Sicily Tourist Attractions: 15 Top Places to Visit
Planning to visit Sicily? Check out our Sicily Travel Guide video and see top most Tourist Attractions in Sicily.
Top Places to visit in Sicily:
Valle dei Templi, Ancient Theatre of Taormina, Spiaggia dei Conigli, Ex Stabilimento Florio delle Tonnare di Favignana e Formica, Duomo di Monreale, La Piazza Duomo, Chiesa del Gesu, Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, Villa Romana del Casale, Caves of Marettimo, Chiesa di San Giorgio, Chiesa di San Francesco, Trapani – Erice, Basilica San Salvatore, Piazza IX Aprile
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Places to see in ( Marsala - Italy ) Egadi Islands
Places to see in ( Marsala - Italy ) Egadi Islands
The Egadi Islands (Isole Egadi in Italian, also called Aegadian Islands in English) are three islands off the western coast of Sicily, close to Trapani and Marsala, and conveniently located for Trapani Airport (a Ryanair base). The islands make an attractive holiday destination.
The Egadi Islands are not as dramatic as the volcanic Aeolian Islands, nor breathtakingly beautiful and exclusive like Capri. Their appeal is more low-key, but this, along with their accessibility, gives them their own brand of charm. Visitors can relax in a picturesque island piazza on Favignana with a cheap glass of wine, see prehistoric cave-paintings on the little picture-postcard island of Levanzo, or step further from the hectic world on Marettimo, for a leisurely holiday based around swimming and diving in the clear water around the coast, or hill-walking in the island's interior. There is a protected marine reserve around the islands, whose coastal waters contain caves, shipwrecks and rich marine life.
The Egadi Islands aren't much known to non-Italians, and outside the peak Italian holiday period of July-August, tourism isn't too intrusive. There are services for tourists - good places to stay, restaurants, cafes, shops, bike hire and boat trips - but you'll still encounter a very authentic and welcoming local atmosphere. It is really quite remarkable how easily and quickly you find yourself in a different world: pottering past the rickety fish stalls where Favignana's fishermen sell their catch, or sipping wine at a cafe table as a local wedding spills out from the Chiesa Madrice into the wide piazza, where small children play on their bicycles.
The most obvious activity is simply to do some island-hopping, and visit each of the three islands, pottering around their villages and sampling their food and drink. you can tour the islands on scheduled ferry services, but you'll also, during tourist season, have the option of taking boat trips, often informally run and marketed at the quayside by ageing skippers, to circle the islands' coastlines, visit grottoes, catch a lift to beaches, or enjoy a cruise with lunch and some swimming opportunities. 'Pescaturismo', which is basically fishing tourism, can also be arranged at the fishing harbours, and tourists can have the adventure of accompanying a local fisherman on a fishing trip.
Cycling is a popular pastime and practical way to get about on Favignana, where you'll find bargain bicycle hire rates. Scooters, buggies and cars are also available for rent on the island; shops hiring out all these vehicles are easy to find right by the port in Favignana. There aren't any big sandy beaches on the islands, which have quite rocky shores, but there are popular coves for swimming, and some smaller beaches with sand. As well as swimming and sunbathing, the more active can go snorkelling and diving in the crystalline protected waters. Marettimo is particularly popular with divers, but diving excursions can be organised on all of the islands.
Marettimo is mountainous and offers some serious opportunities for hiking up slopes, through wild flowers, and to ruins, as well as shorter walks. Favignana is mostly flat, with roads and lanes to walk along, but also has one steep ridge crowned by a historic fortress; this makes a scenic though strenuous excursion. Levanzo is hilly with walks along the coastline and over its rural interior.
( Marsala - Italy ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Marsala . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Marsala - Italy
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Marettimo Aegadian Islands Italy Travel
Marettimo Aegadian Islands Italy Travel - Marettimo is one of the Aegadian Islands in the Mediterranean Sea west of Sicily, Italy. It forms a part of the municipality (comune) of Favignana in the Province of Trapani. From Trapani, the island takes about an hour to reach.
Marettimo is the second largest of the Aegadian Islands. The highest point is Monte Falcone with a height of 686 m (2,287 ft). The island has about 300 inhabitants in the winter and 700 in the summer (not including tourists), who mainly live from fishing and traditional hand-craft. Fishing is predominately conducted in the summer months.
The ancient name of the island was Hiera, perhaps a term of Spanish origin. However, the name Hiera is part of the Greek name Hiera Nesos, which means Sacred Island in Greek.
The name Marettimo comes from the words Mar (Sea) and Timo (Thyme) due to the profusion of thyme on the island.
The island was an important observation point during Roman times, hence the Casa Romana, where it was easy observe passing maritime traffic. The sea routes between Italy and North Africa and Italy and Spain (via Sardinia) would pass Marettimo.
There is a well restored Byzantine-Norman church adjacent to the Casa Romana.
There are several impressive grottos around the islands coast and innumerable spots for excellent swimming in pristine waters on the western coast accessible only by boat. SOURCE : WIKIPEDIA
Enjoy Your Marettimo Aegadian Islands Italy Travel!
Levanzo Island, Egadi Islands, Sicily
A Chic Retreat in Italy | Travel + Leisure
Sicily’s Casa Cuseni is a special property, with only five rooms overlooking terraced gardens in Taormina, Sicily. Watch this video for a quick look at the 1907 interiors, then head out to the patio for a look at Mount Etna—and a visit from a feathered friend. This fun video is an episode of the Travel + Leisure video series called #TLMoment, which captures the serendipitous and unexpected travel moments we all experience around the globe. It was shot by Annie Schlecter for Italy’s Best New Small Hotels, written by Valerie Waterhouse for Travel + Leisure May 2014.
Do you have travel moments to share? Use #TLMoment and tag @TravlandLeisure, and we may share your travel video on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more travel videos, visit travelandleisure.com/video and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Places to see in ( Favignana - Italy )
Places to see in ( Favignana - Italy )
Favignana is a comune including three islands (Favignana, Marettimo and Levanzo) of the Aegadian Islands, southern Italy. It is situated approximately 18 kilometres (11 miles) west of the coast of Sicily, between Trapani and Marsala, the coastal area where the Stagnone Lagoon and the international airport of Trapani, are sited.
The island of Favignana is famous for its tuna fisheries and is now a popular tourist destination with frequent hydrofoil connections to the mainland. In ancient times Favignana was called Aegusa, meaning goat island in Greek (Αιγούσα). The present name is derived from Favonio, an Italian name for the foehn wind. The Phoenicians established an outpost on the island as a stopping point on their trans-Mediterranean trading routes until the defeat of the Carthaginian army during the First Punic War.
Favignana is the largest of the three principal Egadi Islands, with a land area of 19.8 square kilometres (7.6 sq mi). The island is often described as having a butterfly shape. Favignana town is located on a narrow isthmus connecting the two wings, which have quite different characteristics. The eastern half of the island is largely flat, while the western half is dominated by a chain of hills of which Monte Santa Caterina is the tallest at 314 metres (1,030 feet). It is topped by a fort, originally established by the Saracens and still in use by the Italian military (and closed to the public). A number of small islands are situated off the south coast of Favignana.
Punta Sottile Lighthouse (Italian: Faro di Punta Sottile) is an active lighthouse on the Favignana Island placed at the extremity of Punta Sottile, the westernmost point of the Island. The first lighthouse was built in 1860 and had the shape like a turret, it was managed by Civil Engineering of Palermo. In 1904 was practically rebuilt in tuff from San Vito Lo Capo taking the current aspect of a tapered cylinder with balcony and lantern. Inside is a spiral staircase formed by 200 lead reinforced steps. The Regia Marina managed the lighthouse since 1912 and in 1935 the tower underwent to works in order to reduce its high to the present 38 metres (125 ft). The lighthouse emits one white flash in an eight-second period, visible up to 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi). The light is operated by the Lighthouses Service of the Marina Militare and it is identified by the Country code number 1716 E.F.
The island is famous for its caves of calcarenite rock (locally known as tufo) and the ancient fishing technique of tonnara, with the trapping and mattanza (massacre) of bluefin tuna. Because the island consists mainly of calcareous rocks, there are few beaches on the island; however, it is a popular site for scuba diving, snorkeling, and for day trips from nearby Trapani.
The plentiful tuna fish found offshore were first exploited systematically under the Spanish from about the 17th century onwards. Facing severe financial problems from their ongoing wars, the Spanish sold the islands to the Marquis Pallavicino of Genoa in 1637. The Pallavicini substantially developed the economy of the island, prompting the establishment of the modern town of Favignana around the Castello San Giacomo. In 1874, the Pallavicino family sold the Aegadian Islands to Ignazio Florio, the son of a wealthy mainland industrialist, for two million liras. He invested heavily in Favignana and built a major tuna cannery on the island, bringing prosperity to many of the inhabitants. Calcarenite quarries were also opened with stone being exported to Tunisia and Libya.
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Italy's Best Kept Secrets
Italy's best kept secrets
The Moment one plans to visit Italy, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the canals of Venice shall be on top of their must-see list.
But We Now take you around some of the lesser known attractions in the Italian peninsula.
Number 1 - San Gimignano
This walled medieval hill town in Tuscany is known as “the Town of Fine Towers”, and is famed for its medieval architecture. Over a dozen towers, coupled with its hilltop location, gives San Gimignano an enchanting skyline. A favorite of writers, a fictionalized version of the town features in EM Forster’s “Where Angels Fear to Tread” as well John Grisham’s “The Broker”. The Sant'Agostino Church houses some artwork from the Renaissance era for art connoisseurs.
Number 2 - Civita di Bagnoregio
A town in the province of Viterbo, about 120 Kilometers north of Rome. Civita di Bagnoregio, founded 2500 years ago by the Etruscans, is home to only ten people and has no post office, supermarket or hospital. Located atop a plateau overlooking the Tiber valley, this beautiful town has stood tall despite witnessing countless wars.
Number 3 - Salina
This island, which is home to six volcanoes, features on the World Heritage List primarily because of its value to vulcanology. The island has abundant vegetation with ferns, poplars, and chestnut trees of various kinds. It takes quite a while to reach Salina from mainland Italy, which is why it is less popular with tourists than many of Italy's other attractions.
Number 4 - Santo Stefano di Sessanio
A small town in Abruzzo, located in Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. Many properties in the region have been restored due to the efforts of Swedish-Italian entrepreneur Daniele Kihlgren in the early 2000s: his commitment to preserving the town's ancient architecture has made it a hugely popular destination for Italian tourists.
Number 5 - Castel del Monte
Located in the heart of the Gran Sasso mountain range, the town is set in a steep hillside near the high plain of Campo Imperatore. “La Notte delle Streghe” or “The Night of the Witches” is one of the major tourist attractions of the town, whose population was just above 450 in December 2013.
Number 6 - Bolzano
The capital of Italy’s northernmost region of South Tyrol, it was part of Germany until World War I. The discovery of Otzi – the well-preserved natural mummy of a man who lived around 3,300 BCE – was made in this region. Bolzano is a perfect mixture of Northern European and Mediterranean influences
Number 7 - Calabria
It is located at the toe of the Italian peninsula in Southern Italy. Calabria is bordered to the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea, and to the east by the Ionian Sea. Interestingly, in ancient times the region of Calabria was known as Italy before the name was extended to the entire peninsula. Scilla, Tropea, Capo Vaticano, Gerace, and Squillace are some of the best-known coastal attractions of Calabria.
Number 8 - Selinunte
The abandoned city of Selinunte contains five temples centered on an acropolis, including the historic Temple of Hera. Located on the south-western coast of Sicily, it is considered one of the most impressive ancient sites in the Mediterranean.
Number 9 - Marettimo
One of the Aegadian Islands in the Mediterranean Sea west of Sicily, Marettimo is a haven for scuba divers. Home to 300 people in winter, the number of residents more than doubles in the summer on an island that is also a breeding ground for some very rare species of plants.
Number 10 - Porto Venere
Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997, along with five nearby villages that make up the Cinque Terre, Porto Venere is located in the province of La Spezia. The Gothic Church of St. Peter, Doria Castle, and the Romanesque church of St. Lawrence are some of the must visits for travelers to the town.
Florence and Venice - Italy Vacation - Photo montage service - www.allondvd.com
Florence and Venice - Italy Vacation - Photo montage service - allondvd.com
SICILY, TRAPANI VIRTUAL TOUR
Il videoracconto di una giornata spesa ad esplorare (anzi, ri-esplorare a distanza di anni) la falce che si protende verso il Mediterraneo e rappresenta l'ultimo lembo di terra siciliana ad ovest.
Il centro storico di Trapani, le sue mura, il lungomare di Tramontana, il Bastione Conca, i vicoli verso Ligny, la Torre e le case dell'omonima affascinante borgata in cima alla falce. Ma anche il porto peschereccio, i corsi mondani, la tonnara di San Giuliano, e molto altro in questo video girato nella seconda metà di settembre del 2016, prima di imbarcarsi per Marettimo (su questo canale anche alcuni video dedicati all'isola più lontana delle Egadi).
Lo sviluppo turistico di Trapani è stato accelerato negli ultimi anni dai nuovi collegamenti aerei low cost con l'aeroporto di Trapani Birgi, in particolare effettuati da Rayanair con il Regno Unito e altri paesi del nord Europa. La stessa compagnia, per la verità, collega molto bene alcuni aerorporti del nord Italia, come Bologna e Bergamo, con la città siciliana.
Le dimensioni di Trapani sono ideali per un fine settimana esotico - soprattutto per i nordici che qui si sentono veramente ad un passo dall'Africa provenendo magari dalle lande scozzesi - e la città rappresenta senza dubbio un punto di partenza perfetto per diverse mete: Favignana, Levanzo, Marettimo, ma anche Erice, Marsala, lo Stagnone, la Riserva dello Zingaro, Palermo, le saline di Nubia e molto altro.
In questo video, però, mi sono concentrato solo sul centro città, su quello cioè che si può vedere uscendo un paio d'ore a piedi dal proprio b&b o albergo. Poi, evidentemente, basta noleggiare un'auto per raggiungere tutto ciò che sta attorno e vicino a Trapani.
Video girato con Canon Ixus 285HS, montato con iMovie.
Italia da amare: le Isole Egadi emozioni intimamente conflittuali.
I contrasti della vita: tra i bagliori e le sfumature di luoghi idilliaci, la coscienza di una esistenza complicata e la brutalità della mattanza.