After Italy became unified between 1861 and 1870, the mainland reverted to simply "Italy", leaving a single Sicily; the one we know today. In our second week we are in Sicily. We spent a week winding our way up from Siracusa, to Taormina, then across the top of the island to Palermo. From there Agrigento and Monreale are day-trips, while Trapani is relaxing if done as an overnight excursion.
With history going back over 2,500 years Siracusa hosts so many monuments and archeological sites that the entire city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Top attractions include a temple and theater from Greek times as well as a Roman amphitheater. Siracusa is also further south than some parts of Africa.
While not devoid of remnants of antiquity, Taormina is more known for its amazing views and atmosphere. The short list of historical sites does include a Greek theater as well as an ancient wall/ reservoir (Naumachie).
An hour from Taormina, Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanos. Day to day, the activity is generally limited to puffs of smoke above the summit, but the volcano does have its share of major eruptions. It’s fascinating to visit dormant fissures from not-too-distant events.
One of several Scillian cities with long histories, Palermo was originally colonized by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC. Its prime location in the Mediterranean has made it a target of many foreign powers, and the city’s architecture reflects those varied influences.
The Valley of the Temples (actually they’re on a ridge, not in a valley) consists of seven temples and the remains of several other Greek relics dating from the 4th century BC. While we don’t know who or what the temples were dedicated to, the architecture and the views are outstanding.
The great Monreale Cathedral was built by William II resulting from competition between him and the bishop of Palermo. While Palermo continued to dominate much of Sicily, the cathedral is quite a consolation prize. Its worth the visit for the mosaics alone.
Sicily is coated with history. Trapani, a sleepy, unassuming city has been contested by great powers such as Carthaginians, Romans, and Arabs over the last two centuries. Today fishing and salt anchor the economy, but tourism is growing with good reason.
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