At the base of Monte Pellegrino, the historic city of Palermo is a mix of cultural influences. The city is splitting at the seams with monuments, but the principal ones were erected by the Normans and the Romans. At the center of the city, the Quattro Canti is surrounded by four Baroque palaces.
In Western Palermo, the Palazzo dei Normanni was the Norman Royal Palace and is located at the city's highest point. The building is still used by the Sicilian regional parliament. Nearby is the Cathedral of Palermo, which was built on the site of a former mosque, and was previously a basilica.
Also visit the Teatro Massimo, the third largest opera house in Europe; the Catacombe dei Cappuccini to see the bodily remains of over 8,000 witnesses to Sicily's history; and the must-see Monreale Cathedral. Called "Sicily's single greatest treasure" by "National Geographic Traveler," it was built on the orders of the Norman King William II and houses an enormous stretch of incredible mosaics.
In the ancient city of Egesta, are two important historical monuments: the Segesta temple and nearby theater. The Segesta temple was built around 420 B.C. and despite its grandeur, remains unfinished. Its reason for existence and incompletion remains a mystery.
A little over a mile away is the ancient Greek theater, built sometime in the 3rd century B.C. It is still used for summer performances. At the peak of Monte San Giuliano nests the town of Erice, an ancient holy place and a monument in itself. The Castello Pepoli e Venere and the Chiesa Matrice are the main sites to see in Erice.
In Southern Sicily, the monuments are few but very significant. Selinunte is an archaeological site unmarred by modern times where you will find the remains of eight Greek temples. In Agrigento, the Valle dei Templi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that transcends the less appealing town above it. It was once an extravagant Greek colony before being ravaged by Carthaginian invaders, earthquakes and the passage of time.
Also worth visiting are the ruined Hellenistic city of Morgantina and the Roman Mosaics found at the Villa Imperiale del Casale.
The city of Syracuse is a 3,000-year-old city that contains a plethora of monuments from almost every age. Cross the causeway to reach the city's historic center of Ortygia, is where you will find the Cathedral, the covered marketplace Antico Mercato, the catacombs, and the Castelo Maniace.
North of the city is the Parco Archeologico. Outside of Syracuse, there are some interesting Baroque towns that were completely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1693. The town of Noto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is carefully maintained. The town of Ragusa and adjoining Ragusa Ibla, slowly deteriorating, is an inviting medieval town.
The main attraction in Eastern Sicily is Mount Etna, an active volcano whose lava and pumice were used to build the black and yellow buildings in nearby towns. The city of Taormina was first inhabited 3,000 years ago. Now it is a modern resort town that still boasts some historic sites among the boutiques and bars. The 14th-century Palazzo Corvaia displays the black and white lava and pumice building materials of the region. Near the palace is the Santa Caterina, a 17th-century church, and the Teatro Greco.
The islands north of Sicily are varied and beautiful, but the Isole Eolie (also known as Lipari islands) are unusual islets formed by volcanoes and are a natural monument to the geography of the region. People have lived there for 7,000 years, so the Museo Archeologico Eoliano in Lipari town is home to a significant collection of artifacts. The museum consists of four buildings near the town's cathedral, dating from the 11th century.
Cefalu is a town on the mainland of northern Sicily that has maintained its historic appearance, and also exhibits elements of Greek, Arab and medieval architecture. Make sure to walk through the Piazza del Duomo and visit the cathedral and the Temple of Diana.
