Sicily Vacation Guide: Itineraries, Sites and Recommendations

The largest island in the Mediterranean basin has become popular for tourists from around the world, including Israelis who take advantage of the comfortable weather for holiday throughout the year. Haim Koznitz, a guide in Italy, with recommendations you cannot refuse

Sicily Vacation Guide: Itineraries, Sites and Recommendations

The Sicily trip should be done slowly, not rushing and running from site to site, but slowly and comfortably. There is so much to see, feel, taste and experience on this charming island that if you hurry - miss it.

Sicilian writer Vitaliano Brancati wrote about Sicily 90 years ago: "Two winds blow in Sicily, one north of the European capitals, and the other to the south bringing the equatorial heat. Like these winds, Sicily crosses two different streams of thought - One is refined European, coming from the north, and the other is barbaric, African, eastern coming from the south. Sometimes the two opposite currents neutralize each other and sometimes they merge and illuminate each other. "

It is also today's Sicily, contrasting, polar, surprising, exciting, self-indulgent and sometimes kicking. Most Israeli travelers who come to Sicily for the first time are surprised. Some expect to find a failed island of olives, goats and bakers, and to their surprise they discover fancy cities, highways and the best of modernization, and some expect to meet a typical Central European island, and to their disappointment they encounter run-down villages and dirty towns. This is Sicily's uniqueness - it has everything, it is a great evening of African and Eastern influences (some say the pizza was born here from the Muslim pita), Greek mythology at its best (here set their giant one-eyed cyclops), with distinctly Northern European influences with palaces in design Viennese and refined culture.

In 1787, the renowned German writer Goethe wrote: "To see Italy without seeing Sicily, it is not to see Italy at all, since Sicily is the key to all." How true.

Take time. Sicily trip should be done slowly (Photo: ShutterStock)

Sicily, Italy (Photo: ShutterStock)

An island that is larger than the State of Israel

Although it is an island, Sicily is large in the territory of the State of Israel and is the largest island in the Mediterranean basin, and also the largest province in the territory of Italy (not to mention, Sicily is part of Italy and not an independent state). It has about 5.5 million inhabitants, it has two international airports, one in Catania in the southeastern part of the island, where most flights come from Israel, and the other near the capital city of Palermo in the northwestern part of the island. Direct flights from Israel to Sicily only take place during the summer.

Sicily has brought many things to the world, including Archimedes, who was born about 1800 years ago and is one of the fathers of mathematics and physics today. In Sicily, it was also discovered that the "bikini" swimsuit is not an invention of our day, since it was discovered in Villa Casale in mosaics made some 2000 years ago. In Sicily was also born the organized crime organization "Cosa Nostra" (our cause), who came with the immigrants to America and to this day holds a place of honor in Hollywood films and series.

City of Palermo, capital of Sicily (Photo: ShutterStock)

City of Palermo, Sicily, Italy (Photo: ShutterStock)

More than 50 percent of young people and academics are unemployed

Italy as a whole is struggling with huge external debt. The Italian economy is faltering, and the country is in bankruptcy. This is more evident in the southern provinces of the country, especially in Sicily. The Fiat car company closed the gates of the largest car train factory on the island a few years ago, the salt industry is facing tough competition and is unable to cope with competitors and unemployment is at record highs. More than 50 percent of young people and academics are unemployed and unable to find jobs. The result: mass migration from Sicily to northern Italy and to rich European countries such as Germany, France and England. In a conversation I had with Dora, who owns a large bus company in Sicily, she said that by Christmas, they would increase bus lines from the north of the country towards the island and not vice versa: "It shows that many of the people of Sicily have moved to the northern provinces of Italy to find work, and at home they return home to be With the family, ”she explained.

Due to the emigration of young people, many towns and villages are depleted and there is a danger of their continued existence as a living and renewable settlement. Lack of choice, many villages and towns offer free antique homes today, and this is an opportunity for those looking for a vacation home in Italy to purchase one for a hilarious price. In the town of Cammarata, located between Palermo and Agrigento, you can offer homes for one euro, and if you plan to go with children you will get a bonus of one thousand euros for each child. The same is true of the enchanting mountain village of Gangi, Sambuca, Mussomeli and many others.

In ancient times Sicily was known as a source of wheat, olives, wine and even today agriculture occupies a considerable place in the Sicilian product. The most fertile areas are at the foot of the Athena volcano, where the island's best wine wineries are also located. Deborah Cavalaro, marketing manager of the Palmetto Constanto Winery, very proudly showed me the wine and luxury tasting shop they recently set up in the heart of the vineyards: "We know that you Israelis love and appreciate good and high quality wine, and we would love to host tourists from Israel with us," she told me during a wine tasting. With them.

The economic light fund for the equatorial island of employment - is tourism. Sicily is the most sought after tourist destination south of Rome, and in 2018 it reached about 15 million tourists (a 3 percent increase), of which 4.5 million are foreign tourists. Tourists contribute about 10 billion euros to the island's economy, and today the tourism industry is the largest employer on the island.

Italian town offers: Buy a house in Sicily for a dollar

One of the places where you can purchase a home for free. Camerata town in Sicily (Photo: Wikipedia)

Camerata town in Sicily, Italy (Photo: Wikipedia, courtesy of the photographers)

The head of the Sicilian Mafia drinks Israeli wine

If you ask a Sicilian about the Mafia or Cosa Nostra (the local mafia), they will pretend to misunderstand, or respond that there are no such things today. Sicilians are not proud of the evil that the perpetrators have brought to the island and most of them are ashamed. It is worth noting that even today organized crime is firmly rooted in Sicily and its arms, even if they are not visible, touch almost every aspect of the island's economy.

The famous Marzipan production town of Erice is in complete control of the mafia, so tourists can go there very safely, because oh and alas for those who will hurt the tourist. Sponsorship fees are collected from almost every business and those who oppose paying may get involved.

At the entrance to the Palermo vegetable and fish market, Vucciria, there is a vegetable stand where the family members are dressed in black, in memory of the brother who argued with the mafia gobies and refused to pay, may Allah have mercy. Mario Pozzo, the author who wrote the book The Godfather, has made Sicily all over the pilgrimage site for movie series fans inspired by and followed by the book. The owner of the Whitley Cafe in Savoca, whose family cafe became a pilgrimage site following his appearance in the film, told me that the film changed the family's future: "In our family, the children were also forced to leave Sicily to look for work elsewhere," she said with a smile, " But thanks to the movie everyone works here for coffee. " I will never forget the older Sicilian, who paid many years ago for my meal and my wife in a restaurant near Palermo, after I invited him for an Israeli wine tasting I brought with me. It wasn't until a few years ago that it became clear to me that the older, bespectacled man was Bernardo Provenzano, the head of the Sicilian Mafia, who was accused of murdering more than 100 people. He died in prison.

The town of Corleone from which the "Godfather" heroes come (Photo: ShutterStock)

Town of Corleone, Sicily, Italy (Photo: ShutterStock)

Recommended routes

For an independent trip in Sicily, I propose to plan at least 7 days, and divide the trip into three locations: Catania Catania (eastern part), Palermo (Palermo, northwest) and Agrigento Agrigento (southwest).

One of the must-visit places in Sicily is the Athena volcano, which is Europe's highest active volcano (3,330 m). Many overlook the Stromboli volcano, which I think is no less interesting and even more spectacular. The stromboli are found on an island that bears the same name and is part of the Aioles Island group. The mountain is constantly active, and watching the night in the red eruptions is a play that cannot be given up. To get to Stromboli, take a ferry / boat from one of the port cities, Milazzo or Cefalu. You can board a ship that cruises between the islands, arrives at Stromboli at night to see the outbreaks of fire and the heart, and then return to the mother port. I usually book a room in one of the hotels on Lipari Island, and after watching the angry and grumpy Stromboli, return to the hotel on the sympathetic island The next day, return to the mother port on land and continue your trip.

No less interesting fast Athena. Stromboli volcano (Photo: ShutterStock)

Stromboli Volcano, Sicily, Italy (Photo: ShutterStock)

Where to sleep

About 16,000 hotels of all types and levels are spread throughout the island. As you approach Taormina, prices rise and compare to the prices of luxury hotels in Western and Northern Europe. Good and cheap hotels can be found in the south of the state and in the Palermo region. Independent trips do not have to stay in hotels in the main cities, although it is very convenient. Around Taormina, Syracuse or Palermo you can find great hotels at much lower prices than necessary within the cities themselves.

This is the opportunity to go on a dream vacation, a loan to clients of all banks

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what are we eating

Sicilian food is influenced by the environment, the sea that surrounds the island and the conquerors who passed through it. To many people Sicilian food is the best in Italy. You can eat great pasta from local sorghum wheat here, alongside couscous with seafood and sardines.

In the markets you can buy a huge variety of fresh fish of all kinds and in restaurants and pastries to enjoy wonderful sweets such as cannoli, which is a fried crispy dough roll stuffed with ricotta cheese and dipped in almond or pistachio chips, or local ice cream served in a sweet bun or a bite in Castile Sicilian, Sponge cake dipped in sweet wine and topped with sweet ricotta cheese.

Haim Kuznitz Travel Guide and Storyteller, author of "What Happens Abroad Stays Abroad"