Discovering Sicily

Sicily is the biggest island of the Mediterranean sea and has approximately 5 milion habitants.

It is a great place for vacation for everyone. Couples, families and solo travelers will enjoy the incredible art of the cities, the stunning beaches and the unbelievable traditional food.

Let’s start your trip from Ragusa which might be your hub in the first part of your trip.

• Ragusa - Starting point
• Modica - 15km far
• Scicli - 20km far
• Noto - 55km far
• Syracuse - 75 km far
• Catania (Mount Etna) - 100 km far
• Caltagirone - 60 km far
• Taormina - 160 km far
• Agrigento (Valley of the Temples) - 120 km far
• Piazza Armerina (Villa Romana del Casale) - 95 km far
• Palermo - 290 km far
• Trapani - 310 km far

Ragusa - Starting point

Ragusa occupies the south east part of Sicily and it is the southest province of Italy.

There are two main city centre called Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore
The city is immersed in the green of nature on what is called the "Ragusano Plateau" due to the irregular formation of the ground, disconnected from deep canyons.

To Know more about what to see, what to do and where to eat go to the following link: https://www.terrazzadeisogni.it/en/visit-ragusa-ibla

Modica - 15km far

Modica, twisted and sensual, it has been declared patrimony of UNESCO for the numerous artworks that adorn the city. Although the catastrophic earthquake of 1693, many are the rests, when Modica was the most important feud of Sicily.

The origin of the name have been lost during the years and today different are the theories: probably from assigned by the Greeks or the Phoenicians. Modica has been always distinguished for his number of population, for being an active city thankfully to his religious corporations that during the centuries have established schools and cultural centers. In fact, before the earthquake of the 18^th century, Modica counted something like hundred churches.

Like Ragusa, Modica is divided in two parts: Upper Modica which constructions are like climbing mountain and Lower Modica, divided by Corso Umberto, the main street of the city. The aspect of Modica is principally late-baroque, almost all rebuilt after the 1693.

Scicli - 20 km far

Located between three valleys (Val di Modica, Santa Maria la Nova e San Bartolomeo) grows the fabulous baroque pearl, Scicli, which count just 25.000 habitants. Like Ragusa and Modica, it has the privilege to be patrimony of the UNESCO. The origins of the name are not clear: most probably it comes from the nickname of Siclis which was given by the ancient Siculi. However, some people attribute the name to Casmene, which was one of the sub-colony of Syracuse.

Noto - 55km far

At approximately 50 Km from Ragusa Ibla, arises the town of Noto, an UNESCO Heritage site. After the devastating earthquake of 1693 the town was entirely ruibuilt in Baroque style and relocated into a different area. Centre of the city is The Town Hall Square where stands the Cathedral of San Nicola and Corrado and Ducezio’s Palace which houses the town hall’s institution.  Numerous are the baroque buildings which  deserve particular admiration along  Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Least but no last the magical “Infiorata”, a welcoming ceremony of Spring but also a tribute to flowers used as medium of artworks all along the streets of the city centre. Very importanti to visiti s also The Civil Museum of Noto which holds several archeological findings.
Finally, reaching XVI Maggio Square, stands Villetta D’Ercole where there are two important neighbouring buildings ;The Theatre and The Church of San Domenico both considered masterpieces of the 18th Century.

Syracuse - 75 km far

Syracuse is located in the south-east of Sicily and it is 85km far from Ragusa. The history of the city is thousand-years old. Infact it was one the biggest metropolis of the Classical Age, homeland of artists and scientists like Archimede.

After the catastrophic earthquake of 1693 the city centre got a new baroque style that can be admired today.
Syracusa is partially expanded in the island of Ortigia and on the mainland. The island is pleanty of ancient nobiliar Palaces and a labyrinth of narrow streets with sea view make this place unique.
Syracusa is considered one of the most important European art city and of course is in the list of the UNESCO.

Catania (Mount Etna) - 100 km far

Catania is a city located on the eastern coast of Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna, the biggest volcano in Europe. It is the second largest city in Sicily with the metropolitan area reaching one million inhabitants, a major transport hub, economic centre and a university city where you will enjoy a busy downtown and an active nightlife.

The history of Catania begins in 729-728 BC, when Greek settlers from Naxos founded Kατάvη, Katane. After a period of Syracusan domination in 263 B.C., the city's history continued under the Romans. Over the centuries, the city experienced the same fate as the rest of Sicily, with domination, destruction and resurgence. It was in 1402, under Aragonese King Martin I of Sicily, that Catania became the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily.

Two very serious natural disasters, the eruption of Mount Etna in 1669 and the Val di Noto earthquake in 1693, propelled Catania into the modern era: its Sicilian Baroque style is the result of the diligent reconstruction efforts of illustrious architects.

Many things should be not missed visiting Catania: the Ursino Castle, founded by Frederick II of Swabia in the 13th century and now home to a splendid civic museum; Palazzo Biscari, the most important private palace in Catania and a precious example of Sicilian Baroque; Villa Bellini; Catania Cathedral; Via Etnea and he Peschiera di Catania, the noisy old morning fish market that can be reached by climbing a flight of volcanic steps.

Caltagirone - 60 km far

Caltagirone is a town located between the central area and the East coast of Sicily and 60 km distant from Ragusa , it is renowned for the production of ceramic which dates back to the Greek domination (Magna Grecia).

In 2002 the historical  city centre began to be part of the UNESCO Heritage sites  along with the Noto Valley.

Thanks to its particular structure  Caltagirone is one of the most popular and interesting  sicilian destinations.

Taormina - 160 km far

Taormina is one of the most beautiful and magic place in the world. Taormina is a must see destination.

The charming town is located on a rocky plateau of Mount Tauro overlooking the Ionian sea, at a height of about 250 meters.

The history of Taormina is shrouded in fascination and mystery. In 358 BC, the Siculians who had settled on Mount Taurus welcomed the survivors of the Greek colony of Naxos. There they founded Tauromènion and gave the city the appearance of a Greek colony, with the agora, the acropolis and the Ancient Theatre.

Isola Bella is the symbol of Taormina along with the Greek Theatre, a picturesque and evocative little island that became the Isolabella Regional Nature Museum in 2011; another must-see spot in Taormina is Piazza IX Aprile, a panoramic terrace overlooking the bay below.

Agrigento (Valley of the Temples) - 120 km far

Agrigento is located in the western coast of Sicily and 120 km away from Ragusa. The history of this amazing town goes back to the Greeks, founders of this particular area. Mainly renowned for the Temples Valley, an Unesco World Heritage site since 1997. The town of Agrigento is a living example of the grandeur of the Greek Empire (Magna Grecia) in Sicily.

Piazza Armerina (Villa Romana del Casale) - 95 km far

Piazza Armerina is a town located 65 km north-east from Ragusa. It is  very well known place for its Roman mosaics, characteristic suburbs made of nets of alleys and the baroque buildings such as; Trigona Palace and the Aragonese  Castle. Piazza Armerina has four medieval suburbs where every year several events take place like The Vessillo della Patrona (Maria SS Delle Vittorie) an historycal rievocation of the Normand horse race held, in August.

In 1950, thanks to the archeologist Gino Vinici, who decided to start excavation, lead to the discovery of Villa Romana Del Casale. The historical discovery was subsequently dated around the IV Century supposedly belonging to a weatlhy Roman family. The Villa is a magnific rural habitation decorated with amazing mosaics on which are represented scenes of the grandeur and aristocratic lifestyle lead by the owners of the villa itself. The mosaics show the following main themes; The Homeric Epic tales, the Nature with its flora and fauna references and finally the aristocratic lifestyle. Observing these mosaics it is possible to assume the presence of african hand crafters or artists that obviously influenced the art of that time. The building was composed of four areas: The Entrance has a U shape, the central part of the Villa goes all around the courtyard, a large room with three apses (trichora) preceded by an elliptical colonnade and the terme (baths). Many are the things to see; the terme room, the entrance courtyard , the vestibolo and and the peristilio, the rest rooms , the room dedicated to the skill of hunting “Piccola Caccia” and “ Grande Caccia”and the room of “Palestrite”, the Patronal apartmentes with the mosaic of Ulisses and Polifemo.

Palermo - 290 km far

It's the capital city of the autonomous region of Sicily and of its own province. The city's economy is based on local government institutions, port, shipbuilding industry and the mechanical industry.

Palermo was founded by the Phoenicians who called the city: Zyz.

The Greeks tried several times to take possession of this magical place, but only the Romans succeeded during the First Punic War. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Palermo was subject to barbarian invasions at the hands of the Vandals and Ostrogoths until the Byzantine fleets of Belisarius of the Eastern Roman Empire conquered the city in 535 AD, making it the capital of their kingdom in southern Italy. Its splendour was in 1040: the Norman kings created a pioneering state where different religions and ethnic groups coexisted peacefully. An environment that pleased Frederick II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and grandson of Frederick Barbarossa.

With the Angevins, from 1494 to 1759, Palermo was ruled by the Viceroys, officials of the King of Spain who were later abolished by the Bourbons who, having settled in Naples, unified the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and governed Palermo until the arrival of Garibaldi and its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy.

Because of its variety of monuments, attesting to its long and rich history, and the number of other cultural and naturalistic attractions, Palermo can offer a very interesting experience such as: Palermo Cathedral, Palatin Chapel, Quattro Canti, The Gesù Church, Palace of the Normans, Praetorian Palace or Palace of the Eagles etc.

Trapani - 310 km far

Its name is of Greek origin meaning “scythe” and the long, narrow shape of the town surrounded by the sea has mount Erice at its handle, the elected site of exiled Trojans worshipping the goddess Aphrodite.

Trapani have gained the name of "City of Salt and Sail". Indeed, many visitors as well as water sports fans from all over the world reach the destination to visit the "pans" and practise sport like kite surf.

After the epoch of the Greeks in which Trapani was a minor colony, it became a trading centre for the Phoenicians before becoming a pivotal hinge in the Carthaginian empire. The Romans, quick as ever to spot a valuable site, then defeated the Carthaginians in the battle of the Egadi Islands and took the town, using it as a minor trading post.

After the invasion and disappearance of the Vandals, the town revived a little during Byzantine rule, until 830 A.D. when for the first time the town began to come into its own under the Muslims who virtually reconstructed the town, enclosing it with walls on all sides, and giving it a unique street plan peculiar to the Arabs, to be found in several Sicilian cities. The Arabs also increased the town's prosperity with the growth in production of salt, tuna and coral as well as introducing an irrigation system thus increasing the town's food productivity.

During the Spanish era of dominion, the town's coral production and decoration grew along with the extraction and export of marble. As a port, the town had always enjoyed the benefit of customs ensuring a constant for the town's prosperity. Charles V restructured Trapani's walls adding a deep ditch and channel around the city to protect it from attack.

The “Saline di Trapani e Paceco” reserve is just outside Trapani along the road to Marsala. In a seascape of large stretches of water that under the sun create strange geometrical patterns and heaps of white salt and windmills, you can follow a network of paths and observe the various stages of salt production, a tradition that probably goes back as far as the Phoenicians. In remote antiquity, the fame of Trapani’s salt reached all the Mediterranean markets.