A city break offers a rich experience of history, culture, food and dramatic landscapes, with top cities including Palermo for its vibrant markets and authentic culture, Siracusa –and Ortigia– for ancient Greek and Roman ruins and charming streets overlooking the water, and Taormina for stunning views and luxury. Other great options include Catania for street food and its proximity to Mount Etna, and Cefalù for a mix of history and relaxed beach life.
Palermo is the capital of Sicily, a historic city known for its rich blend of Arab-Norman, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture, vibrant street markets, and renowned cuisine.
Founded by Phoenicians, it served as a significant cultural and commercial hub during its Arab and Norman periods, leaving a lasting architectural and cultural legacy that earns it a UNESCO World Heritage designation.
Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast. It sits at the foot of Mt. Etna, an active volcano with trails leading up to the summit.
The city’s wide central square, Piazza del Duomo, features the whimsical Fontana dell’Elefante statue and richly decorated Catania Cathedral. In the southwest corner of the square, La Pescheria weekday fish market is a rowdy spectacle surrounded by seafood restaurants.
Taormina is on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. Besides the ancient Greek theatre, it has many old churches, lively bars, fine restaurants and antique shops.
Taormina has a rich history as a strategic settlement founded by Greeks around 734 BC, becoming a Roman retreat and later a capital of Byzantine. After Arab and Norman rule, it declined before its late 19th-century “rediscovery” as a tourist destination.
Siracusa is a historic Sicilian city founded by ancient Greeks in the 8th century BC, becoming a major power in the Mediterranean world and a cultural hub known for its Greek and Roman heritage, including the Neapolis Archaeological Park.
It later became part of the Roman Republic and Byzantine Empire before passing through Norman, Swabian, and Spanish rule, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
