A saunter through Sicily

Palermo - Begin your exploration of the Sicilian capital with a dazzling eye-opener, the Cappella Palatina.

Norman Palace - The Palazzo dei Normannim itself is the oldest royal residence in Europe, with parts of the building dating back to the 11th century.

Museum collections - Also look out for the lion heads displayed in the Selinunte Room. They once graced the Temple of Victory in the ancient city of Himera.

Capuchin Catacombs - One of Palermo's most popular visitor attractions is found underground, the 16th-century Catacombe dei Cappuccini.

Palermo Cathedral - Palermo's cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cathedral of Monreale - Another cathedral worth investigating is at Monreale. Located 7 km (4 mi) inland of the Sicilian capital.

emple of Heracles - Linger at Agrigento at dusk and watch darkness slowly fall over the illuminated ruins of the Temple of Heracles.

Selinunte - Actually, Sicily is home to some sensational examples of ancient Greek temples. Selinunte was once a community of 30,000 souls.

Mount Etna - Sicily hosts the largest, most active volcano in Europe: Etna. In 2021, a series of explosive eruptions reminded everyone of how volatile and unpredictable Etna is.

Ferrovia Circumetnea - A novel way to explore Etna is to ride the Ferrovia Circumetnea, a narrow-gauge railway that circumnavigates the mountain.

Neapolis Archaeological Park - The park is home to one of the largest theaters in the ancient Greek empire.

Isola Bella - One of Taormina's natural wonders is Isola Bella, a small but perfectly formed island reached by treading a narrow strip of rocky beach.

Aeolian Islands - Moored off Sicily's north coast is the volcanic archipelago known as the Aeolian Islands.

Zingaro Nature Reserve - Riserva naturale dello zingaro was the first natural reserve set up in Sicily, in 1981.

Modica - Modica, another UNESCO gem acknowledged for its Baroque splendor, is highlighted by the hallowed Church of San Giorgio.

Trapani - Trapani on the west coast of Sicily is historically associated with salt production.