Top 10 Historical Sites in Sicily for Wonderful Escapes

Summer is always painful for those where the sun hits heard, is not it?

Hardly anyone would be there who does not want to escape a land where he can have some relief from the blazing sun. This is why the beach destinations get overcrowded in summer than any other season. The world has been filled with the spots best for vacationing in summer. But the first name that comes to mind is the “Sicily island” when we think of a summer vacationing destination.

Why?

It is because the largest Mediterranean island off the southern coast of Italy has some of the magnificent beaches in the world. Surrounded by Mt. Etna and some of the flourishing cities the Sicilian Beaches thrive with the beauty that is unmatched on the planet. The long stretches of quiet beaches where the azure water overlaps to the white sand and the waves sing most melodiously to the song of the nature offer the beach lovers a cooling and romantic atmosphere where their dream can come true. The existence of luxury hotels, good restaurants, spas and shops of local handicrafts all along the beaches add value to the beauty of the beaches and is a reason of making the beaches overcrowded in the peak season.

It is obvious that no one wants to spend a huge amount of his hard earned money only to soak in the sea sand and sun. Even more or less your home country can provide you some of the finest beach vacation opportunities. If so: then why people around the world seem to be worried about Sicilian beaches? Why does visiting Sicily remain at the top of their wallet? Why

Sicily Vacation is the 1^st option even for the most seasoned travelers?

And the single answer to this question is “Egypt is simply exotic” and bears the capability of mesmerizing to every class of visitors.  The region is so beautiful that, it can be considered as the home of the Hollywood’s. It has been treasured with such fantastic scenic views that it has attracted a lot of Hollywood makers to shoot their blockbusters. The various landscapes that span from beachfront, to volcanic, to the desert, to the forest, are the ideal locations for movie makers. Just watch some of the great movies before you plan Travelling Sicily,  in which the sheer beauty of Sicily has been filmed such as “The Godfather“, “Cinema Paradiso“, “Ocean’s Twelve“ (the second installment of the “Oceans” series) and the list is endless. 

As an article writer: I always come up with some suggestions that are a contrast but help the visitors to smell the best of a destination. Explore the super fantastic beaches on your Sicily Tour, but don’t close your eye towards its history which has been influenced by many a unique synthesis of forces—the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines and so on. The historical leftovers are still well preserved here and dragging the people from the world around. It’s gastronomy, culture, food and its offerings for the endless activities at beaches and valleys are some of the things to be explored on a Tour to Sicily for a complete experience.

One of the most fascinating features of Your Trip to Sicily should be exploring the island’s ancient and historical identity. From Greek temples to marvelous mosaics, there are a plethora of awe-inspiring archaeological sites and ruins to be discovered across the island. And with that in mind, here are our top 10 historical sites not to be missed.

Temples of Selinunte:

It’s beautiful sitting on a high plain and overlooking the sea Selinunte is an inviting place with either side golden beaches or an excellent excuse for a good walk. Selinunte is best known for Selinunte temples: the great Greek archaeological sites that are still inviting and attract thousands of visitors all through the year. If you are keeping interest in Greek Sicily, then visit the temples' setting close to the sea which provides a wonderfully picturesque view of the surrounding. The first sight you would encounter at the entrance of the archaeological park is the Doric temple known as Temple E. behind Temple E are two more temples which are more ruinous.  There are sandy beaches nearby, so a day out at Selinunte has a great deal to offer to any traveler.

The ancient theatre of Taormina:

This is the most important feature for sight-seers in Taormina. It sits among the three Sicilian splendors: the Calabria coast, the Ionian coast of Sicily and the spectacular cone of Etna. Apart from the architecture, the scenic beauty of the place is also the center of attraction for the foreign visitors. It is the second largest theater of Sicily, after the one in Syracuse and was hosting various forms of entertainment like theater, concerts, and the award ceremonies. The view of the blue Ionian Sea and of Mount Etna, especially on a clear day, is simply spectacular.

The Valley of the Temples, Agrigento:

This archaeological site at Agrigento is a UNESCO world heritage site. Full of almond trees in bloom, it is the most impressive group of monuments of all of Magna Greece: the most important testimony of the ancient, classical culture of Sicily. It brings together the temples of gods and goddesses including the area of the necropolis and sanctuaries outside the walls. You would just discover a plethora of temple ruins of the long past such as the temple of Olympian Zeus (Jupiter), The temple of Concordia, The temple of Heracles (Hercules), The temple of Vulcano, The tomb of Theron and the list is very long. 

Ruins of Segesta:Segesta’s ruins are relatively untouched than any other historical leftover in Sicily. Built before the twenty-six hundred years ago the Doric Temple of Segesta is one of the most well-preserved Greek temples in the entire world and seems like 100 years old. The 3rd-century BC Greek theatre is a center of attraction here. Surrounded by the hills it is a great place to hop on your Sicily Tour.

Neapolis Archaeological Park:

It houses Siracusa's greatest concentration of ruins such as Greek theater, famous quarry, and Roman ruins. You can find here the ruins of the monuments like The Latomie, The Greek Theater, and The Roman Amphitheater. There is also a third century B.C.E. stone altar once used for sacrifices.

Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica:

The Necropolis of Pantalica contains over 5,000 tombs cut into the rock near open stone quarries, most of them dating from the 13th to 7th centuries BC. You can also get to find here the temple of Athena (5th century BC, later transformed to serve as a cathedral), a Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheater, a fort and more. Here you will have the opportunity of exploring the historic town of ancient Syracuse and the Necropolis of Pantalica from which you can have the testimony of the Mediterranean cultures of the Greek period.

 Regional Archaeological Museum, Palermo:

The museum possesses one of the richest collections of Punic and Ancient Greek art in Italy, as well as many items related to the history of Sicily. You can follow this self-guided walking tour to explore the attractions of this museum. Palermo has a number of such museums which have been housed within particularly fine historic buildings. A visit to these museums would take you back to long past and relate you to the past lifestyle and the culture of the people.

Solunto Archaeological Park:

Within a few kilometers from Bagheria, the major site of Solunto has recently become an Archaeological Park. The excavation has brought out some of the important antique evidence. The most important buildings are still visible, the so-called house of Leda, the gymnasium, several civilian homes, and, given that the place was devoid of spring sources, a significant number of cisterns to collect rainwater remain as well.

Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina:

Piazza Armerina: Situated deep in the Sicilian hinterland, is one of Sicily’s most frequented tourist spots. The famous Villa Romana del Casale built in the middle of the 4th Century AD is the center of attraction. The Villa is home to some of the best preserved and extensive examples of Roman mosaics spread over.

The town of Piazza Armerina is also worth a visit if you are in the area. Its main sights include an Aragonese Castle built at the end of the 14th Century and an imposing 18th Century Duomo.

Ancient Fortress of Cefalu:

A quaint fishing village steeped with history and charm was unknown to many travellers making the Sicily Tour. Cefalù is always cute, quiet and affordable. Now it has turned into a mass tourism destination. The iconic view of the old town of Cefalù above the nice, pleasant beach is the best tourist teaser ever.

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