sicily travel guide

sicily TRAVEL GUIDE

Sicily Travel Guide - Thriving on its autonomy from Italy, the largest island that you will encounter within the Mediterranean Sea is Sicily, serving as home to more than 5 million residents. There are many regional and provincial capitals throughout this island, offering their own character and personality. A tourist may choose to explore any one of them and gain a rewarding experience, including Palermo, Messina, Catania, Trapani, Ragusa, as well as Tripi.

One of the clouds of achievement hanging over the island of Sicily includes the artistic accomplishments stemming from poets and writers who called this region their home. From the early 13th century, the first Italian standard and influential Italian poetry was developed from the Sicilian School. Well-known creators include Luigi Pirandello, Giovanni Verga, as well as poet, Ignazio Buttitta. Sicilian composer, Sigismondo d’India hailed from Palermo, where Vincenzo Bellini, called Catania his home.

Some of the best Italian samples of Baroque architecture can be enjoyed when viewing some of the buildings and monuments throughout Sicily. This is especially true when visiting areas like Ragusa and Nota. Some of these examples can be found carved in beautiful red sandstone. The list of artistic adventures is neverending, providing something for everyone. Ceramics-lovers will enjoy a trip to Caltagirone. If you are interested in a night at the opera, Palermo is a major center for Italian opera. Sicily also boasts the most impressive opera house within Italy with the Teatro Massimo. It is also the third largest in the world, holding 1,400 visitors.

Besides the variety of art that can be found on the island, tourists may also enjoy lovely romps on an array of relaxing beaches. When visiting the Spiaggia Sabbie Nere in Vulcano, you will encounter the uncommon black sands of this beach. Considered the best-equipped beach in Sicily, tourists will have access to cable-car rides, restaurants and bars at Lido Mazzaro in Taormina.

As a tourist, you should know that most Sicilians are bilingual, fluent in both Sicilian and Italian. There are also various dialects that are specific to certain regions, such as the dialect of Salentino in Puglia. Other beaches to consider include Giardini-Naxos near Taormina and Marina di Ragusa in the southeastern section of Sicily.