Sicily currently has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites that together span almost three thousand years of the island’s history, from the prehistoric necropolis of Pantalica to the Greek temples of Agrigento, from the mosaics of a Roman villa to the churches built under the Norman kings, all the way to the towns rebuilt in Baroque style after the earthquake of 1693. Alongside these cultural sites are two natural sites linked to volcanic activity, Mount Etna and the Aeolian Islands.

Let’s take a closer look at the seven UNESCO sites in Sicily you should visit!

Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale

The Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale site includes nine medieval buildings commissioned by the Norman kings at a time when Palermo was home to craftsmen from different cultures, Islamic, Byzantine and Latin, resulting in buildings with red domes, pointed arches and gold-background mosaics.

The UNESCO site includes the Cathedral, the churches of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Norman Palace and its Palatine Chapel, the churches of La Martorana and San Cataldo, the Zisa Castle and the Admiral’s Bridge. The monuments in Palermo’s historic centre can be reached on foot in a half-day walk, while for the Zisa, now home to a museum of Islamic art, and the Admiral’s Bridge it’s best to use public transport.

Monreale Cathedral can be reached by bus from Piazza Indipendenza and needs at least a couple of hours to see its famous mosaic-covered naves and the Benedictine cloister, while Cefalù Cathedral, with Christ Pantocrator in the apse, is less than an hour away by train.

Archaeological Area of Agrigento

The Valley of the Temples park preserves the remains of ancient Akragas, a Greek colony founded in the early 6th century BC on a ridge facing the sea, with a sequence of Doric sanctuaries that includes the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia, almost intact thanks to its conversion into a church in the 6th century AD, and the Olympieion area with the remains of the telamons.

The main route is about two kilometres long with entrances at either end, and since there’s almost no shade it’s best to arrive at opening time or choose the evening openings offered in the summer months. To complete your visit you can add the Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum, which displays the finds from the area, and the Kolymbethra Garden, an ancient citrus grove managed by FAI inside the park.

Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina

A few kilometres from Piazza Armerina, in the Enna hinterland, stands the Villa Romana del Casale, a large country residence built between the late 3rd and early 4th century AD, whose mosaic floors depict hunting scenes with exotic animals, chariot races, mythological episodes and young female athletes exercising.

The visit follows raised walkways that let you view the rooms from above without stepping on the mosaics and takes about two hours on average. The rooms are covered, so the site can be visited on rainy days too, while in summer it’s best to avoid the early afternoon, partly because it gets very hot under the roofs.

Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica

This site brings together two places about forty kilometres apart, starting with Syracuse and its island of Ortigia, which you really must explore on foot. While wandering the island you can reach the Cathedral, which still incorporates the columns of the Greek temple dedicated to Athena, and continue to the Fountain of Arethusa.

Another must-see is the Neapolis Archaeological Park, which includes the Greek Theatre, the latomie quarries and the Ear of Dionysius. Between May and July the theatre also hosts its season of classical plays, a chance to see it at its finest.

The Necropolis of Pantalica, between Sortino and Ferla, preserves thousands of prehistoric tombs carved into the limestone cliffs overlooking the Anapo and Calcinara valleys. There are two entrances, one from each town, and the visit is on foot along dirt trails with no facilities, so you’ll need comfortable shoes, ideally hiking boots, plenty of water and at least half a day.

Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto

The Late Baroque Towns listing covers eight towns that were rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. The towns included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site are:

• Catania
• Modica
• Caltagirone
• Ragusa
• Palazzolo Acreide
• Noto
• Militello in Val di Catania
• Scicli

All these destinations share churches with elaborate Baroque façades, monumental staircases and palaces with balconies supported by corbels carved with grotesque faces and figures.

Each town is best explored on foot, focusing on the historic centre: in Noto the main street leads to the Cathedral and Palazzo Nicolaci, in Ragusa Ibla the Duomo of San Giorgio dominates the main square, in Modica the church of San Giorgio is reached by a long flight of steps, while in Caltagirone the Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte has risers decorated with ceramic tiles.

In many churches you can climb up to the domes or bell towers for a full view over the Baroque rooftops.

Visiting Mount Etna

The volcano was recognised for the scientific value of its eruptive activity, documented for centuries, and can be visited from two main access points, the south side from Rifugio Sapienza above Nicolosi and the north side from Piano Provenzana, near Linguaglossa.

From both you can go up by cable car, by 4×4 or on foot along trails among extinct cones and lava flows. To approach the summit craters you must be accompanied by authorised guides, and access may be restricted depending on the volcano’s activity, so it’s best to check before heading up.

Alternatively, you can choose mountain bike or quad excursions or a helicopter flight, remembering that even in summer it’s cold at altitude and you’ll need warm clothing and closed shoes.

Aeolian Islands

The archipelago was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for its volcanic phenomena, studied by volcanologists from all over the world. It is made up of seven inhabited islands, which can be reached by hydrofoil or ferry from Milazzo.

Each island has a different landscape: Lipari with its pumice quarries, Salina with its Malvasia vineyards, small and rocky Panarea, and Vulcano, known for its dark beaches and fumaroles. Stromboli, on the other hand, is the island where volcanic activity is easiest to observe, especially after sunset, either from the sea on boat trips beneath the Sciara del Fuoco or from the trails, where access to the higher altitudes is regulated by local ordinances and requires a guide.

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