Discover Sicily, White Lotus Style

Taormina is the most famous destination in Sicily, hosting actors and actresses in an atmosphere of glamor, luxury, and seaside relaxation. We recommend visiting the fascinating Greek theater, nestled in a splendid location with spectacular views of scenic beaches and the snow-capped volcanic Mt. Etna. Then take time for a walk among the picturesque medieval streets and go shopping for local handicrafts, which include coral, lace, ceramics, and sweets.

There are two Ragusas (three if you count Dubrovnik, once also known by that name). Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore. Ragusa Ibla is the one you've seen in pictures and maybe the Inspector Montalbano books and TV series. Before the 1693 Sicily earthquake, the town of Ragusa was located on the site of the current Ragusa Superiore. After that was destroyed, a new town was built on the slightly lower neighboring hill, in the late Baroque style fashionable at the time. This is the town known as Ragusa Ibla. It's one of eight towns that make up the "Late Baroque Towns of the Noto Valley" UNESCO World Heritage listing. Fast forward to modern day, when a new town was built on the ruins of the original, and this is Ragusa Superiore, where most locals live. The rabbit warren of narrow streets and alleyways of Ibla is in stark contrast to those of Superiore. Superiore is a great place to avail yourself of all the conveniences of a modern town, as well as some excellent restaurants where you'll be the only foreigner, it doesn't have the same magic that Ragusa Ibla enjoys.

Palermo doesn’t care if you like it. It’s the capital city of Sicily, and its biggest. Reminiscent in parts of Naples. It's not a place you'll find thronged with tourists, but the locals sure like to be outside. A hub of activity and a gridlock in rush hour and at weekends. Despite the order of the main avenues, the twisting lanes of the Centro Storico provide plenty of opportunities to get lost. Cheek by jowl here you will find grand palazzos (much of European royalty had their vacation palaces in Palermo) and scruffy tenements. Turn a corner in a grungy alley and you’re faced with an ornate fountain or pomp and circumstance statue. All of this provides a rich backdrop to your time in Palermo. Many have come before. The city was founded nearly 3,000 years ago and Palermo has truly been a crossroads of the great civilizations. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Germans, Spanish, Bourbon, and finally Italian rulers have held dominion over the city and left their mark. Its international airport and busy seaport make it a great starting or finishing point for an exploration of Sicily.