Imagine waking up in a historic village and then having an amazing day on the beach and then coming to one of the best preserved temples in all of Greek antiquity. Sicily has to be one of the most diverse islands in the world, not only because of its people and its food, but because of its rich history. I'm Angel Castellano, so the tour guide, and today we're going to discuss all the top things to do right here in Sicily. Sicily is the biggest island in the Mediterranean and an incredible destination due to its long history and the sheer variety of things to see. If you love Italy, then you're going to be infatuated with Sicily. It's an island of contrast where everything is dramatic and intense. If you're trying to take your Italian travels to the next level, or simply want to dive deep into an authentic region, then don't worry, we've got you.

Today we are featuring the best things to see in Sicily. Everything from UNESCO World Heritage sites to natural wonders, amazing beaches, and beautiful villages. Like most places in Italy, Sicily is often best experienced first with a local guide. Check out the variety of tours available throughout the island on our website. Also, don't forget to like this video and subscribe to keep up with all the great content on our channel. Palermo has nine impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Palazzo Narmani, the Capella Palatina, and the Cathedral of Palermo. These three sites are all located within the heart of Palermo and offer a fascinating glimpse into the city's rich and varied history, from its era of Norman period to the Renaissance. In 1071, the Normans arrived here in Palermo, and by 1185, they built this exquisite cathedral right on top of a former mosque, and the exterior is a nice combination of different architectural styles.

Inside, you can check out the remains of the patron saint of Palermo Santa Rosalia. So, Viva Palermo, Viva Santa Rosalia. The Palazzo Narmani is the oldest royal palace in Europe. It's home to the Capella Palatina. Built in the 11th century, it was the seat of the Norman kings of Sicily, and recent excavations dated as far back as the Phoenicians. Today, it's still a government office. The Capella Palatina is a small chapel located within the Palazzo Narmani. It was built in the 12th century and is one of the most beautiful examples of Norman Arab architecture in the world. The chapel is decorated with beautiful mosaics, which depict the scenes from the Bible and the life of Christ. To skip the lines, do yourself a favor and book tickets well in advance. Better yet, book a tour to make better memories and make history come to life with one of our licensed guides.

An easy day trip from Palermo is to come to the picturesque hill town of Montréal, and the star attraction here is the unmissable 12th century cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It took me about 30 minutes to drive here from Central Palermo, but if you don't have a car, don't worry, we got you covered. There's plenty of day trip options which cover this exquisite site. One of my favorite small little towns in Sicily is Chefalue, and this is the Sicily of your dreams. You have a nice little beach here, small winding little lanes, and a UNESCO World Heritage site that is definitely one of the top things to do right here in Sicily. It's only an hour away from Palermo, you can come here, spend a couple of nights, or have a really great day trip, and we have plenty of day trip options, so we got you.

So in a country full of picturesque little towns, Chefalue definitely is still special. I mean, just look at this place. We're headed to the star attraction of the town, Norman, Arab, Duomo Cathedral, that was starting in the 12th century, but really completed in the 13th century, and it sits in the shadows of this huge mountain called La Roca, this huge giant rock. And of course, no small city in Italy is complete without a little piata, and this is piata though, Duomo, where you can come hang out. This place is absolutely packed in the evening, during passage at the time. You can come here, get a gelato, get a coffee, or even have a little lunch here on the daytime. Really great. Sicily has over 1,000 beaches, and the beach culture is a big part of the island's identity. San Vito Locoppo is one of the top sites to see in Sicily because it's home to arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Italy.

The beach is known for its white sand, clear waters, and stunning views of Mount Cofano. In the peak summer, it's best to get here early to secure a beach bed. Prices for beds in an umbrella typically run about 25 euros per day. It's an easy day trip from Eddie Che, or Palermo, or choose to stay for a couple of days for a traditional Sicilian beach holiday. The small village of Anup is one of the top sites to see in Sicily because it's the highest provincial capital in all of Italy, with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, and is also known as the Naval of Sicily because of its location at the island center. The city has a rich history dating back to the Bronze Age and is home to the many important archaeological sites, including the Castello di Lombardia. This castle is one of the most impressive castles in Sicily and was built in the 11th century by the Arabs and later expanded by the Normans.

It's a massive structure with a series of towers and courtyards. The castle offers epic views of the surrounding countryside and it's a great place to dive deep into the history of Anup. So one of the most popular beaches in all of Sicily has to be Isla Bella, what you see behind me. There's a little strip of sand that connects the beach here to Isla Bella and it's been made popular on social media and popular TV shows. Definitely one of the top things that you have to check out when you're here in Sicily. The island of Isla Bella is so special that it actually used to be long to the bourbon king. He eventually turned it over to the people and on the island today, which you can go on, there is a natural history museum, you can also check it out just the way they did on White Lotus. According to legend, this town was founded by the survivors of Troy and its small cobblestone streets makes Eddicche one of the most beautiful villages in all of Sicily.

It's it's super high on a mountain top and on a clear day you can even see Africa. It's definitely one of the top places to visit right here in Sicily. So the reason you come to Eddicche is for the vibe, the friendly local people to get some local products and also for stunning views of the area. We're headed to one of the best preserved Greek archaeological sites in my opinion in all of Italy. We're here in Agri Gento. The great thing about visiting the value of temples is you have not just one but five doric temples still standing like this one right here to the sons of Zeus, Catherine Pollux. The ancient Romans called southern part of Italy, Magna Gettecchia because of all the Greek settlements and it just so happens that one of the best preserved Greek temples in all of antiquity is right here in Sicily and not too far away is a natural wonder that's just going to blow your mind.

20 minutes south of Agri Gento is an incredible natural wonder you cannot miss. Scaladei Turkey means Turkish stairs in Italian and it's said that the name comes from the fact that Turkish pirates used to use this beach as a landing spot. The beach is known for its white cliffs, turquoise waters and stunning views of the Mediterranean. Scaladei Turkey is an epic place because of the dramatic white cliffs made of clay and limestone. The cliffs were formed 20 million years ago by the erosion of the sea in about 100 meters which is about 330 feet high creating a distinctive staircase shape. If sitting on the beach isn't your thing you can easily relax at lounge beach to have a nice lunch and still view one of Italy's most epic natural wonders. Second only to Sira Kuzha this is the largest amphitheater not only in Italy but also northern Africa spanning 109 meters in diameter which is about 357 feet.

It was built during the Hellenistic age by the Greeks and it has a dramatic position and believe it or not you can still attend a performance here to this very day. Since the Greek built this in the third century BC by the time the Romans got here they wanted to rebuild so the first Roman theater was in 21 AD and by the third century AD they built it into an amphitheater and rebuilding continued up until the 19th and 20th centuries. The ancient Romans used to refer to southern Italy as Magniaga deca because it was full of Greek settlements and one of those towns is Sira Kuzha and the island that you see behind me is called Orteja. Many describe it as a passionate yet romantic Granita lace dream and if you're on a road to a blog I am it's one of those places that you definitely have to check out.

The island of Orteja is where Sira Kuzha was founded by the Greeks in 753 BC the home of Archimedes. Sira Kuzha once rivaled Athens as the largest and most powerful Greek city. You can visit the 16,000 capacity Greek theater in town or wander through the small narrow streets of Orteja Island where you can enjoy a Greek temple, the Baroque architecture or have an evening of cocktails and dinner. Don't be fooled by the beautiful Baroque exterior of the Sira Kuzha Cathedral. A Greek temple originally stood here in the 5th century BC. The first Christian church was erected in the 7th century AD and it was even a mosque during the Arab rule in the 9th century. It's one of those places that's a history lasagna and something that you definitely have to see when you're right here in Sira Kuzha. There's something super humbling about walking next to an active volcano behind me is the biggest and baddest South crater and the most dangerous Northeast crater.

I'm on Mount Etna to have a true day of adventure. What you see behind me is the Northeast crater which is the most dangerous crater here on Mount Etna because of a blockage due to a 2014 explosion. So this could explode at any moment causing a huge explosion. Well that's it for our epic time here in Sicily. I'm Angel Kostián, there's the tour guide. Don't forget to comment, like and subscribe and ring that bell so you can find our next video. Happy travels.