social media

Books and Film

Books

History and culture

Crime and society

Travel and general

Films

Recommended Routes For...

Baroque at its best

Succumb to Sicilian Baroque in Noto, Ragusa and other cities of the Val di Noto Unesco World Heritage site (Route 10), and see splendid restored Baroque churches and palaces in the centre of Catania (Route 11).

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Castles

Sweep away the cobwebs by visiting great medieval castles, including those in Erice (Route 5), Enna (Route 8), Siracusa (Route 9) and Catania (Route 11), built by the Normans or Swabians.

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Island hoppers

Sail on ferries or hydrofoils to the stunningly beautiful Aeolian Islands (Route 14) off the northeast coast, popular for volcano-climbing and viewing, wallowing in mud baths, hiking, sailing and swimming.

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Markets

The teeming markets of Palermo (Route1) and Catania (Route 11), with mountains of glistening fresh produce and raucous street life, are riveting spectacles. Dive in early to see them at their best.

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Mosaic art

Admire the Byzantine Norman mosaics in Palermo’s Cappella Palatina (Route 1), the cathedrals of Cefalù (Route 3) and Monreale (Route 4), then visit Villa Romana del Casale (Route 8) for superb Roman floor mosaics.

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Top museums

Discover outstanding collections of prehistoric and classical archaeological remains in the museums of Agrigento (Route 7), Siracusa (Route 9), Palermo (Route 1) and Lípari (Route 14).

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Top temples

Sicily has more ancient Greek temples than Greece. Track down the most splendid at Agrigento (Route 7), Segesta (Route 4) and Selinunte (Route 6), and in summer stay for Greek drama under the stars.

iStock

Volcanoes and views

Explore Sicily’s dramatically active volcanoes: a cable car, trail-bashing jeep tour or climb up Etna (Route 13), a hike up smouldering Vulcano or a view of the exploding cone of Strómboli from the sea (Route 14).

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Explore Sicily

Goethe found Sicily intoxicating, from the Classical temples and Etna’s eruptions to the volcanic Sicilians themselves. ‘To have seen Italy without seeing Sicily’, he wrote, ‘is not to have seen Italy at all – for Sicily is the key to everything.’

Sicily’s strategic maritime setting, at the crossroads of Mediterranean trade routes, has always played a crucial role in the island’s history. Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards all left their mark, embellishing the island with some of their finest works and creating a beguiling cultural hybrid.

Sicilian smile

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

The varied legacies are redolent in the complex traditions and customs, as well as the diversity of architectural styles. It’s perhaps not surprising that Sicilians see themselves as a separate nation from mainland Italy or the rest of Europe. When they cross the 4km (2.5-mile) Strait of Messina to the Italian peninsula, they’re off to ‘il Continente’.

Fish market in Catania

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Likewise, mainland Italians see Sicilians as foreigners and northern Italians refer to them as Africans. Many islanders still speak the Sicilian dialect, a rich Romance language sprinkled with words from Latin, Greek, Arabic, French and Spanish. The food – one of the great pleasures of a visit to Sicily – is different too, drawing from the culinary culture of Arabs and other invaders.

Tango dancers in Palermo

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Sicily’s fascination lies in the unexpected. Mount Etna’s smoking plumes hover above scented citrus groves, Greek temple columns support a Baroque cathedral, exotic Arab-Norman churches glow with Byzantine mosaics, city street markets are tinged with the flavour of a Moroccan souk. Sicilian experiences know no bounds. You can ski in the morning, sunbathe in the afternoon, gaze into a bubbling volcanic crater one day, bathe from volcanic rocks the next. Another day you could marvel at mosaics in a Roman emperor’s hunting villa, visit a valley of Greek temples or watch a Greek drama unfold in an ancient theatre under the stars.

Geography and layout

Lying halfway between Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and Italy’s largest region. At 25,708 sq km (9,926 square miles) it is far bigger than most first-time visitors imagine, and while motorways help cut journey times, much of the island is mountainous and slow going. For example, crossing the island from Trápani in the west to Siracusa in the east takes at least four hours, and over five if you avoid the motorway. The landscape, whose diversity is unmatched by other Mediterranean islands, is one of mountains, citrus groves, pastureland and vast expanses of rolling wheatfields. The scenery is monumentally dramatic around Mount Etna, which dominates, and periodically threatens, the eastern coast. But Sicily is not all scenic. Around many of the cities there are great swathes of unsightly development, much of it modern unregulated blocks built by the Mafia. While some historic sites stand in blissful isolation, others, such as the glorious Greek relics in Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, are encroached upon by the modern world.

To cover the main cities and sights in one trip you’ll need a good fortnight and at least two bases. If touring, you’d ideally fly into Palermo or Trápani in the west and out of Catania in the east. The itineraries in the book begin with Palermo (and Cefalù in Palermo province), then move around the coastline in a westerly direction.

The west coast is followed by a tour of the famous temples of Agrigento and an inland foray to hilltop Enna and the Roman Villa at Piazza Armerina. On the east coast, walks are devoted to each of Siracusa, Catania and the popular resort of Taormina, with inland tours of the Baroque gems of the southeast and the foothills of dominant Mount Etna. Last come the glorious Aeolian Islands, which float off the Tyrrhenian coast. All around the island you will see the Trinacria, the ancient symbol of Sicily, which became the official public flag in 2000. It features the head of Medusa with three wheat ears (symbolising the fertile land) and three bent legs (representing the island’s three points).

The Sicilian flag with the Trinacria

Bigstock

Taormina’s Teatro Greco

Neil Buchan-Grant/Apa Publications

Climate and when to visit

Sicily enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers. The only extremes you can expect are in July and August, when daytime temperatures average 28°C (82°F). During this period it can be unbearably hot and crowded, especially in August when Italians take their summer holidays. Those choosing to visit in the height of summer should be prepared to spend the hottest hours indoors, or immersed in water. It is always a good idea to take along a pair of sturdy, closed shoes if you are planning to go for a hike on Mount Etna. Generally the best times to go are April, when spring flowers carpet the hillsides, through to mid-June, then from September to October/November. During these periods it’s cooler and less crowded, and the sea is often still warm in November. Winters along the coast are short and generally mild, though many resort hotels and restaurants are closed. In the interior, especially the mountainous areas, temperatures are lower and Mount Etna remains snowcapped until late April or May, often offering marvellous eruptions with lava melting the snow. The Aeolian Islands are subject to strong winds and the main season is relatively short – from June to September.

Reviews for Insight Guides Explore Sicily (Travel Guide eBook)

[thatsfresh_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I bought this, not knowing when I’d be going to Tokyo, but found out I would be going there sooner than I thought. Less that a year after buying this book I found myself in Tokyo for a 4 hour layover. I hadn’t bookmarked anything in this book, and had barely read it, but I had broughtit along with me so when I landed in Japan, I’d know what to do. Thanks to this book I was able to go through the very difficult task of taking all the trains into the city from Narita Airport and rushing to Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku. It was stressful and confusing, but I managed it, and am so happy I did. It totally worth the effort (not to mention money). If this book can guide me in a rush through Japan, then I’m sure it can do its job wonderfully if you actually read the whole book! And the maps Insight Guide includes with numbers, matching with sites being described is so helpful. It also includes a small fold out map (not entirely helpful) with a bunch of restaurants pinpointed on it. Defiantly a necessity for all planning on going to Tokyo.