One of the places that many people like to visit on an Italian vacation is Sicily. Sicily has some of the most popular ancient sites you’ll ever find, and the island itself is the largest in the Mediterranean. Medieval towns, museums and classic architecture make Sicily a haven for people who enjoy history and a slower paced way of life. Many people who visit Sicily find that one or two days isn’t quite enough to see all of the important sights, so if you plan to go, try to budget up to a week to get the full experience.
The highest active volcano in Europe, called Mount Etna, is located in Sicily. Any Sicily vacation packages or Sicily tours will include a trip to Mount Etna. The town of Syracuse should be on the lists of stops for Sicily tours, as it boasts the Greek Theatre and an ancient quarry called the ‘Ear of Dionysius.’ Many of the stones that built a lot of the ancient Greek structures came from the ‘Ear of Dionysius’ quarry. The largest group of classical Greek ruins is situated in the Valley of the Temples on the southern coast. Many of the temples and monuments in this area are well-preserved, and it’s a must-see for Sicily vacation packages.
Most Sicily vacations will also include a trip to Erice, which is a medieval town that sits 755 meters above sea level. Erice has narrow streets made of cobblestone and small courtyards that are reminiscent of the Middle Ages.A temple at the top of Erice is dedicated to Aphrodite and used to act as a lighthouse for sailors. For those who like the darker side, underground crypts known as Catacombe dei Cappucini just outside Palermo may be a good addition to your Sicily tours. Over 8,000 mummies line the narrow corridors, so it certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.
Ortygia Island in Syracuse is filled with dozens of ancient ruins that played a role in Greek mythology and date back as far as the 6th century BC. The Temple of Apollo and Doric Temple are two of the main features of the ruins.
If you’re a movie buff, be sure to include the cities of Forza D’Argo and Savoca in your Sicily tours. These cities are where scenes from the movie ‘The Godfather’ were filmed, and visiting the sites would make a wonderful stop for anyone who loved the movie.
There are so many historical and cultural areas to visit while in Sicily, it really does pay to set up Italy vacation packages to ensure you won’t miss any. Set up a meeting with your travel agent to go over all of the different Sicily vacations, so you can choose one that appeals to your interests. You may not get to see all of the sights that Sicily has to offer, but you can see the ones that appeal to your personality and tastes the most.
Cheap vacations don’t have to seem cheap, and short vacations can still give you all the stress relief and relaxation you need to completely recharge.